11 Beautiful Jain Temples in India
India is a land of many cultures, beautiful temples, and true to this sentence, we have an extremely rich history of spirituality. Jainism is believed to have found its roots in India, and we can find most of the magical and beautiful Jain temples here. Jain temples and tirtha (pilgrimage sites) are present throughout the Indian subcontinent, which were built several years ago, some even more than 1000 years.
A few words about the religion: Despite comprising less than one percent of the population, Jainism is one of the oldest religions in India. It emerged in its current version from the teachings of 24 Tirthankaras (spiritual teachers), of whom Rishabhanatha (also known as Adinatha) was the first and Mahavira (also known as Vardhamana) was the last and most prominent. The fundamental principles of the followers are straightforward: forgiveness, non-violence, and a lack of greed.
India is home to many wonderful Jain temples too, from a 1,000 pillar with no two pillars matching to a temple atop a hill, these beautiful temples provide an insight not only into the religion and beliefs that people of this faith follow but also into their different architectural marvels. Here are some of the most awe-inspiring:
- Ranakpur Temple, Rajasthan :
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This Jain temple at Ranakpur, Rajasthan, dating back to the 15th century, and considered as one of the most important and largest temples of Jain culture, is dedicated to the first Tirthankara Rishabhanatha and is well known as the Ranakpur Jain Temple or also called the Chaturmukha Dharanavihara, as the temple has four faces.
The temple is a three-story structure made of marble is decorated with sculptures, floral patterns, and Jain scriptures. The main attraction of the temple is its 1444 ornately carved pillars. Not one pillar resembles the other and the unique thing about the temple is its color-changing columns. They go from golden to pale blue after every hour that passes, as the day advances. One can only marvel at the exquisite architecture of the temple as well as the various carvings in the complex.
2. Dilwara Temples, Moun Abu, Rajasthan:
The Dilwara Temple is a beautiful architecture and pilgrimage site for the Jains. Surrounded by the lush green Aravalli hills of Mount Abu, Rajasthan, the temple was built between the 11th and 13th centuries. This temple is designed by the Vastupal Tejpal and built by Vimal Shah.
It is in pure white marble that adds greatly to its effect and has large amounts of intricate carvings. The ornamental detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars, and panels is considered to be remarkable. The ceilings feature engraved designs of lotus buds, petals, flowers, and scenes from Jain mythology. With its simplicity and austerity, Dilwara Temple tells you about Jain values and principles.
3. Gomateshwar Temple, or the Bahubali Temple, Karnataka:
The Gomateshwara statue or Lord Bahubali statue, at 57 feet high, is the world’s highest monolithic statue, dedicated to the Jain God Bahubali. Located in Vindhyagiri hills at Sravanabelagola in Karnataka, the Gommatesvara statue was built in the 10th century by Chamundaraya, the general of the King Rajamalla of the Ganga dynasty.
One of the most famous festivals celebrated here, once in every 12 years, is the Mahamastakabhishek, which attracts devotees and the faithful from all over the world. At this time, the statue is bathed with milk, saffron, ghee, sugarcane juice, etc. from the top of the statue. The grandeur of this statue is worth witnessing.
4. Palitana Jain Temples, Gujarat:
Palitana Temple complex, erected atop Shatrunjaya Hills and located in Palitana to the southwest of Bhavnagar, Gujarat is acknowledged as the largest cluster of Jain temples. The temple complex can be accessed by ascending almost 4000 steps over a span of around 3.5 km over the hills. It contains over 860 marble carved Jain temples from the base to the peak of Shatrunjaya Hill which is considered sacred by the Svetambara Jains.
Dolis (chairs) carried by porters are also available for those who can’t walk to the top. Take note: No one is allowed to stay overnight as it is a sacred site and it remains closed during the monsoon season.
One of the most popular Jain pilgrimage sites, the Palitana temples seem to be floating pieces of ivory when sunlight falls on them.
5. Hanumantal Jain Mandir, Madhya Pradesh:
On the shores of Lake Hanuman Tal, is this Jain Temple complex in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. This fortress-like complex which houses 22 shrines, is the most significant independent Jain temple in India.
The real treasure lies in the shrines, each with ornately crafted images of various Jain deities and housing images and idols of the Tirthankaras throughout the ages, from the British period through the Mughal and Maratha periods. This temple is also the only one that houses an image of the Jain Goddess Padmavati, particularly noteworthy for its glasswork.
The annual Jain procession on the day of Lord Mahavira’s birthday starts here.
