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Jaisalmer Fort Jain Temples

Jaisalmer Fort Jain temples is a group of seven Jain temples inside Jaisalmer Fort in the state of Rajasthan.

The Jaisalmer Fort is UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Hill Forts of Rajasthan and is famous for its ancient Jain temples. The temples are well known for their intricate carvings and attract many tourists and religious devotees.

Jaisalmer Fort has a large complex of seven Jain temples. These Jain temples of Jaisalmer are considered architectural wonders. The group of Jain temple consist of Parsvanatha temple, Sambhavanatha temple, Shitalanatha temple, Shantinatha and Kunthunatha temple, Chandraprabha temple and Rishabhanatha temple.

The temples contains frescoes, mirrors and other forms of detailing, the temples boast exquisite designs, with the walls of the temples features intricate carvings of animals and human figures similar to Dilwara temples.

Plan of Jain Temples in Jaisalmer.
Surveyed by Takeo Kamiya.


Approaching Jaisalmer Fort Jain Temples.
Jaisalmer Fort Jain temples is a group of seven Jain temples inside Jaisalmer Fort.


Chandraprabha temple (center) and Rishabhanatha temple (right).

Rishabhanatha Temple

Courtyard of Rishabhanatha temple.
The temple courtyard is surrounded by carved columns.


Carved column of Rama in the courtyard.
Rama is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being.

  • Rama iconography shares elements of Vishnu avatars, but has several distinctive elements. It never has more than two hands, he holds (or has nearby) a arrow (bana) in his right hand, while he holds the bow (dhanus) in his left.
  • Rama legends are also found in the texts of Jainism and Buddhism, though he is sometimes called Pauma or Padma in these texts, and their details vary significantly from the Hindu versions.
  • See more at Rama - Wikipedia.

Carved column of dancing couple in the courtyard.
He holds a pitcher in his right hand and she offers him a cup in her left hand.


Goddess Durga Slaying the Demon Mahisha.
Carved column in the courtyard with goddess Durga slaying the demon Mahishae.

  • Durga slaying Mahisha (Mahishamardini) is here represented in her multi-armed form, manifesting her supreme power as the dispeller of evil, personified in the buffalo demon (asura) Mahisha, seen slumped at her feet.
  • Following the Devi Mahatmya text, she wields the mighty weapons lent to her by the assembly of male gods who singly could not defeat the demon.
  • Durga here assumes one of the most dramatic poses for the goddess in all Indian art, which conveys to devotees the unequivocal power of the aroused devi, known in the iconographic literature as pratyalidhasana, a posture shared with some esoteric Buddhist imagery. Durga stands with one foot robustly raised on the beast’s back, and the other extended to anchor him to the ground.
  • See more at Durga in Jainism - Wikipedia.

Carved column of Shiva and Parvati in the courtyard.
Shiva and Parvati with the Calf Bull.

  • Shiva’s calf bull Vrsabha nuzzles close to his lord.
  • Shiva Parvati is the dual representation of the Hindu deities Shiva, and his consort, Parvati, traditionally featured in their abode, Kailash. The goddess of power and strength, Parvati, is depicted as standing next to Shiva.
  • See more at Shiva Parvati - Wikipedia.

Apsara Statues.
An Apsara is a member of a class of celestial beings. They are originally a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters, who later plays the role of a "nymph" or "fairy".

  • They figure prominently in the sculpture, dance, literature and painting of many Indian and Southeast Asian cultures.
  • See more at Apsara - Wikipedia.

Entering the Cloister (Bhamati).
A line of Small Shrines (Deva-kulika) along the Cloister (Bhamati) surround the whole complex.

  • All these shrines hold a statue of Tirthankara or Jina.

Beard Shiva with Parvati.
Bearded Shiva with his wife Parvati and their infant son Ganesha (far right).

  • Shiva is sometimes depicted with beard as a symbol of his Yogic essence, as do the sages.
  • Shiva is considered the Great Yogi who is totally absorbed in himself – the transcendental reality. He is the Lord of Yogis, and the teacher of Yoga to sages.
  • As Shiva Dakshinamurthi, he is the supreme guru who teaches in silence the oneness of one's innermost self (atman) with the ultimate reality (brahman).
  • See more at Shiva - Wikipedia.

Performing circumambulation (Parikrama).
In larger temples, the central space typically is surrounded by an ambulatory for the devotee to walk around and ritually circumambulate the Purusa, the universal essence.

