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.