________________
Dilwara Temples for the first time - not that attractive from the exterior! - I was just overwhelmed by the incredible work the sculptors have created here, especially considering that marble is quite a hard material to work with. It took me quite a time to assimilate all this beauty: the abundant ornamental details, the elegant spanning, filigree worked arches, the wide domes with their jewel-like pendants and gracefully carved deities, the narrative ceiling panels with their mass scenes, the richly decorated doorways and all the most elegant pillars.
In one of my books on India I read about another important holy place for the Jains: Mount Shatrunjaya in Palitana. Fascinated by a photograph in this book, I knew that I had to go and see this unique place, despite the fact that about 3500 steps on the way up to the tirtha were waiting for me - and my heavy camera equipment. Next moming at half past five. I was at the starting point of the way up. As soon as I took my huge backpack out of the car, several porters offered their services to me. So I chose for the job a lady standing a little bit aside from all the other shouting porters. I had a rather uncomfortable feeling seeing her balancing my precious camera free on her head, but she did an excellent job. 1 carried my 35-millimetre equipment of about ten kilograms weight and the stand. I also was astonished seeing some nuns climbing all the distance barefoot. I preferred doing my own kind of pilgrimage all the 3500 steps up to Mount Shatrunjaya in this starry fullmoon dawn. When the first sunbeams came over the horizon, we reached the top after a climb of about forty minutes Most of the people then turned to the left ridge, but I turned to the right ridge (navtuk). From there I could enjoy one of the most splendid panoramic views I have ever seen - showing the incredible number of temples on Mount Shatrunjaya in the soft early morning light. This sight made me immediately forget all the strain to reach there. As no food is allowed within the tirtha, a priest offered me generously some prasad that I appreciated very much. This place made such a deep impression on me, that I returned the very next morning and also my porter was much delighted when I engaged her for a second time.
Jan Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