6. Hutheesing Jain Temple, Gujarat:
Hutheesing Jain Temple established in 1848, is one of the most revered Jain temples in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The two-storey white marble structure dedicated to Dharmantha ( the 15th Jain saint) is home to 11 deity sculptures.
The construction of the temple was initiated originally by Seth Hathisinh Kesarsinh, a wealthy Ahmedabad trader who died at 49. The construction was supervised and completed by his wife Shethani Harkunvar.
The main shrine lies on the east and the temple is covered with a big dome supported by twelve ornate finely carved pillars. In addition, there are 52 shrines (devakulikas), each adorned with an image of a Tirthankara. Also noteworthy is a six-story tall tower called Manasthambha (that enshrines an idol of Mahavira) or the “Column of Honor”.
7. Girnar Jain Temple, Gujarat:
The group temples of Jainism are situated on Mount Girnar situated near Junagadh in Junagadh District, Gujarat. These temples are sacred to the Digambara and the Svetambara branches of Jainism.
The temple lies on the holy hill of Girnar, at an elevation of 3,507 feet. It takes around 10000 steps to reach the top of the temple complex. It is decorated in marble, features carved ceilings and granite pillars, and houses a black idol of the temple’s namesake sitting in a lotus pose with a conch in hand. The grandest and oldest temple is dedicated to Jain’s 22nd Tirthankara, Neminath, who is believed to have renounced all worldly pleasures and came to Mount Girnar to attain salvation. He attained Moksha (died) on the Mount Girnar
8. Parshvanatha Jain Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh:
Parshvanatha Temple, a part of the expansive Khajuraho group of mountains, is located in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.
Not a square inch of the temple, from the facade to the sanctum sanctorum, has been left uncarved. This temple is mainly popular for its idols. All the idols depict the beauty of feminism. Inside the temple, there are many idols of female Goddesses playing musical instruments like manjeera, shankha,etc. The temple also comprises the idols of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
The inner sanctum of the temple contains an idol of Parshvanatha (the 23rd Jain Tirthankara) and at the back of the temple is the idol of Adinatha.
The Jain temples of Khajuraho are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho.
9. Sonagir Temple, Madhya Pradesh:
Sonagiri in the north-central Madhya Pradesh is known to be one of the popular sites of Jain temples dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries. It has at least 100 Jain temples, small and big, scattered all around the town. Of these, 77 temples are found in hills around Sonagiri. Among the most famous and oldest of these is number 57, which dates back to the 9th century Stark white in colour, the exterior of the temples is simple yet grand.
It is a popular place of penance and it is believed that about five and a half crores of saints have attained Nirvana here. It is said that the hill on which these temples are erected was once made of gold. Nestled on a hill, it houses an 11-foot tall rock-cut statue of Tirthankara Chandraprabha in a meditating pose.
10. Kundalpur Jain Temples, Madhya Pradesh:
Kundalpur is a town, a historical pilgrimage site for Jains in India, located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, 35 km from the city of Damoh. The place is adorned with as many as 63 temples dedicated to different Jain deities. Of these, 40 temples are situated on a hill and the other 23 lie in the valley. Shining like white pearls, the spires of these temples offer us an enchanting sight.
The temples are square blocks with dome roofs and pinnacles dating back to the 8th-9th century. Among all the temples the most famous is the Bade Baba temple with Bhagwan Adinath (affectionately termed “Bade Baba”) as the principal deity.
Kundalpur has a large 15 feet statue of Rishabhanatha (also known as Bade Baba) sitting in (Padmasana) posture. There is also an idol of Mahavira of 12 feet in padmasana posture with the 4 feet pedestal.
Kundalpur is believed to be Lord Mahavira’s birthplace.
11. Peacock Jain Temple :
Mandaragiri Hills, mainly known as BASADI BETTA are located just 60 km from Bengaluru. A Jain Temple or Basadi is located atop the hill and that’s how the name Basadi Betta ‘hill’ came to be. To reach the top, you have to climb 430 steps from the entrance at the base of the hill, and takes 15 to 20 minutes.
The highlight of the place is the famous architectural beauty- the pinchi-shaped 81 feet tall Guru Mandir. A pinchi is a peacock feather fan with bright blue-green shades which can take away all your blues. Another attraction here is the tall Chandranatha Thirthankara statue. Basadi Betta is one of the most important and significant pilgrimage centers for Jains in the southern state of Karnataka.
Friends, if you are an ardent art lover, I would suggest that once in a lifetime you should visit these pieces of architectural marvels on earth, rich in wonderful carvings, and which are not very well known but give a tough competition to the Taj Mahal, Agra in beauty.
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