The Jain Dilwara temples of India are located about 2½ kilometers from Mount Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station. These temples dating back from the 11th to the 13th century AD are world famous for their stunning use of marble. The five legendary marble temples of Dilwara are the sacred pilgrimage of the Jains. They are an overwhelming blend of simple beauty and exquisite elegance. The marble temples have an opulent entranceway. The simplicity in architecture verily reminds one that Jainism as a religion "encouraged honesty and frugality". The temples reside amidst mesmerizing surroundings of mango trees and wooded hills. A high wall, shimmering luminous in the sunlight, shrouds the temple complex. JAIN is an activity within the Java Community Process, developing APIs for the creation of telephony (voice and data) services. ... Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan state, in western India. ... Rajasthan (राजस्थान) is the geographically largest state in northwestern India. ... The word temple has different meanings in the fields of architecture, religion, geography, anatomy, and education. ... Marble This page is about the metamorphic rock. ...

Although the Jains built some beautiful temples at other places in Rajasthan, none come close to these in terms of architectural perfection. The ornamental detail spread over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is simply marvellous and has to be seen to be believed.

Five Unique Temples of Dilwara

There are 5 temples in all, each with its own unique identity though together they are named after the small village in which they are located. These are:

• Vimal Vasahi (Shri Adi Nathji temple)
• Luna Vasahi (Shri Nemi Nathji temple)
• Pithalhar (Shri Rishabh Devji temple)
• Khartar Vasahi (Shri Parshav Nathji temple)
• Mahaveer Swami (Shri Mahaveer Swamiji temple)

The most famous of these are the Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temple.

Vimal Vasahi Temple This temple carved entirely out of white marble was built in 1021 by Vimal Shah, a minister of Bhimidev I, the Solanki Maharaja of Gujarat. The temple is dedicated to the 1st Jain Tirthankara (teacher or guide), Adi Nath. The temple stands in an open courtyard surrounded by a corridor, which has numerous cells containing smaller idols of the Tiranthakaras. The richly carved corridors, pillars, arches, and 'mandaps' or porticoes of the temple are simply amazing. The ceilings feature engraved designs of lotus-buds, petals, flowers and scenes from Jain and Hindu mythology. // Events Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, sixth Fatimid Caliph of Egypt disappears on a trip to al-Muqattam hills. ... For the English cricketer, See Vikram Solanki Siddhraj Jaysinh The Solanki or Chalukya is a Hindu Rajput dynasty of India, who ruled the kingdom of Gujarat from the 10th to the 13th centuries. ... Gujarat (ગુજરાત in Gujarati) is the most industrialized state in India after Maharashtra and is located in western India, bordered by Pakistan to the northwest and Rajasthan to the north. ... In Jainism, a Tirthankara (Fordmaker) is a human who achieved enlightenment, became a Jiva, and whose religious teachings have formed the canon of Jainism; although not Gods, statues of Tirthankaras are found in temples. ... A Hindu is an adherent of philosophies and scriptures of Hindu religion. ...

The Rang mandap is a grand hall supported by 12 decorated pillars and nicely carved out arches with a breathtaking central dome. On the pillars are carved female figurines playing musical instruments and 16 Vidhyadevis, or the goddesses of knowledge, each one holding her own symbol.

The Navchowki is a collection of nine rectangular ceilings, each one containing beautiful carvings of different designs supported on ornate pillars. The Gudh mandap is a simple hall once you step inside its heavily decorated doorway. Installed here is the idol of Adi Nath or Lord Rishabdev, as he is also known. The mandap is meant for 'Arti' to the deity. The Hastishala (Elephant Cell) was constructed by Prithvipal, a descendant of Vimal Shah in 1147-49 and features a row of elephants in sculpture. Aarti, ãrti, arathi, or ãrati is a Hindu ritual in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. ... A deity or a god, is a postulated preternatural being, usually, but not always, of significant power, worshipped, thought holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, or respected by human beings. ...

Luna Vasahi (Shri Nemi Nathji temple) The Luna Vashi temple is dedicated to the 22nd Tirthankara Shri Nemi Nathji. This magnificent temple was built in 1230 by two brothers - Vastupal and Tejpal - both ministers of a Virdhaval, the Vaghela ruler of Gujarat. The temple built in memory of their late brother Luna was designed after the Vimal Vashi temple. The main hall or Rang mandap features a central dome from which hangs a big ornamental pendent featuring elaborate carving. Arranged in a circular band are 72 figures of Tirthankaras in sitting posture and just below this band are 360 small figures of Jain monks in another circular band. The Hathishala or elephant cell features 10 beautiful marble elephants neatly polished and realistically modelled. The Vaghelas were an Indian dynasty of Gujarat. ...

The Navchowki features some of the most magnificent and delicate marble stone cutting work of the temple. Each of the nine ceilings here seems to exceed the others in beauty and grace. The Gudh mandap features a black marble idol of the 22nd Jain Tirthankara Neminath. The Kirthi Stambha is a big black stone pillar that stands on the left side of the temple. The pillar was constructed by Maharana Kumbha of Mewar. The remaining three temples of Dilwara are smaller but just as elegant as the other two.

Pittalhar Temple This temple was built by Bhima Shah, a minister of Sultan Begada of Ahmedabad. A massive metal statue of Rishab Dev (Adinath), cast in five metals is installed in the temple. The main metal used in this statue is 'Pital' (brass), hence the name 'Pittalhar'. The Shrine consists of a main Garbhagraha, Gudh mandap and Navchowki. Ahmedabad (અમદાવાદ in Gujarati) or Ahmadābād is the largest city in Gujarat and the 7th largest city in India with a population of 5 million. ...

Parshavanath Temple This temple, dedicated to Lord Parshavnath was built by Mandlik and his family in 1458-59 It consists of a three storied building, the tallest of all the shrines at Dilwara. On all the four faces of the sanctum on the ground floor are four big mandaps. The outer walls of the sanctum comprise of beautiful sculptures in gray sandstone, depicting Dikpals, Vidhyadevis, Yakshinis, Shalabhanjikas and other decorative sculptures comparable to the ones in Khajuraho and Konarak. Khajuraho is a city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located about 385 miles (620 kilometres) southeast of Delhi, the capital city of India. ... The Konark temple, widely known not only for its architectural grandeur but also for the intricacy and profusion of its sculptural work, is situated on the west coast of Orissa, India. ...

Mahaveer Swami Temple This is a small structure constructed in 1582 and dedicated to the 24th Jain Tirthankara, Lord Mahaveer. There are pictures on the upper walls of the porch painted in 1764 by the artists of Sirohi. Sirohi is a city in southern Rajasthan state in western India. ...