Jaisalmer Fort Jain temples

Jaisalmer Fort Jain temples
Parshvanath temple
Parshvanath temple
Religion
AffiliationJainism
SectŚvētāmbara
DeityParshvanatha, Chandraprabha, Rishabhanatha, Sambhavanatha, Shitalanatha, Shantinath and Kunthunatha
FestivalMahavir Jayanti
Location
LocationJaisalmer, Rajasthan
Interactive map of Jaisalmer Fort Jain temples
Coordinates26°54′44″N 70°54′44″E / 26.91222°N 70.91222°E / 26.91222; 70.91222
Architecture
Established12th century CE
Completed16th century CE
Temple7
Official name: Hill Forts of Rajasthan
CriteriaCultural: (ii)(iii)
Designated2013 (session)
Reference no.247rev

Jaisalmer Fort Jain temples is a group of seven Śvetāmbara Jain temples inside Jaisalmer Fort in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site of UNESCO as part of Hill Forts of Rajasthan.[1]

History

Jaisalmer Fort has a complex of seven Jain temples built by yellow sandstone during 12-16th century.[1][2][3][4] Chandraprabha temple was built in 1509 CE.[5] Askaran Chopra of merta built a huge temple dedicated to Sambhavanatha housing more than 600 idols and Gyan Bhandar (grand library) with oldest hand written books scripted on Bhojpatra and Tadputra.[6] There are about 1,000 old manuscripts written on palm leaf with painted wooden covers. These manuscripts dates back to 12th century.[7][8] The library also contains paintings, astrological charts, and a copy of dronacharya's Oghaniryaktivritti.[9] Chopra Panchaji built Ashtapadh temple inside the fort.[10]

Sambhavanatha temple and Parshvanath temple houses inscription dated 1440 CE and 1416 CE installed during the reign of Rawal Dūdā.[11]

Architecture

Torana at Parshvanatha temple

Jaisalmer Fort has a large complex of seven Jain temples. These Jain temples of Jaisalmer are considered architectural wonders. The group of Jain temple consist of Parsvanatha temple, Sambhavanatha temple, Shitalanatha temple, Shantinatha and Kunthunatha temple, Chandraprabha temple and Rishabhanatha temple.[7][12]

The temple contains frescoes, mirrors and other forms of detailing, the temples boast exquisite designs, with the walls of the temples features intricate carvings of animals and human figures similar to Dilwara temples.[5][13][14]

Parshvanatha temple

The Parshvanatha temple is the oldest temple in the complex. It houses a black marble idol of Parshvanatha with a hood of a serpent with multiple heads over his head, similar to that of in Lodhurva Jain temple.[15] The temple is rich in craftsmanship and exquisite carvings.[16] The garbhagriha wall bears carvings of animals and human figures. The shikhar of the temple is crowned with amalaka.[17] The temple features an ornate porch and the main shrine is surrounded by 52 small shrines.[18]

The Archaeological Survey of India describes the Parshvanatha temple as one of the oldest and most elaborate temples within the fort. Its plan consists of a garbhagriha (sanctum), antarala (vestibule), mandapa, trika-mandapa and mukha-mandapa (entrance hall). The mukha-mandapa is supported on four pillars decorated with elaborately carved toranas. The interior walls contain carvings of human and animal figures, while the sanctuary is surmounted by a shikhara crowned by an amalaka. The temple is arranged around a peristyle courtyard with a double colonnade and ornamented ceilings. A series of cells along the rear wall of the surrounding verandah contain seated images of the Tirthankaras.[19]

Chandraprabha temple

Chandraprabha temple

Chandraprabha temple plan consists of the mandapa with iconic architecture. Ashtapadh temple features images of Vishnu, Kali and Lakshmi along with Jain deities.[18] The temple belongs to the later phase of Jain temple construction within the fort, demonstrating the continuation of Jain architectural patronage into the early 16th century.[5][20]

Rishabhanatha temple

Rishabhanatha temple houses an idol of Rishabhanatha.[5] Rishabhanatha temple houses an idol of Rishabhanatha safeguarded with glass cabinets.[18] The temple is one of the seven principal Jain shrines forming the interconnected religious complex within Jaisalmer Fort.[12]

