Delwara Jain Temples

Author(s): Jayantvijay
Publisher: Seth Kalyanji Parmanandji Pedhi

Page 4

ove ove evex,
exeve serving jinshasan
VIMAL VASAHI TEMPLE
138044 gyanmandir@kobatirth.org
Introductory : This temple was built by Vimal Shah, the Minister and Commander-in-Chief of Bhima Dev I, Solanki ruler of Gujarat. He was an able administrator and had subdued many an adversary of his master. Vimal 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 on the battle-fields, with the blessings of tutelary deity Ambika, constructed this Temple at a cost of rupees 18.53 crores (million) at that time. He had to pay fantastic price for the land to the owner. It took 14 years to build this temple by 1500 artisans and 1200 labourers. Famous architect 'Kirthidhar' accomplished this wonder in the world. The marble was brought from Arasoori hill near Ambaji, 14 miles from Abu Road and on the back of elephants. The whole shrine covers an area of 140 ft. long and 90 ft. broad.
While entering the embellished door of Vimal Vasahi, we get a glimpse of the grandeur of sculptured marble, equisite and exuberant carvings of ceilings, domes, pillars and arches of the temple dream-like far beyond any one's expectations. It has a sanctum, a Gudha Mandap, Navchoki, Rang Mandap and a circumambultary corridor having 57 cells. In each cell, image of one or the other Jain Tirthankar is installed. In front of every cell,
3139
Jain Education International.