Jain Architecture in India
Jain Architecture in India
Jain Architecture in India
Dr Uday Dokras
6th century B.C. in India marked a significant phase of history with the beginning of
new religious and social movements in the form the shraman tradition which included
new Buddhism and Jainism etc. Emergence of Buddhism and Jainism contributed
significantly in the development of early architectural style in India. Under this new
architectural style, stupas and viharas were constructed on a large scale. A Jain
temple or Derasar is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism.[1] Jain
architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings
generally reflect the prevailing style of the place and time they were built.
Jain temple architecture is generally close to Hindu temple architecture, and in
ancient times Buddhist architecture. Normally the same builders and carvers worked
for all religions, and regional and period styles are generally similar. For over 1,000
years the basic layout of a Hindu or most Jain temples has consisted of a
small garbhagriha or sanctuary for the main murti or cult images, over which the high
superstructure rises, then one or more larger mandapa halls.
Māru-Gurjara architecture or the "Solanki style" is, a particular temple style
from Gujarat and Rajasthan (both regions with a strong Jain presence) that originated
in both Hindu and Jain temples around 1000, but became enduringly popular with
Jain patrons. It has remained in use, in somewhat modified form, to the present day,
indeed also becoming popular again for some Hindu temples in the last century. The
style is seen in the groups of pilgrimage temples at Dilwara on Mount
Abu, Taranga, Girnar and Paltana.
The art and architecture of the Jains have the main objective to maintain, preserve
and glorify the culture extensively. Jain architecture especially their temple
architecture is one of a kind in India. The great Jain temples and sculptured
monuments of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are world-renowned. Jain
temples at Ranakpur and Mount Abu in Rajasthan are among the most spectacular
Jain temples. Excellent rock cut architecture can also be found in the caves of
Mathura, Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. A number of rock-cut caves
have been discovered in Udaigiri and Khandagiri, twin hills in Puri District of Orissa
and in Ellora in Maharashtra.
Ellora, dating from the fifth century CE onwards to the eleventh century CE, is one
such cave site located in Aurangabad District of Maharashtra. It is a unique historical
site as it has monastries associated with the three religions (Buddhism, Brahmanism
and Jainism).
The remnants of the rock-cut cave architecture are also found in Odisha. The earliest
examples are the Udaigiri-Khandagiri caves in the vicinity of Bhubaneswar. These
caves have inscriptions of Kharavela kings. According to the inscriptions, the caves
were meant for Jain monks.
Image chamber Garbhagriha
Hall Mandapa
Porch
A fourth element, referred to as Antarala, can also be seen lying between the image
chamber and its hall. Antarala, a small vestibule is a space where worshippers can
stand and gaze at the icon or follow rituals conducted within the shrine.
Jain temples
Like their Hindu counterparts, Jains were also prolific temple builders. Their sacred
shrines and pilgrimage places can be found across different parts of India.
Some of the most architecturally important Jain sites can be found in Ellora and
Aihole in the Deccan. The famous statue of Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola in
Karnataka is example of rich heritage of Jain architecture in this region. In central
India, Deogarh, Khajuraho, Chanderi and Gwalior have some marvelous examples of
Jain architecture. In the west, Gujarat and Rajasthan have been strongholds of
Jainism since early times. Akota, on the outskirts of Baroda in Gujarat is famous for
Jain bronze images.
Characteristics of the original Māru-Gurjara style are "the external walls of the
temples have been structured by increasing numbers of projections and recesses,
accommodating sharply carved statues in niches. These are normally positioned in
superimposed registers, above the lower bands of mouldings. The latter display
continuous lines of horse riders, elephants, and kīrttimukhas. Hardly any segment of
the surface is left unadorned." The main shikhara tower usually has
many urushringa subsidiary spirelets on it, and two smaller side-entrances with
porches are common in larger temples.
Later, with Dilwara in the lead, surrounding the main temple with a curtain
of devakulikā shrines, each with a small spire became a distinctive feature of the Jain
temples of West India, still employed in some modern temples. These are fairly plain
on the outer walls, and often raised on a very high platform, so that the outside of
larger temples can resemble a fortress with high walls. However the entrance(s), often
up high, wide steps, are not designed for actual defence, even though medieval Muslim
armies and others destroyed many Jain temples in the past, often permanently.