Shantinatha and Kunthunatha temples

The Shantinatha and Kunthunatha temples contain elaborate carvings.[5] Together with the other Jain shrines, the temples form part of the dense concentration of medieval religious architecture preserved within the inhabited fort.[20]

Sambhavanatha temple

The Sambhavanatha temple is dedicated to Sambhavanatha, the third Tirthankara. Askaran Chopra of Merta is credited with the construction of a large temple dedicated to Sambhavanatha, which houses more than 600 images.[6] An inscription associated with the temple dates to 1440 CE, providing epigraphical evidence for Jain religious activity within Jaisalmer Fort during the 15th century.[11]

Gyan Bhandar

Gyan Bhandar a historic Jain manuscript library associated with the Sambhavanatha temple.[6] The collection contains approximately 1,000 old manuscripts, including manuscripts written on palm leaves and examples with painted wooden covers. Some of the manuscripts have been dated to the 12th century.[7][8] The preservation of manuscripts alongside the temples reflects the role of Jain religious establishments at Jaisalmer not only as places of worship but also as centres for the preservation of literary material.[6]

The library also preserves paintings, astrological charts and a copy of Dronacharya's Oghaniryaktivritti.[9]

Jain architectural tradition

The temples belong to the wider tradition of medieval Jain architecture in western India. Jain temples in Rajasthan, including those at Jaisalmer, generally developed from the Gurjara, Maru and Māru-Gurjara architectural traditions. Such temples typically comprise a garbhagriha and antarala connected with one or more pillared mandapas, often covered by decorated tiered or domed ceilings.[21]

At Jaisalmer, the use of locally available yellow sandstone gives the temple group a visual character consistent with the surrounding fort, palaces and merchant houses. The elaborate stone carving of the temples forms part of a wider tradition of stone craftsmanship represented throughout Jaisalmer Fort.[19][20]

World Heritage status

Jaisalmer Fort, including its Jain temples, forms one of the six components of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013.[1] In its documentation for the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, UNESCO identifies the Hindu and Jain temples within the forts as evidence of the religious patronage of Rajput rulers and emphasises their richly carved architectural vocabulary. The Jain and Hindu temples at Jaisalmer are specifically cited for demonstrating changes in the north Indian Nagara temple form between the 13th and 15th centuries.[20]

Jaisalmer Fort, including its ancient temples, is also listed as a centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.[22]

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography

Books

  • Abram, David (2003). The Rough Guide to India. Rough Guide Travel Guides (4th ed.). Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843530893.
  • Berger, Arthur Asa (2017). The Golden Triangle: An Ethno-semiotic Tour of Present-day India. An enthno-semiotic tour of present-day India. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-4128-0787-6.
  • Betts, Vanessa; McCulloch, Victoria (2013). India - The North: Forts, Palaces, the Himalaya Dream Trip. Footprint Dream Trip. Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 9781907263743.
  • Fodor's (2009). Fodor's Essential India: with Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai & Kerala. Full-color Travel Guide (4th ed.). Fodor's Travel. ISBN 9781640971233.
  • Hunter, William Wilson (1886). The Imperial Gazetteer of India. The Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. 7 (2nd ed.). London: Trübner.
  • Jain, Chanchalmal Lodha (2005). History of Oswals. New Delhi: Panchshil Publications. ISBN 9788192373027.
  • Kapoor, Subodh (2002), The Indian Encyclopaedia: Indo-Pak War-Kamla Karri, The Indian Encyclopaedia: Biographical, Historical, Religious, Administrative, Ethnological, Commercial and Scientific, vol. 12, Delhi: Cosmo Publication, ISBN 978-81-7755-269-0
  • Melton, J. Gordon (2014). Faiths Across Time: 5,000 Years of Religious History. Vol. 4. California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-026-3.
  • Ring, Trudy; Watson, Noelle; Schellinger, Paul (2012). Asia and Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places. Vol. 5. New York: Routledge. ISBN 9781136639791.
  • Śrivastava, Vijai Shankar (1981). Cultural Contours of India. Vol. Dr. Satya Prakash Felicitation. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 9780391023581.
  • Sinha, Juhi (2007). Beyond the Dunes: Journeys in Rajasthan. Haryana: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14306-306-3.

Web

  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Jaisalmer Fort Jain temples at Wikimedia Commons
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