Friday, May 6, 2016

Kankroli Temple


Kankroli is the small town located at the distance of 65 kilometres from the city of Udaipur. Kankroli is mainly known for its temple. It is sited on the banks of the renowned Rajsamand Lake. The temple Kankroli is popularly called as the temple of Dwarikadhish is one of the names of Lord Krishna. This temple is most significant temple of the Vaishnavas and Vallabhacharya sect. The chief deity of the Kankroli temple is believed to have imported from the Mathura, the hometown of Lord Krishna.


The idol of Lord Dwarikadhish was brought in 1671 AD, during the rule of Maharana Raj Singh. The idol was placed in the present temple, which was constructed at the time of the inaugural ceremony of the Rajsamand Lake in 1676 A.D. Shri Bal Krishna Ji the grandson of the Vallabhacharya, took the initiative to care for the deity. Since then, the Kankroli Temple is the third peeth or the religious temple of Vaishnav religion as the Pustimarg or the way to completion.
The temple has very quiet and soothing ambience. It really carries away all the tensions at once and bestows a heavenly bliss. Kankroli temple is the biggest temple of the Lord Dwarikadhish in Kankroli. 

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Rishabhdeo Temple

Rishabhdeo Temple is an important pilgrimage site for the Jain religion. Rishabhadeo is situated 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Udaipur and is on Udaipur-Ahmadabad Road. The name of the town is also Dhulev, however it is better known as Rishabhadeo. It is a well-known pilgrim site. The main attraction is the temple of Rishabhadeva, the first Jain tirthankara. Local Bhils also worship the deity. Lord Rishabhadeo is also “Kesariaji” because a large offering of saffron (keshar, a common ingredient in Jain rituals) is made to the deity.



The main idol in the temple is of Tirthankara Rishabha, carved in black stone in padmasana posture, about 3.5 feet (1.1 m) tall. Two oxen are carved in the center of the simhasana (platform) of the main idol, which also has 16 dreams of the mother of Tirthankar. Surrounding the main deity, there are 23 idols, 2 standing and 21 seated, in an ashtadhatu (composed of eight metals) parikar. Here, pilgrims are bound to be lost in unstinted devotion; both Jain and non-Jain visitors and pilgrims experience a sort of sacredness, thanks due to the simply indescribable aura of the image of Shri Prabhu. The round face of Shri Prabhu is extremely attractive and pleasing to the mind. The whole temple, with the main inner apartment, the deep pandal, nine chowkis, the assembly pandal, the Bhamati, the small shrines of gods, the Shrungara chowki, the peak and the encircling fort is simply majestic. Even from a distance, the gorgeous 52 Jinalayas can enrapture the viewer. In the north and south sides of the Khela Mandapa of the temple, idols of Tirthankaras Vasupujya, Mallinath, Neminath, Parshvanath and Mahavir Swami (collectively referred to as Panch-Balayati) are installed.

There are 52 secondary ornate shrines (devakulikas) of the Tirthankaras.

Elephants carved of black stone stand at the entrance of the temple. On the north is the image of Goddess Chakreshvari, and on the southern side is an image of goddess Padmavati.
The structure and architecture, of idols and temple, show clearly that it is a Jain temple, but since all Hindu castes and Jain sects have been offering prayers here since a long time ago, the management of the temple is done by the state Government.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Chaumaukha Temple

The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of the liberal and gifted Rajput monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century, in the AD 1439. The basement is of 48,000 sq. feet area that covers the whole complex. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four pillared halls and domes supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are intricately carved with no two being alike. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an interesting sight. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kg whose sound echoes in the entire complex. The main temple is a Chaumukh or a four-faced temple dedicated to Adinath.