  • Often this space is visually decorated with carvings, paintings or images meant to inspire the devotee.
  • The pillars, walls and ceilings typically also have highly ornate carvings or images of the four just and necessary pursuits of life – pleasure (kama), economic values (artha), righteousness (dharma) and liberation (moksa).
  • This walk around is called parikrama.
  • Parikrama or Pradakshina is the clockwise circumambulation of sacred entities, and the path along which this is performed, as practiced in the Indic religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
  • See more at Parikrama - Wikipedia.

Chandraprabha.
Chandraprabha (English: Lord of Moon) or Chandranatha is the eighth Tirthankara of Jainism in the present age (Avasarpini).

  • He decided to renounced his worldly life, soon after his ascension to throne and after 3 months he obtained Omniscience (Kevala Jnana) while mediating under the Naga tree.
  • After many years of spreading his knowledge, he is said to have attained Nirvana.
  • See more at Chandraprabha - Wikipedia.

Goddess Durga Slaying the Demon Mahisha.
The most popular legend associated with the goddess is of her killing of Mahishasura.

  • Mahishasura is depicted in literature to be a deceitful demon who pursued his evil ways by shape-shifting.
  • He was ultimately killed by goddess Durga with her trident (trishula) after which she gained the epithet Slayer of Mahishasura (Mahishasuramardini).
  • See more at Mahishasura - Wikipedia.

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.

Carving of Jambudvipa.
The Jain depiction of the terrestrial world with holy Mount Meru at the center.

  • According to Jain cosmology, Jambudvipa is at the centre of Madhyaloka, or the middle part of the universe, where the humans reside.
  • Mount Meru is at the centre of the world surrounded by Jambudvipa, in form of a circle.
  • Jambudvipa continent has 6 mountains, dividing the continent into 9 zones (Kshetra).
  • See more at Jambudvīpa In Jainism - Wikipedia.

Rishabhanatha Idol.
Rishabhanatha temple houses an idol of Rishabhanatha safeguarded with glass cabinets.

  • Rishabhanatha, also Rsabhadeva, Rishabhadeva, Rsabha or Ikshvaku is the first Supreme Preacher (Tirthankara) of Jainism.
  • He was the first of twenty-four teachers in the present half-cycle of time in Jain cosmology, and called a "ford maker" because his teachings helped one cross the sea of interminable rebirths and deaths.
  • The legends depict him as having lived millions of years ago.
  • Along with Mahavir Swami, Parshvanath, Neminath, and Shantinath, Rishabhanath is one of the five Tirthankaras that attract the most devotional worship among the Jains.
  • See more at Rishabhanatha - Wikipedia.

Chandraprabha Temple

Chandraprabha Facade.
Chandraprabha temple was built in 1509 CE. Chandraprabha temple plan consists of the mandapa with iconic architecture.


Entrance porch (Ardhamandapa).
Ardhamandapa (lit. half-open hall) is an important element of the entrance group. It is an entrance porch forming a transitional area between the outside and a mandapa of the temple.

  • Ardhamandapa is usually an open—to provide light and air—four-pillared pavilion in front of the entrance door of mandapa of the temple.
  • Most Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist temples feature various transitional spaces between the central shrine (garbhagriha) and the outside world, but only the largest, most developed temples offer the full set of these elements: ardhamandapa, mandapa, and mahamandapa, with the first being the lowest.
  • See more at Ardhamandapa - Wikipedia.

Entrance door of mandapa of the temple.

Large pillared hall (Rangamandapa).
A Mandapa is a pillared hall for public rituals in Indian architecture.

  • A Ranga Mandapa or Rangamandapa is a larger Mandapa, which can be used for dance or drama, with music.
  • See more at Mandapa - Wikipedia.

Mandapa pillar with Makara.

Mandapa dome.

Performing circumambulation (Parikrama).

Saraswathi with Veena.
The veena is the oldest known Indian instrument. It's been referenced in ancient Vedic texts dating as far back as 1000 BCE. The Hindu goddess of knowledge, Saraswathi, is often presented playing a veena.

  • The Sarasvati vina (also spelled Saraswati veena) is an ancient Indian plucked veena. It is named after the Hindu goddess Saraswati, who is usually depicted holding or playing the instrument.
  • Saraswati is also revered in Jainism as the goddess of knowledge and is regarded as the source of all learning.
  • See more at Saraswati veena - Wikipedia.

