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PART V STORIES AFTER BHAGAWÄN MAHÄVIR
35 - Temples of Delwädä
Mount Abu is a beautiful town on a mountain in the state of Rajasthan. Within the town, there are two magnificent Jain temples, known as the Delwädä Temples. The carvings in both of these temples are breathtaking. The carvings in the marble ceilings of these temples are so minute and intricate that it is difficult to copy the design even on a piece of paper. These temples are regarded as "poetry in marble". Vimalshä built the first temple in the 11th century A.D. at a cost of 180 million rupees. The second temple, called Lunig Vasahi, was built by two brothers, Vastupäl and Tejpal, in the memory of their elder brother. This temple was built in the 13th century A.D. at a cost of 120 million rupees. The stories associated with the architects of these two temples are presented here.
Vimalshä The Solanki dynasty was the golden period for the state of Gujarat in which the authority and prosperity of the state reached its peak. The credit for putting Gujarat in this position mainly goes to the King's chancellors and commanders, who were at the helm of affairs. It is interesting to know that many of the chancellors and some of the commanders of that period were Jains. Vimalshä was a very capable and outstanding commander in several respects. King Mulräj, the founder of the Solanki dynasty, had an advisor named Vir Mahattam. His wife's name was Virmati. They had three sons named Nedh, Vimal, and Chähil. While they were still very young, their father renounced worldly life and became a monk. Their mother then went to her parents' place and raised her sons with love and care. Nedh was very intelligent and grew up to be a wise, considerate youth. Vimal was bold and smart. He liked horseback riding and archery. He steadily gained expertise in those arts, and in due course turned out to be a wellknown equestrian and an accomplished archer.
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JAIN STORY BOOK
