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Pilgrim Tours Rajasthan India >>
Pilgrim Rajasthan India |
For many visitors, this is reason enough to visit Mt. Abu
Located within an ancient mango grove, the Dilwara temples are
profusely carved, and are open between noon and six in the evening.
During the morning, the priests perform several ritual ceremonies
that are not open for public viewing. The Jains house images of
their tirthankaras (those who impart knowledge) within the sanctums,
and the two main shrines, those of Adinath and Neminath, are
elaborately carved, from doorways and lintels to ceilings, pillars,
walls and arches. The sculptor's art is as much a dedication to the
gods as it is a repository of the stone-carver's skill, enshrined
here forever. A separate hall, dedicated to the donors who worked
towards the building of these magnificent temples, houses their life
size images including the delicate tracery of their delicate tracery
of their garments captured in exquisite detail on marble.
Shri Mahavirji Temple
This Digember Jain piligram centre is 90 Kms by rail from
sawai Madhopur on the Delhi-Mumbai Broad gauge route. The main
temple is in side in inclouser known as katla. Accourdinfg to a
legend , status of Shri Mahavirji, the 24th Jain tirthankar, was
unearthed by a cowherd a few hundred years back. The place, in due
course of time, become a pilgrim centre and attracts Jains far and
wide.
The temple of Shri Mahawirji combines the modem & ancient style of
architecture. It is raised on hung platfrom and is built mostly of
white sandstone. The main Chattries are visiable from a distance and
are built of red sandstone. The walls of the temple are illustrated
with carvings of religious scenes.
A man stambh (Tower) Made of marble is installed in front of the
main temple. Devotees pay specail homage at this point their Chattri
is also erected bearing the footprints of Shri Mahavirji. An annual
fair is also held here which attracts Minas, Gujars Jains , and
people of other communities in large numbers. The fair last for the
five days and ends with a colourfull Rathan yatra.
Jain Temple, Ranakpur
Ranakpur is located in the mountain ranges of Pali
district, 23 kms away from the Phalna railway station. Ranakpur is
reached after passing lush green valleys and streams and the heart
capturing views drive away any fatigue of the journey. The Ranakpur
Jain temples were built during the region of the liberal and gifted
monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century.
The entire temple area is enclosed within a wall. The main 'Chamukha'
temple is dedicated to the trithankara Rishabdeoji and a four-faced
image is enshrined in the inner sanctum, open on all four sides.
An enormous basement cover 48,000 sq. feet are. There are four
subsidiary shrines, twenty four pillared halls and eight domes
supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of columns
is 1,444, all which are intricetrly carved, no two being alike.
A corridor around the shrine has niches for the tirthankara images
and each niche has its spire or shikhar. Little bells are festooned
atop each shikar and their jingling in the breeze creates celestial
music.
A small shrine dedicated to Prashvanath faces the main temple. It
has a black image of the tirthankara in the inner sanctum.
There are images of Adinath in the north west, Parshvanath in the
north east, Ajitnath in the south-east and Lord Mahavir Swami in the
south west. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in
various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an engrossing
sight. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108
kgs whose sound enches in the entire complex.
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