Standing Four-Armed Beard Shiva.
Shiva holds a drum in his upper right hand, and holds a sword in his lower right hand. He makes the Vayan mudra with the upper left hand, and holds a severed head with the lower left hand.

  • The small drum shaped like an hourglass is known as a damaru. This is one of the attributes of Shiva in his famous dancing representation known as Nataraja.
  • Nandaka is a Sanskrit word that means “joy-giving” or “delight-giving.” In Hindu mythology, Nandaka is the name of a weapon that is associated with the deity Lord Shiva. According to some legends, Nandaka is a divine sword that is wielded by Shiva and is said to be one of his main weapons.
  • Vyana mudra is also called as Kubera mudra. Vyana is one among 10 vital energy as explained in Hathayoga; it is one among the five elements (vata). It improves the strength and activities of all the body channels (nadis). It removes fatigue, laziness, dizziness.
  • Decapitation is symbolism for cutting off the ego, or a sacrifice of the self for the greater good.

Jain priest performing a fire ritual (Homa).
In Indic religions, a homa also known as havan, is a fire ritual performed on special occasions by a priest.

  • A homa is sometimes called a "sacrifice ritual" because the fire destroys the offering, but a homa is more accurately a "votive ritual". The fire is the agent, and the offerings include those that are material and symbolic such as grains, ghee, milk, incense and seeds.
  • It is rooted in the Vedic religion, and was adopted in ancient times by Buddhism and Jainism.
  • See more at Homa (ritual) - Wikipedia.

Holy of holies with Chandraprabha (Garbhagriha).
The Garbhagriha is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, what may be called the "holy of holies" or "sanctum sanctorum".

  • The term Garbhagriha (literally, "womb chamber") comes from the Sanskrit words garbha for womb and griha for house. Although the term is often associated with Hindu temples, it is also found in Jain and Buddhist temples.
  • The Garbhagriha is the location of the statue or icon (murti) of the temple's primary deity.
  • Chandraprabha (English: Lord of Moon) or Chandranatha is the eighth Tirthankara of Tīrthaṅkara of Jainism in the present age (Avasarpini).
  • Chandraprabha is usually depicted in a lotus or kayotsarga posture, with a crescent moon symbol beneath him. Like all tirthankaras, he is depicted with a Shrivatsa and downcast eyes.
  • See more at Garbhagriha - Wikipedia.

Going up to the first floor of the mandapa.

On the first floor there is another holy of holies with Chandraprabha.

Chandraprabha Temple and Parshvanatha Temple.
The southern outer wall of the Chandraprabha temple can be seen in the center of the photo. The eastern outer wall of the Parshvanatha temple can be seen at the extreme left of the photo.


Other Temples

Shantinatha and Kunthunatha Temples (left) and Parshvanatha Temple (right).
The entrance to Shantinatha and Kunthunatha temples can be seen on the left side of the photo. The entrance to Parshvanatha temple can be seen on the right side of the photo.

  • The Parshvanatha temple is the oldest and the most beautiful temple in the complex. The temple houses a black marble idol of Parshvanatha with a hood of a serpent with multiple heads over his head, similar to that of in Lodhurva Jain temple. The temple is rich in craftsmanship and exquisite carvings. The garbhagriha wall bears carvings of animals and human figures. The shikhar of the temple is crowned with amalaka. The temple features an ornate porch and the main shrine is surrounded by 52 small shrines.
  • Sambhavanatha temple and Parshvanath temple houses inscription dated 1440 CE and 1416 CE installed during the reign of Rawal Duda.
  • Askaran Chopra of Merta built a huge temple dedicated to Sambhavanatha housing more than 600 idols and Gyan Bhandar (grand library) with oldest hand written books scripted on Bhojpatra and Tadputra. There are about 1,000 old manuscripts written on palm leaf with painted wooden covers. These manuscripts dates back to 12th century. The library also contains paintings, astrological charts, and a copy of dronacharya's Oghaniryaktivritti. Chopra Panchaji built Ashtapadh temple inside the fort.
  • The remaining two temples i.e. Shantinatha and Kunthunatha contain beautiful carvings. Ashtapadha temple features images of Vishnu, Kali and Lakshmi along with Jain deities.

See also

Source

Location

Location: WW66+RPJ, Fort Rd, Dhibba Para, Manak Chowk, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 345001, India