Skip to main content

Jagdish Temple

Jagdish Temple is a large Hindu temple in the middle of Udaipur in Rajasthan, just outside the royal palace.

It has been in continuous worship since 1651.

A big tourist attraction, the temple was originally called the temple of Jagannath Rai but is now called Jagdish-ji. It is a major monument in Udaipur.

The most beautiful event in the temple is the annual Rath Yatra.

Walking through the streets of Udaipur towards Jagdish Temple.
Lanes taking off from many of the sheharpanah (city wall) converge on the Jagdish Temple.


Tower (Shikhara) viewed from the northwest.
Through the streets, we can see the tower (shikhara) of Jagdish Temple in the distance.


Staircase

Staircase with thirty-two marble steps.
The Jagdish Temple is raised on a tall terrace and was completed in 1651.

  • To reach the main shrine, one must climb 32 marble steps.

Garuda Shrine

Garuda Shrine seen from the northwest.
At the top of the stairs is a shrine dedicated to Garuda that cuts across the path to the main temple.


Garuda Shrine seen from the west.

Brass image of Garuda.
Brass image of Garuda in the end, being the vahana (mount) of God Vishnu.


Garuda Shrine seen from the southwest.

South wall of the shrine of Garuda.

Detail of the south wall of the shrine of Garuda.

Main Shrine

Main facade of the temple.
Jagdish Temple attaches a double-storey Pillared hall (Mandapa) to a double-storey saandhara (with a covered ambulatory) sanctum.

  • The Pillared hall (Mandapa) has another storey tucked within its pyramidal samavarna (bellroof) while the hollow clustered spire over the sanctum contains two more, nonfunctional stories.
  • Shri Jagdish Temple is the most beautiful example of Hindu Iconography, consisting of three stories of hand carved stone, with a steeple nearly 24 m (79 ft) high and is the largest temple of Udaipur.

Main shrine seen from the southeast.

Detail of the south wall of the main shrine.

Detail of the south wall of the main shrine.
Two elephants facing each other.


Detail of the south wall of the main shrine.
Elephants fight tigers.


South wall of the main shrine seen from the southwest.

Tower (Shikhara) of the main temple seen from the southeast.
Shikhara, a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak", refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India.

  • A Shikhara over the Garbhagriha chamber where the presiding deity is enshrined is the most prominent and visible part of a Hindu temple of North India.
  • See more at Shikhara - Wikipedia.

Upper part of the tower (shikhara) of the main temple.

Detail of the base of the tower (shikhara).

Northwest door.
In the northwest corner is another doorway to the temple platform.

  • It is not necessary to go up the stairs through this entrance.

North wall of the main temple seen from the northwest.
On the right side of the photograph you can see the Makara.


Makara.
Makara is a legendary sea-creature in Hindu mythology. In Hindu astrology, Makara is equivalent to the Zodiac sign Capricorn.

  • Makara appears as the vehicle (vahana) of the river goddess Ganga, Narmada, and of the god of the ocean, Varuna.
  • Makara are considered guardians of gateways and thresholds, protecting throne rooms as well as entryways to temples; it is the most commonly recurring creature in Hindu and Buddhist temple iconography.
  • It is generally depicted as half terrestrial animal in the frontal part (stag, deer, or elephant) and half aquatic animal in the hind part (usually of a fish, a seal, or a snake, though sometimes a peacock or even a floral tail is depicted).
  • See more at Makara - Wikipedia.

North wall of the temple.
On the left side of the photograph you can see the subsidiary shrine found on the northeast corner of the platform.


Elephants on top of northeast corner columns.

Female figure between two elephants.
In this corner of the mais shrine we can see a female figure between two elephants. Her right knee and left foot are on the floor. Her hands are joined in prayer. Her face is turned towards the sky. She has two large earrings in her ears, and a necklace around her neck.


Climbing the stairs towards the interior of the main shrine.

Entrance porch (Ardhamandapa).
The Ardhamandapa is the entrance porch forming a transitional area between the outside and the Pillared hall (Mandapa) of the temple.

  • The Ardhamandapa is usually an open — to provide light and air — four-pillared pavilion in front of the entrance door of the Pillared hall (Mandapa) of the temple.
  • See more at Ardhamandapa - Wikipedia.

Pillared hall (Mandapa).
The Mandapa is a pillared hall for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture.

  • In the Hindu temples the Mandapa is a porch-like structure through the (gopuram) (ornate gateway) and leading to the temple.
  • It is used for religious dancing and music and is part of the basic temple compound.
  • This prayer hall is generally built in front of the temple's holy of holies (Garbhagriha).
  • See more at Mandapa - Wikipedia.

Holy of holies (Garbhagriha).
The temple sanctum has an idol of the deity Lord Jagannath, in local parlance of God Vishnu or God Krishna, carved out of a single black stone, resplendent with four arms, flowers and finery.

  • The Garbhagriha is the innermost shrine of Hindu and Jain temples, what may be called the "holy of holies" or "sanctum sanctorum".
  • The Garbhagriha is the location of the statue or icon (murti) of the temple's primary deity.
  • This might be a statue or icon of Shiva, as the lingam, his consort the Goddess in her consecrated image or yoni symbol, Vishnu or his spouse, or some other god in symbol or image.
  • See more at Garbhagriha - Wikipedia.

Subsidiary Shrine

Subsidiary shrine seen from the southwest.
This subsidiary shrine is located northeast of the platform.

  • This subsidiary shrine is on the left side of Garuda shrine.

Subsidiary shrine seen from northwest.
Four smaller subsidiary shrines, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Surya, Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva form a circle around the main shrine, housing the idol of Lord Vishnu.


Subsidiary shrine seen from the west.

Leaving Jagdish Temple.

See also

Source

Location

Location: 1 jagdish tample, Near Jagdish Temple, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001, India