Inside the temple, the Māru-Gurjara style features extremely lavish carving, especially
on columns, large and intricately carved rosettes on the ceilings of mandapas, and a
characteristic form of "flying arch" between columns, which has no structural role,
and is purely decorative. Most early temples in the style are in various local shades of
pink, buff or brown sandstone, but the Dilwara temples are in a very pure white
marble which lightens the style and has become considered very desirable.
While, before British India, large Buddhist or Hindu temples (and indeed Muslim
mosques) have very often been built with funds from a ruler, this was infrequently the
case with Jain temples. Instead they were typically funded by wealthy Jain individuals
or families. For this reason, and often the smaller numbers of Jains in the population,
Jain temples tend to be at the small or middle end of the range of sizes, but at
pilgrimage sites they may cluster in large groups - there are altogether several
hundred at Palitana, tightly packed within several high-walled compounds called
"tuks" or "tonks".Temple charitable trusts, such as the very large Anandji Kalyanji
Trust, founded in the 17th century and now maintaining 1,200 temples, play a very
important role in funding temple building and maintenance.
Most Popular Jain Temples in India
Travel the length and width of India and wherever Jains live, there you will find a
community Jin temple or Derasar because, for Jains, starting the day with worship is
the ideal way. Even if it is small, the Derasar will have characteristic carved pillars
and arches. This is a tradition followed since centuries and India is home to some of
the most breathtaking Jain temples. Take a look at 15 of these selected Jain temples
you must visit.
About 2 km from Mount Abu, the famous Dilwara Jain Temples are known for their
exquisite marble carving and the “Chattris” are a tribute not only to the sculptor but
also to the architects and engineers of that age. Built between the 11th and 14th
centuries, with Vimal Shah, Minister of the Solanki ruler being primarily response for
its construction, the complex houses temples to Shri Adinath, Shri Parshvanath, Shri
Rishabh Dev and Shri Neminath. The last one is credited t Maharana Kumbha of
Mewar.
3- Gommateshwara Temple
Modeled after the Dilwara Temples, Rajasthan, the Parshvanatha Jain Mandir here
has 3 Gopurams and pillars. The main deity is Lord Parshvanatha, the 23rd
Tirthankaras with his idol made of green quartz. IT is one of the few temples to house
glasswork.
Held in high reverence by Jain devotees, the Shikharji temple in the Parasnath Hills in
Jharkhand is located at a height of 429 feet. It is believed the 20 Tirthankaras and
saints achieved salvation here. The temple is unique for having about 30 marble
structures and a Jal Mandir. Pilgrims pay their respects to Lord Parasnath and go for
a walk to the Parasnath Hill.
The Sonagiri Temples in Madhya Pradesh resemble those of Palitana in Gujarat insofar
as they are located on the Sonagiri Hills and surrounding areas. There are about 103
temples dotting the landscape with the main temple dedicated to Lord
Chandraprabhu.
13- Ellora
Though not currently considered as temple spot, Ellora has five Jain caves at the
North end, housing beautifully carved idols dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries.
The 24 Jaina are depicted here along with yakshas and yakshis as well as devotees.
Jains flock here and the focus of interest is the Samavasarana hall where
Tirthankaras are shown preaching to devotees. Also of interest is the Indra Sabha Jain
temple. There are quite a few other attractions at Ellora such as the Chota Kailasha
cave that features Indra in a dancing pose and represents a fusion of Hindu and Jain
spirituality. One of the most impressive caves is that of Jagannatha Sabha with 12
large pillars and idols of Lord Parsvanath, Mahavir and the last two Tirthankaras.
For Jains Samet Shikhar in Bihar is a place of special religious significance because a
pilgrimage to this place destroys sins and 20 Tirthankaras attained salvation here.
Located on a hill of the same name at a height of 4450 feet, the temple complex is
surrounded by greenery. The complex itself has temples dedicated to Lord
Parshwanath represented by a 92 cm high black idol along with shrines for the 20
Tirthankaras. At the foot of the hill is a temple dedicated to Bhomiyaji where pilgrims
pay their respects before proceeding up the hill. Samet Shikhar also has a Jain
museum with a unique collection of stamps on Jainism as well as other artifacts.
There are hundreds of Jain temples dotting the landscape of India, a testimony to the
spiritual aspect of the Jain community down the ages. Funded by prominent
businessmen, the temples promote pilgrimages and it is common for larger temples to
offer accommodation as well as food to devotees.
Buddhist Temple