There are certain moments in life when you are at lost for words. These moments are the ones that can be called one of the most fulfilling times of your life. Due to my love for travelling, I have come across many such places that have rendered with speechless. But, what I was about to see next was something even my lack of words wasn’t prepared for.

On an early afternoon, I set off for the wonderful picturesque hills of Mount Abu in Rajasthan. I was coaxed by my friends to go and see the falls Delwara Temples located about 2.5 km from Mt. Abu.

The Delwara Temple is a famous pilgrimage spot for the Jains, and every year you can find hundreds of Jains just walking diligently with utmost devotion and surrendering themselves to God at this temple.

Not being a religious person, I usually skip temples off my travel itineraries, but with my friends abuzz with the beauty of this temple I decided to give it a go.

The First Glance

I was admiring the magnificent view of the small town that lay at the foothills of Mt. Abu when suddenly I saw a few Jain monks glancing ahead and marvelling at something. As I looked in their direction I realised that what they were seeing was truly worth admiring.

I saw the temples and from here itself I could see the intricately carved temple that was staring right back at me. The sun rays were falling with grace on the temple as if beckoning me to come closer and have a better look. From here itself I could see the massive complex that the temple boasted off. Filled with a new sense of determination I walked faster to reach my destination.

A Little History

The Delwara Group of Temples is actually a huge temple complex that has five wonderfully carved shrines inside it. These shrines are dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras – Lord Adinath, Lord Rishabhdeo, Lord Neminath, Lord Mahavir Swami and Lord Parshvanath respectively. The temples were said to be built as early as the 11th and 13th Century. Since time immemorial these magnificent temples became home to the several Jaina pilgrims who come every year to offer prayers with utmost love and devotion.

What really makes these temples out of this world is the amazing architecture. They are a delight to everyone who visits here. The temples and pillars are so detailed and intricately carved that one is often left wondering if the architects were actually magicians.

The sheer beauty of this temple has made many go into some kind of a trance where they just look and stare at it for hours.

Architecture Overview

Before entering the temple complex, I wanted to read up on the magnificent architecture that it was famous for.

Each of the five temples in the complex is in symmetry in the way that it has been planned, and the spaces around each temple are such passages to the temples- they do not form any type of a public square.

The pillars in each of the shrines are like a treat to the eyes. They are designed and carved so intricately and beautifully that you will be staring at them for hours. Each hall, the walls, and the ceilings have carvings on them which just make it look even more regal and royal.

The temples whole intricately carved still radiate a sense of simplicity; this is something that is true to the Jaina philosophy. The Jaina philosophy strongly believes in keeping everything simple- from their lifestyle to their ideologies.

The temples in this complex have said to paved the way for the concept of having designs in the interiors of a building. After deriving inspiration from these temples, many architects started focusing on the interior space and not just on the exterior space.

Dilwara-Jain-Temple-Architecturesource: StoryTimes

The Magic

As I entered the temples. I was mystified. The entire area was filled with a sense of calm that reassured me that everything is fine in the world. My worries magically disappeared and I felt like I was truly in paradise.

Everywhere I looked I was flooded with so many architectural marvels that I didn’t know where to start. Seeing me in awe and confusion an elderly Jaina monk looked at me and explained that I should start off chronologically since the temples are arranged that way another example of the organised way of life of the Jains.

Vimal Vasahi Temple

This is the first temple out of the first and it is the abode of Lord Adinath. He was the first Jain Tirthankar and is highly revered among his followers. The temple is actually named after the Maharaja of Gujarat, who in 1021 built this wonderful shrine.

As I reached the temple I was blown away by the creativity behind the architecture. The temple is actually built in a huge wide open square and is completely encircled by a lovely passageway.

As I walked through the passage I noticed the way it has been carved us so detailed and beautiful. This shrine is decorated with such carved passageways, columns, doorways and epic arches, that give the temple that all that it commands.

As I looked up I was enchanted by the ceiling right above my head. It was as if a whole new story was getting weaved right over my head. The ceiling is adorned with different carved flower petals, lotus buds and various scenes from mythology.

Another defining factor in this temple is the gorgeous Rang Mandap- which is essentially a massive hall with amazingly ornate pillars. The room is further beautified by the arches that are strategically placed in the middle of an even for the resplendent dome.

It is difficult to process all the beauty that is around you. My mind swooned as I tried to pry my eyes away from one of the carved pillars to the other.

The main hall is the one that has the deity, and one can offer their prayers there.

Luna Vasahi Temple

luna vasahisource: TripAdvisor

As I left the gorgeous shrine, I was met with some Jaina monks who were making their way to the next time as like me. It was a sight to behold. Men with bowed heads just making their way together as the massive temples became the perfect background.

I followed them and was soon in front of the second most important shrine called the Luna Vasahi Temple.

Once again I was amazed by the architecture. This shrine too was carved with finesse and precision yet it was different from the other.

This was built in 1230 and is devoted to Lord Neminath.

As I reached the main hall, the first thing that totally made me speechless was the exquisitely carved central from that house 72 figures of Tirthankars. The white marble work here left me talking about it for ages. I looked at the intricately carved figures and realised how life like these marble figures are. It was almost as if they would jump out and come alive. The main hall hosts the deity which is wonderfully carved out of a marvellously shining back marble. As I turned on my left to leave, I was majestically greeted by a magnificent black pillar which goes by the name of Kirti Stambha.

Pittalhar Temple

This lovely little shrine was my next stop. This shrine is dedicated to Lord Rishabdeo, and the temple also has a massive picture of the Lord.

As I came face to face with this image I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was made with five metals, in which brass was the dominating one. This unique idea gives the temple its name- Pittalhar.

This temple too has all the traditional concepts of Jaina architecture including- the main hall, Navchowki, and Garbhagraha.

Parshvanatha Temple

While many claims that the first two temples are the most magnificent and most beautiful, my heart decided to follow the other route and choose the Parshvanatha Temple as my favourite. This temple is truly unique and stands out from the other temples.

It was built in 1459 and has three stories that are wholly dedicated to Lord Parshvanatha. No other temple is as tall as this one in Dilwara, and for some reason, that really made it more charming and distinct.

I started from the ground floor and was met with four massive halls. These halls were beautifully ordained and magnificently adorned with intricately carved walls.

The exterior of the temple also has some breathtaking sculptures that took my breath away. These sculptures were made out of grey sandstone and it gives off a different kind of positive vibe.

As I explored and roamed inside the temple a queer sense of devotion washed over me. I was at peace. For me, this shrine was more than just the marvellous architecture. It was about a serene feeling that touched my soul. This was the shrine that made me feel that I was somehow at home, even though I was miles away from my home.

As I bowed my head along with the many devotees in front of the idol of the Lord- I have swept away with a feeling of fulfillment – the traveller in me was content.

Mahavir Swami Temple

Mahavirsource: TemplePurohit

After this soul touching experience, I made my way to the final temple which was also built at the very end. This temple is actually dedicated to the most revered Tirthankara Lord in the Jaina religion- Lord Mahavira. Yet in this temple complex, he was housed in a humble small structure. To me, this just symbolised the simple life that he and his followers lived all devoid of the materialistic pleasures.

 

Sinchita is a student, who has always dabbled with a bit of writing here and there. She has always made herself look into things in a different way than others, which has allowed her to explore certain feelings and emotions which many cannot. She is a bold writer and believes in the saying, 'a pen is mightier than the sword'. She strongly believes that the writing should be so compelling that the writer feels that they are on a journey they read through the article. The writing must make the reader feel something, otherwise it pointless

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