Jain Temple, Ranakpur
Ranakpur
is located in the mountain ranges of Pali district, 23 kms away from the Phalna
railway station. Ranakpur is reached after passing lush green valleys and streams
and the heart capturing views drive away any fatigue of the journey. The Ranakpur
Jain temples were built during the region of the liberal and gifted monarch Rana
Kumbha in the 15th century.
The entire temple area is enclosed within
a wall. The main 'Chamukha' temple is dedicated to the trithankara Rishabdeoji
and a four-faced image is enshrined in the inner sanctum, open on all four sides.
An enormous basement cover 48,000 sq. feet are. There are four subsidiary
shrines, twenty four pillared halls and eight domes supported by over four hundred
columns. The total number of columns is 1,444, all which are intricetrly carved,
no two being alike.
A corridor around the shrine has niches for the tirthankara
images and each niche has its spire or shikhar. Little bells are festooned atop
each shikar and their jingling in the breeze creates celestial music.
A small shrine dedicated to Prashvanath faces the main temple. It has a black
image of the tirthankara in the inner sanctum.
There are images of Adinath
in the north west, Parshvanath in the north east, Ajitnath in the south-east and
Lord Mahavir Swami in the south west. The artistically carved nymphs playing the
flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an engrossing sight.
In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kgs whose sound enches
in the entire complex.
"
Jain Temple - Ranakpur, Rajasthan Pilgrim Places Reservation Form "
Sanctuaries