Ranakpur Jain Temple, Rajasthan
Ranakpur Jain Temple is one of the 5 major sites of Jainism situated in Rajasthan. This place is famous for its beautifully carved historic temples. It's located at Sadri in Pali district, 96 kilometers from Udaipur.Its building might be the most magnificent and huge among the Jain temples of India. Ranakpur is situated within the valleys of Aravalli mountain between Jodhpur and Udaipur, so this place becomes very picturesque.
This place is famous for these temples which hold their particular place in the Shwetambar Jain Temple of Northern India. The main temple situated here known as Ranakpur Ka Chaumukha Mandir.
There are gates around this temple. The idol of the first Jain Tirthankara Adinath is put in in the temple. Other than this temple, there are two more temples by which the statues of Lord Parshwanath and Neminath have a reputation.
Significance of Ranakpur Jain Temple
There may be also a Vaishnava temple of Surya Narayana. A spiritual temple is the Chaumukha Trlokya Deepak, which has a unique show of Jain art and religious custom of Rajasthan.It is mentioned that there are 76 small dome sanctum, four giant classrooms and 4 giant places of worship within the temple complex, it's believed that it inspires man to get liberated from 84 yonas of life death, the temple is characterized by 1444 pillars. The construction has been finished in such a way that there is no hindrance in seeing the main holy site.
Exquisite carvings have been finished on these pillars and you will be shocked to see the roof structure. In order to anticipate any disaster in the temple, tahkans have been constructed so that at such times the sacred idols will be kept secure.
In 1953 Vikram Samvat, the responsibility of upkeep of the temple was given to the Belief. He gave a new look to the renovation work of the temple. There is also the footprint of Lord Rishabhdev on a piece of marble. It reminds me of the teachings of Lord Rishabhdev and Shatrunjaya.
Sample of fine art Ranakpur Jain Temple Architecture
The grand statue of Lord Adinath in Ranakpur is made of white marble stone. His statue, located on a high school, is 5 ft high and is going through in 4 directions with each other's back. For this reason, this temple is called Chaumukha. Due to the four gates of the temple, any devotee can see Lord Adinath from any direction.There are two other Jain temples in front of the temple, out of which the exterior of the temple of Parshvanath is painted with Maithun sculptures, the temple's temple hall, door, pillar, roof etc. are glorious examples of Tashan art.
Temple has a huge grand idol
The dance sculptures are full of gestures. Jain shrines are also described within the temple, around the temple there are 80 small and 4 big Devkulikeya. The main Dehri of the temple has a huge grand idol of Lord Neminath. Among other sculptures, the statues of Sahastrakoot, Bhairav, Harihar, Sahastraphana Dharani Shah and Depa are notable.Here a 47 lines article is engraved on a stone in a pillar of the Chaumukha temple which is of Vikram Samvat 1496. Each Sanskrit and Nagari scripts have been utilized in a line. The article presented describes many rulers from Bappa Rawal to Kumbha.
Detailed description of Maharana Kumbha's victories and his odds is given. In an article, enough information is also available about the social, financial and religious lifetime of the time.
Ferguson wrote that whereas reading the advanced of this wonderful palace, that such a complex and suave temple has not come in my sight, I do not know one other such temple which is so impressive. The Rajput historian Colonel Tard has also counted it in grand palaces.
How to reach via transport To Ranakpur?
RoadUdaipur is a big city near Ranakpur which is connected by highway to main cities of the country. Private taxi and bus providers are available from here.
Train
It's linked to almost all the cities by this route.
Air shaft
For air travelers, Udaipur is the nearest airport to Ranakpur from where there are regular flights to Delhi, Mumbai.
Ranakpur Jain Temple History
Ranakpur was built by 4 devotees Acharya Shyamsunder ji, Dharanshah, Rana Kumbha and Depa. Rana Kumbha was the king of Malgarh and minister of Dharanshah. Impressed by religious trends, Dharan Shah decided to build a temple of Lord Rishabhdev.It's said that he noticed the Nalinigulma Vimana in a dream one night time and decided to construct a temple on the lines of this. Many architects were known as, but nobody preferred the plan. Eventually, a easy objector from Mundara was satisfied with Deepak's plan.
Rana Kumbha gave land to Dharanshah for the construction of the temple. He instructed to establish a city close to the temple. It was known as Ranpur in the name of Rana Kumbha, which later became famous as Ranakpur. The temple was reputed in Vikram Samvat 1496 in Ranakpur.
