________________
JAIN PLACES OF PILGRIMAGE:
of the different Tirthankars in these temples on the hills except the one dedicated to Parshwanath, where there is installed the stone image of this 23rd Tirthankar.
MOUNT ABU. Next we may mention the celebrated Jain Temples at Dilwara on Mount Abu in Rajputana. Col. Todd says :-"Beyond controversy this is the most superb of all the temples in India and there is not an edifice beside the Taj Mahal, that can approach it." These are built of white marble at an enormous cost by rich Jain merchants and are very widely known for delicacy of carving, beauty of details and magnificent ornamentation. The illustration is a portion of a celiing and the reader can easily form an idea of its grandeur, which stands unrivalled as a piece of architecture. There are four temples, the principal one being dedicated to Rishavdeva, the first Tirthankar. Vimal Shah a merchant and banker of Guzrat purchased only the site from the king by covering the ground with silver coins and paying the same
685