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Delwara
Jain Temples Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
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Location: Delwara
Jain Temples are situated in Delwara village 3 Kms. from
Mount Abu.
Delwara Temples are the world famous Jain temples situated at
Delwara village about 3 Km's from Mt.Abu the famous and
beautiful hill station of Rajasthan. The temples are
constructed in 11th and 12th century A.D. are completely made of
marble. The Delwara temples are a composite cluster of 5 temples.
The five
temples are:
1 Vimal
Vasahi (Shri Adinathji Temple)
2 Luna Vasahi (Sri Neminathji Temple)
3 Pithalhar (Sri Rishabdevoji)
4 Khartar Vasahi ( Sri Parshavanathji)
5 Mahavira swami (Sri Mahavira swami Temple)
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All
these shrines belong to different centuries. The first two are build
wholly of white marble, they have got exuberant carvings and
ornamentation work on the walls, doors, pillars, mandaps, torans,
ceilings etc.. The designs depict life stories of Jain Tirthankars,
scenes of Gods
& Goddesses and great men from Jain and great
Hindu mythology.
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Vimal
Vasahi Temple was built by Vimal Shah, the minister and
commander in chief of Bhima Dev I, Solanki ruler of Gujarat. Vimal Shah was remorseful and spent the rest of his life in
religious discourse at Chandravati (near Abu road); inspired
by Jain
Acharaya, to wash out his sins perpetrated in the battle fields,
with the blessings of tutelary deity Ambika, constructed this
temple.
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It took 1500 artisans and 1200
laborers a time span of 14
years to build this brilliant piece of architecture. The
whole shrine covers an area of 140 ft. long and 90 ft. broad. As we
enter the temple we get a glimpse of the grandeur of sculptured marble,
exquisite carvings of ceilings, domes, pillars and arches of the temple
which is beyond anyone's expectations. It has a sanctum, a Gudha Mandap,
Navchowki, Rang Mandap and a circumambulatory corridor having 57 cells.
In each cell , image of one or the other Jain Tirthankar is installed.
In front of every cell, double carved roofs are screened by double
arcade of pillars. Cell numbers are marked and the name of the idol
installed in it is also written.
Rang
Mandap: A grand Hall supported by 12 decorated
pillars and nicely carved out arches with a central dome in the most
exquisite design. You can also see designs with heavy ornamentation
work. On the pillars are placed the female figures playing musical
instruments and 16 Vidhyadevis - the goddesses of knowledge - each one
having her own symbol.
Navchowki:
It comprises of
the nine rectangular ceilings, each one containing beautiful carvings of
different designs supported on the ornate pillars.
Hastishala
( (Elephant Cell): Hastishala
was constructed by Prithvipal, a decedent of Vimal Shah in 1147-49
A.D. In the front entrance statue of Vimal Shah originally carved in
marble is seen, the statute was mutilated and was repaired by plaster. A
Smavasaran, circular in shape, is also noteworthy.
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