Jain Mandir

Overview

"DEV, SHASHTRA, & GURU" are the three most important aspects of Jainism.

In the Jain Shravak's world, going to the Jain temple on a daily basis is believed to be an essential aspect of their existence. The practice of eating before sunset is really one of the three primary ethics that are regarded to be associated with the Jain way of life, which are: daily visits to "Jinalaya"; use of Chhanna (filtered) water; and consumption of food before sunset. For every Jain Shravaka to be able to have a daily "Jin Darshan," regardless of where he or she may be located in the nation or the globe, it is essential to have knowledge about all locations associated with Jainism "Digamber/ Shwetamber/ Sthanak, among others."

Architecture

In general, the architecture of Jain temples resembles that of Hindu temples, as well as Buddhist temple architecture from ancient times. Many of the same craftsmen and carvers were employed by many different faiths, resulting in a wide range of regional and historical styles. In Hindu and most Jain temples, the fundamental design consists of a modest garbhagriha (sanctuary) for the primary murti (cult image), followed by a tall superstructure and one or more enormous mandapa halls. This has been the basic design for over a thousand years. Different architectural designs are used to construct the temples of Ain. As early as the Indian rock-cut architectural history, the first Jain constructions may have been discovered there. This architectural legacy was originally shared with Buddhism and subsequently with Hinduism as a whole at the end of the classical era. In places like Aihole, Badami, Kalugumalli, and Udayagiri, rock-cut Jain temples and monasteries coexist alongside those of other faiths. Located in southern India, the Ellora Caves are a late-period archaeological monument that comprises temples of all three major faiths, as the early Buddhist structures give place to later Hindu structures.

When compared to other religions, the Jains prefer to build huge pictures of the 24 Tirthankaras in the open rather than within shrine buildings. Statues of naked women, usually in the kayotsarga meditation pose, grew in size throughout time (which is similar to standing at attention). Gopachal rock-cut Jain monuments and Siddhachal Caves are two examples; the former has several groups of sculptures, while the latter has a number of solo figures, notably the 12th-century Gommateshwara statue and the more recent Statue of Vasupujya.

Jain Temples in India

India is a melting pot of cultures, with a long history steeped in religion and philosophy. In this diversified nation, one of the earliest known faiths is Jainism, which dates back thousands of years. The outcome is a proliferation of Jain temples around the nation. There is a wide range of uses for these temples, unlike those of other religions. They are the greatest in the world when it comes to design. Remarkable pillars, elaborate decorations, and carved ceilings emanate an alluring allure that reflects the grandeur of the prehistoric past.

