DILWARA temples were built during the age of Jain supremacy and are one of the finest Jain temples India has to offer.Many experts consider them architecturally superior to the Taj Mahal.
Design and Architecture: carvings that are not just ethereally beautiful in form but are often presented mark the architecture in a higly poetic context.The basic structure of most temples in India is a room called Garbha Griha (sanctum) where the idol of the main deity to be kept.The temple is approached by a flight of steps and is often built on a platform. A porch covers the entrance to the temple,which is supported by carved pillars.A prominent roof called shikhar (kiosks) surmounts the top of the Garbha Griha and dominates the surroundings.The temples of Rajasthan,including the Jain temples of Dilwara,were constructed on the northern pattern and the Vastu Shastra (ancient principles of building)served as a practial handbook for the architecture of these temples.
Examples of Jain Architecture: The exquisitely carved Dilwara temples in Mount Abu are the finest examples of Jain temples in India.The hallmark of these Dilwara Temples is the crisp translucent shell-like treatment of marble,which surpasses anything seen elsewhere.No matter how much one hears or reads about these temples,nothing can prepare one for the sheer elegance and beauty of marble as displayed here.
matrimonial alliances between Mughal and Rajput rulers and a liberal policy towards Hindus adopted by the great Mughal Akbar,this was a period of tranquility in most parts of Rajasthan.Old Hindu shrines were renovated and new ones including the temples of Ranakpur and Dilwara were built during this period.As most of the followers of Jain faith belonged to the prosperous merchant class,they expressed their devotion by donating large sums of money for the construction of intricately temples made of marble.They dedicated these temples to their saints known as the Tirthankars.These temples in turn served as storehouses of illustrated manuscripts and treatises.The Jains built some beautiful temples at other places in Rajasthan too,but the best are undoubtedly those at Dilwara-no other temple can come close to these in terms of architectural the minutely carved decoration of ceilings,doorways,pillars,panels,and niches is simply marvelous.The translucent shell-like treatment of marble surpasses anything seen elsewhere.There are alogther four important temples in dilwara:the Vimal Vashi temple,the Luna Vashi temple,the Adinath temple and the Parshvath temple.Among all these,the vimal vash and the luna vashi are the most notable.
Folklore of Mount Abu: Legend has it that Hindus revere Dilwara temples because once nandini,the cowof the venerable sage Vashisth,was trapped in a deep gorge and could not free herself.The sage appealed to lord shiva for assistance.The Lord sent saraswatio,the divine stream,to help flood the gorge so that the cow could float up.The sage vashisth then decided to ensure that such mishaps would not occur in future and asked the youngest son of himalya to fill the chasm permantely.This he did with the assistance of Arbud,the mighty snake.This
Great Monuments: Mount Abu,where the Dilwara temples are located,is referred to as Arbudgiri in ancient Hindu and Jain scriptures.It is the only hill-station in Rajasthan as well as a very important Jain pilgrimage center.The period from AD 800 to 1200 was one of great social awakening and religious fervor among the people of this region.Jainism(an ancient Indian religion that originated in 600 BC) found its firm foundation in Rajasthan.With
Design and Architecture: carvings that are not just ethereally beautiful in form but are often presented mark the architecture in a higly poetic context.The basic structure of most temples in India is a room called Garbha Griha (sanctum) where the idol of the main deity to be kept.The temple is approached by a flight of steps and is often built on a platform. A porch covers the entrance to the temple,which is supported by carved pillars.A prominent roof called shikhar (kiosks) surmounts the top of the Garbha Griha and dominates the surroundings.The temples of Rajasthan,including the Jain temples of Dilwara,were constructed on the northern pattern and the Vastu Shastra (ancient principles of building)served as a practial handbook for the architecture of these temples.
Examples of Jain Architecture: The exquisitely carved Dilwara temples in Mount Abu are the finest examples of Jain temples in India.The hallmark of these Dilwara Temples is the crisp translucent shell-like treatment of marble,which surpasses anything seen elsewhere.No matter how much one hears or reads about these temples,nothing can prepare one for the sheer elegance and beauty of marble as displayed here.
matrimonial alliances between Mughal and Rajput rulers and a liberal policy towards Hindus adopted by the great Mughal Akbar,this was a period of tranquility in most parts of Rajasthan.Old Hindu shrines were renovated and new ones including the temples of Ranakpur and Dilwara were built during this period.As most of the followers of Jain faith belonged to the prosperous merchant class,they expressed their devotion by donating large sums of money for the construction of intricately temples made of marble.They dedicated these temples to their saints known as the Tirthankars.These temples in turn served as storehouses of illustrated manuscripts and treatises.The Jains built some beautiful temples at other places in Rajasthan too,but the best are undoubtedly those at Dilwara-no other temple can come close to these in terms of architectural the minutely carved decoration of ceilings,doorways,pillars,panels,and niches is simply marvelous.The translucent shell-like treatment of marble surpasses anything seen elsewhere.There are alogther four important temples in dilwara:the Vimal Vashi temple,the Luna Vashi temple,the Adinath temple and the Parshvath temple.Among all these,the vimal vash and the luna vashi are the most notable.
Folklore of Mount Abu: Legend has it that Hindus revere Dilwara temples because once nandini,the cowof the venerable sage Vashisth,was trapped in a deep gorge and could not free herself.The sage appealed to lord shiva for assistance.The Lord sent saraswatio,the divine stream,to help flood the gorge so that the cow could float up.The sage vashisth then decided to ensure that such mishaps would not occur in future and asked the youngest son of himalya to fill the chasm permantely.This he did with the assistance of Arbud,the mighty snake.This
Great Monuments: Mount Abu,where the Dilwara temples are located,is referred to as Arbudgiri in ancient Hindu and Jain scriptures.It is the only hill-station in Rajasthan as well as a very important Jain pilgrimage center.The period from AD 800 to 1200 was one of great social awakening and religious fervor among the people of this region.Jainism(an ancient Indian religion that originated in 600 BC) found its firm foundation in Rajasthan.With