Jain Spirit 2004 06 No 19

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 46

44 ART & LITERATURE
SACRED
Photo: James Maturin-Baird
Vasass FAST
Dilwara Temple, Mount Abu
DILWARA TEMPLES, MOUNT ABU, RAJASTHAN Mount Abu stands in Rajasthan's Sirohi district, and is considered one of the five holy hills of the Jains. According to an inscription dating back to 1370, Mahavir is believed to have visited here.
The Dilwara Temples, located near the village of Dilvaja on Mount Abu, are so captivating that a visitor would be content to spend a couple of days just admiring them.
DR. L. M. SINGHVI CONTINUES HIS PILGRIMAGE OF HISTORIC TEMPLES
The Tejapala temple, dedicated to Neminath, was built by Tejapala and Vastupala, the ministers of King Viradhavala, in the 12th century. The seated statue of Neminath in the sanctum sanctorum is sculptured in black basalt rock. Its consecration is believed to have taken place in 1230.
The Dilwara Temples, built in white marble, are designed in such a way that light and shade create a hypnotic ambience in all their corridors. Ornamentally detailed ceilings, pillars and panels seem to be carved to perfection. The main attractions here are the statues in both metal and stone, especially the
Photo: Robert Radin
Jaisalmer
Photo: Atul K Shah
bronze image of Adinath. The surrounding wall is in grey stone. The niches of the temples contain white marble Saparikara images of Jain monks seated in the meditative posture. The Phanasana is composed of nine tiers and surmounted by a fluted bell. The bells also appear in the cardinal directions, but here they are accompanied by lions. The whole exterior is plastered in white lime.
RANAKPUR TEMPLE, RAJASTHAN
The tranquil pilgrim town of Ranakpur is famous for its marvelously carved Jain temples in amber stone. The central temple, enshrining the four-faced image of Adinath, was built by Dharna Shah, a minister of Rana Kumbha of Mewar (143368), and covers an area of 3,720 square metres. It took nearly 50 years to build the Ranakpur temple. Dharna Shah was greatly influenced by the sermons of a Jain monk, Somasundara, and he saw the plan of the temple in a dream. But no architect could transform his dream into a physical plan on paper. It took Dharna Shah years to find the architect who was able to pen down his dream. The astounding 29 halls