Dilwara Temples

Dilwara Temples are the famous Jain Temples at Mount Abu in the State of Rajasthan State in India. These are wondrously carved in white marbles, enshrining various Jain 'Tirthankaras'. The white marbles were brought here from Arasoori Hill, near Ambaji, 23 km from Abu Road. The ministers of the Solanki rulers of Gujarat had constructed all these temples during 11th and 13th centuries AD.

Four of the five temples of this group are architecturally significant. Each has a walled courtyard. In the centre of the courtyard is the shrine with the image of Rishabhdev. Around the large courtyard, there are numerous small shrines, each housing a beautiful image of the tirthankaras with a series of elegantly carved pillars from the entrance to the courtyard.

Vimal Vasahi is the oldest temple. It is dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankara. Vimal Shah, minister of the then Solanki ruler of Gujarat, built it in AD 1031. The ceiling of this structure is circular in eleven richly carved concentric rings. The central ceiling of the temple is adorned with magnificent carving and it culminates into an ornamented central pendant. The pendant of the dome tapers down forming a drop or point, like a lotus flower. It symbolizes the divine grace coming down to fulfill human aspirations. Figures of 16 Vidya Devis (goddesses of knowledge) are carved on the ceiling.

The other temples are the Luna Vasahi, Vastupala and Tejapala, named after the ministers of the then Vaghela ruler of Gujarat who built them in 1230 AD. They are plain and austere from the outside. However, the interiors of all these temples are covered with delicate carvings. The carvings are so brilliant in intricacies and delicacies that at certain places the marbles have become almost transparent.

Nearby pages
Dimachung-Betali, Dimasa, Dime, Dimensional data, Dimna Lake and Dam, Dimorphic