There
are 5 temples in all : Vimal Vasahi
Luna Vasahi
Pithalhar
Khartar Vasahi
Mahaveer Swami
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.
The temples reside amidst mesmerizing surroundings of mango
trees and wooded hills. A high wall, shimmering luminous
in the sunlight, shrouds the temple complex.
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 Deoji 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 AD by Vimal Shah, a minister of
Raja Bhimdeo. The temple is dedicated to the 1st Jain Tirthankara
(teacher or guide) Adi Nath.. 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.
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 AD by two brothers - Vastupal and Tejpal
- both ministers of a local ruler. 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.