 The main temple is the Adinath or Chaumukha temple (the four-faced temple) dedicated to the first tirthankara Adinath. Tucked away deep in the forested Aravalli hills, this is easily one of the most beautiful Jain temples in India. Built in the 15th century, the detailed and intricate carving on the marble looks like lace work rather than stone carving. The 15th century Adishwar temple or the Chaumaukha temple built by Sheth Dhanna Shah is a fine structure. It is in the form of a Nalinigulm Vimana (heavenly aircraft) that Shah had seen in his dream. Designed by Dipa Shilpi it took 65 years (1367- 1432) to erect and is the largest and most complex Jain temple in India. It also boasts of being one of the five most important holy shrines of the Jain.

The temple has 29 halls, 80 domes and the pavilions include 1444 pillars, each of them so intricately and artistically carved that they’ll leave a lasting impression on you. The figures of dancing goddesses, beautifully engraved on these pillars are an absolute architectural wonder. The best feature about these pillars is that no two pillars are alike in design and sculptures. Not only the pillars but almost every surface is carved with great intricacy. As you go from one chamber to another you’ll realize that it does not conform to the traditional longitudinal plan as of Indian temples but follows a cruciform one. This plan has four separate entrances, one on each side. Each of these then lead through a series of columned halls to a central arena and the sanctum which has the four faced white marble image of Lord Adinath. The first Jain saint Adinathji or Rishabhadev is surrounded by several other smaller shrines and domes. These are in turn surrounded by a Bhamati or range of cells for images, each of which has a roof of its own.  

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Charbhuja Temple

Charbhuja is a famous temple of the lord Vishnu in the Garhbor village in the Kumbhalgarh tehsil of Rajsamand district in the state of Rajasthan, India. This village is situated in Aravalli ranges. It is 38 km from the district headquarters Rajsamand. Desuri in the Pali district is a nearby village, through which it is connected to the Pali district. Gomati river flows nearby this temple.

The temple was built in 1444AD. According to the inscription inside the temple, village name was Badri, therefore, the idol is considered as BadriNath. The deity of Charbhuja Nath is considered to be miraculous.



The idol of Shri Charbhuja Ji is 85 centimeters high. The four arms of the idol hold conch, discus, mace and a lotus flowers. The discus and the mace symbolize dynamic power, energy and prowess. Some casts like Rajputs and the Gurjars hold a special reverence for this temple. Rajputs attribute a sword and shield as symbol of Rajput chivalry in every darshan.

The temple is made by mirrors, Lime mortars and Marble. The excellent work of the mirror is done in the original temple. The shutters of the inner temple are made of gold while outer shutters are made of silver. Garud ji is installed in the other courtyard. Stone elephants are placed on the both sides of the entrance. Temple is in the open space. The temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims.

Other Temple: 10 km away from Gadhbor, there is another temple of Vishnu named “Roop Narayan” or “Roopji” located in the village Sevntri. Seventri and Gadhbor is connected by motrable road.

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Shri Mahasatyaji

After Chittor was sacked for the last time (1568),Maharana Udai Singh II established his new capital 3 km. from Ahar, named it Udaipur.

Today, Ahar is the Mewar royal family’s mahasati (cremation site), which is near the museum. In 1615, Maharana Amar Singh I (1597-1620) was the first Maharana of Mewar ever to die in Udaipur. (His grandfather, Maharana Udai Singh II died in Gogunda, and his father, Pratap Singh I, died in Chavand).

Amar Singh was also the first Maharana to be cremated at Ahar. The following year, Amar’s young son and successor, Karan, erected a magnificent marble chhatri (cenotaph; literally umbrella) in memory of his father. Still to be seen, it has a four-faced statue in the centre and friezes at the base, depicting his numerous queens who committed Sati at his cremation (in accordance with custom, they died with him on his funeral pyre).

Thus Ahar became the new cremation ground of Maharana’s, members of their families and certain of the nobility, and also became the site for their commemorative cenotaphs.