Ranakpur Jain Temple, Rajasthan: Thousands of Jain pilgrims go to the Ranakpur Temple every year to pay their respects to the temple's 15th-century construction. It takes place 95 kilometers north of Udaipur, in the hamlet of Ranakpur. Dharna Shah, a well-known trader of the period, erected the temple with the assistance of the Mewar monarch. In terms of temples, this one is particularly notable since it is dedicated to Adinath (the first Jain Tirthankara).
Dilwara Temple, Rajasthan: About 2.5 kilometers from Mount Abu, you'll find the gorgeous Jain holy complex known as Dilwara Temple, which is renowned for its stunning architecture. It was built by Vimal Shah during the 11th and 13th centuries, with outstanding design help from the Dhokla Jain Ministers. In spite of the fact that there are other Jain temples scattered across Rajasthan, many architecture enthusiasts consider Dilwara Temple to be one of the most beautiful.
Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, Delhi: The Jain Birds Facility, a veterinary hospital located behind the main temple complex, is the most well-known feature of this temple. A Mughal officer is said to have had a Tirthankara statue in his tent when the temple was built. Other Jain army officers were also drawn to the spot, and a shrine was erected there in 1656.
Gomateshwara Temple, Karnataka: Bahubali Temple, or Gomateshwara Temple, is located in Shravanabelagola, a small village in Karnataka. In addition to being a revered religious place, it is also a well-known historical monument. Vindhyagiri Hill is home to a 57-foot-tall statue of Bahubali. In terms of monolithic monuments, this Jain figure is one of the biggest in the world. The Prakrit inscriptions at the base of the Bahubali monument honor the King who provided the funding for the construction of this place.
Palitana Temple, Gujarat: These Jain temples, together with Shikharji, sit atop Shatrunjaya Hill in Palitana, the state's holiest city for Jains. This structure was initially constructed during the reign of King Kumarapala in the 11th century. It took 900 years to complete the project. Muslims conquered the country in the 14th and 15th centuries, wreaking havoc on the country. Because most Jain pilgrimages are made on foot, the temples were built in clusters to cut down on travel time. The main temple is located at a significant altitude, and it requires the completion of 3500 steps to get there. It honors Jainism's first Tirthankara, Adinath. The main shrine is composed of marble and is covered with gold and precious stones as a decoration.
Dharmanath Temple, Kerala: Located at Mattancherry in Kerala's Dharmanath Temple is revered for its spiritual importance by millions of people throughout the world. Dharmanath Tirthankara, the 15th Tirthankara, built this holy legacy in 1904, making it more than 100 years old. In particular, the Jain community from Gujarat and Rajasthan has a great deal of significance for this hallowed site.
Sonagiri Temples, Madhya Pradesh: the Digambar Jain community reveres Sonagiri as a pilgrimage place. Nangang Kumar obtained salvation here together with 15 million worshippers, making this area a religiously significant place. The Laghu Sammed Shikhar, with its 132-acre footprint, is revered as a holy site. There are several historic Jain temples in this area that date back to the 9th century. Of the total, there are only 77 of them sitting on a hill. The remainder is scattered across the town.
Kulpakji Temple, Telangana: Kulpakji Temple, located in Telangana's Kolanupaka hamlet, dates back to the 10th century and is a revered Jain pilgrimage destination. The Kakatiya Dynasty's sponsorship of this area made it a prominent Jain center. For the Shwetambar people, this memorial has a special place in their hearts. 150 craftsmen from Gujarat and Rajasthan have been working on a massive refurbishment of Kulpakji Temple.
Parshvanatha Temple, Madhya Pradesh: The Parshvanatha Temple, which dates back to the 10th century and is located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, is worth a visit. Lord Adinath was the primary deity worshipped here during the Chandela dynasty, but Lord Parshvanatha has since taken his place. Around 970 CE, the famed Jain dynasty of Dhanga commissioned the construction of this temple. Many other Khajuraho constructions, including this one, have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and this one is among them.
Chaturmukha Basadi, Karnataka: One of the most popular tourist attractions in Karkala, the Chaturmukha is a Jain monument that was created under the sponsorship of the Santara Dynasty under the patronage of Immadi Vodeya. It is one of the most important Jain monuments in the world. Construction on the monument started in the late 16th century, and it presently holds portraits of Aranath, Mallinath, and Munisuvratnath, among other Hindu deities. The Chaturmukhi Basadi is now in the care of the 'Archaeological Survey of India,' which is responsible for its preservation.
Navagraha Jain Temple, Karnataka: One of the holiest pilgrimage destinations in India for adherents of Jainism is the Navagraha Jain Temple, which is located near the town of Varur. It was under the guidance of Sri Gunadhar Maharaj that the building on this sacred place started in the year 2005.
Among the temple's relics is a 61-foot-tall monolithic statue of Parshvanatha, which is considered the second-tallest monument in the Jain community, after Bawangaja. One hundred eighty-five tonnes of steel are used to construct the structure, which stands 48 feet tall. In addition to the big statue of Parshvanatha, the temple also has smaller sculptures of the other Tirthankaras, a total of eight in all. Year-round, Navagraha Mandir is a magnet for throngs of visitors and pilgrims.
Ellora Jain Caves, Maharashtra: The magnificent Jain caves of Ellora, located away from the hustle and bustle of the city, are covered with intricate sculptures and paintings. A pinnacle of religious and spiritual activity that took place at Ellora during the 9th century is commemorated by these caves, which were precisely sculpted to perfection during that time period. The group of five caverns, which are numbered 30 to 34, is located about a kilometer away from Cave 29, which is the site of the last Hindu temple in the area. Cave 30, also known as Chota Kailasa, is a replica of the famous Kailasa Temple in the Himalayan Mountains.
Girnar Jain Temples: Gujarat Mt. Girnar, in the Indian state of Gujarat, is home to a collection of Jain temples. These temples are considered significant places of devotion by the Digambara and Shwetambara Jain communities, respectively. It is well recognized that Mount Girnar has mystical importance. It was here that Lord Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara, obtained Moksha and passed away. It was approximately 1129 when the Governor of Saurashtra constructed a temple dedicated to Neminath, although the area had been revered since at least 250 BC.
The site has around 16 temples, the most notable of which is the Neminath Temple, which is the most important of them. There are various sculptures of Jain Tirthankaras inside the great edifice, which is sculpted entirely of marble.