It is graced by memorial cenotaphs; handsome columns raised on lofty terraces support vaulted roofs, the architraves of which are enormous single blocks. All are constructed of white marble from the quarries of Rajnagar and KANKROLI north of Udaipur. Nineteen Maharana’s who ruled and died in Udaipur have cenotaphs here, including SWAROOP SINGH, SHAMBHU SINGH, SAJJAN SINGH, FATEH SINGH, BHUPAL SINGH, and BHAGWAT SINGH MEWAR.

It has a fifty-six pillared portico with an octagonal dome in the centre, supported by eight small pillars. In the late 1990s, to preserve this important area of Mewar heritage, SHRIJI ARVIND SINGH MEWAR OF UDAIPUR began restoring his ancestors’ cenotaphs and they are now a splendid tourist attraction
Read more: http://www.eternalmewar.in/collaboration/temples/shri-mahasatyaji/index.aspx

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Ranakpur Temple

Ranakpur Temples are acclaimed world-wide for their intricate and superb architectural style. These temples form one of the five major pilgrimages of the Jains. Located in village of Ranakpur near Sadri town in the Pali district of Rajasthan, Ranakpur temple lies at a distance of 95 kms in the north of Udaipur city. The temple is easily accessible from the city of Udaipur as regular buses are easily available. Built in the 15th century, Ranakpur temples are known for being the largest and most important temples of the Jain cult.

The temple is said to have been built by Seth Dharna Sah (a Jain businessman) with the aid of Rana Kumbha, who ruled Mewar in the 15th century. Ranakpur got its name after the name of the Rajput Monarch and likewise the temples. The temple complex is positioned in an isolated valley on the western side of the Aravalli Range. The Jain Temples of Ranakpur are certainly creditable for their splendid architecture. This temple is wholly constructed in light colored marble and comprises a basement covering an area of 48000 sq feet. There are more than 1400 exquisitely carved pillars that support the temple.

In the complex, there are several temples including Chaumukha temple, Parsavanath temple, Amba Mata Temple and Surya Temple. Amongst all of them, Chaumukha Temple is the most important and as the term Chaumukha suggests, this temple is four-faced. Chaumukha temple is dedicated to Lord Adinath, who is the first ‘Tirthankara’ of the Jains. The Temple structure is highly compound having four different doorways to get into the chambers. These chambers ultimately take you to the main hall where the image of Adinath is positioned.

The four faced image also symbolizes the Tirthankara’s quest for the four directions and ultimately the cosmos. The image is surrounded by many small shrines and domes. One more range of cells with separate roofs encircles these shrines and domes all over again. The five spires elevate above the walls and around 20 cupolas rise from roof of the pillared hall. Each spire houses a shrine and the largest shrine is the important one that addresses the central altar. The temple ceilings are festooned with foliate scrollwork and geometric patterns. 

Friday, April 15, 2016

Surya Temple Ranakpur

Surya Narayan temple is dedicated to the Sun God and it is frequented by the devotees of the Lord Surya Narayan.
Sun Temple of Ranakpur is famous Sun or Surya temple well known as Surya Narayan Temple. This 13th century temple was rebuilt in 15th century after the destruction. The Sun temple is built with the white lime stone in the Nagara style with the delicate ornamented work.



Sun Temple is faces east and it has the shrine crowned with the Shikhara and an octagonal mandapa preceding the Shrine. The mandapa has the six verandas. The temple is located near the Ranakpur Jain Temple. In the Surya Narayan Temple, the Lord Sun idol is shown as riding his chariot. The walls of the temples have remarkable carvings of the warriors, horses and the celestial bodies which represent the artistic excellence of the people of the bygone era. It has an octagonal mandap before the shrine.
Surya Narayan temple receives many devotees from all around the world who came for the blessings of Lord Sun. Many devotees also visit the nearby temple of Amba Mata. This Sun temple is managed by the Udaipur Royal family trust.
Also in Ranakpur is the grand temple complex dedicated to the Jain Thirthankara Adinatha-the Chaumukh temple with the 29 halls with 1444 pillars no two of which are alike. This marble temple dates back to the mid fifteenth century.