Rankapur Jain Temple

• about Ranakpur

  The Rankapur Jain Temples command huge respect from the Jain community of worldwide. Rankapur Jain temple was built during the rule of Rana Kumbha. These Jain Temples have included Rankapur in the list of five main pilgrim destinations of Jains in India. History says that the Ranan Kumbha donated a vast stretch of land to Dhanna Shah to enable him to realize his dream of building a great Jain temple. Today, these Rankapur Jain Temples attract thousands of visitors and devotees, every year from across the country.

  

  The location of Rankapur Jain temple is in the tranquil valley of the Arvalli range. These ranges are situated 90km from Udaipur. This uniqueness of Rankapur Jain temple has been also responsible in attracting a whole lot of visitors to the city and temple. Generally, the Rankapur Jain temples present a distinct style of their own. The ceilings of the Jain temple are adorned with foliate scrollwork and geometric patterns. The top and bottom part of domes are joined by Brackets with the figures of deities on temple.

  The most important temple among all the Jain temples within the complex is the Chaumukha Temple. This Jain temple is dedicated to the first Jain Trithankara, Adinath; it is a four-faced temple, which has a basement of 48000 sq. feet. This Jain temple boasts of four subsidiary shrines, which has 24-pillared halls and 80 domes standing on the support of nearly 400 columns.

  Each of these columns is richly carved; interestingly no two columns present the same deign. In addition, the columns also tend to change the color from golden to pale blue with the passage of every hour during the day. It is so much for the artistic brilliance of the workers! This Jain temple is shaped like a Nalinigulm Vimana (heavenly aircraft) which the Shah had seen in his dreams.

  The construction of this Jain temple is extremely complex with four separate entrances leading to chambers inside. Finally, the chambers lead to the main hall that houses the image of Adinath encircled by several smaller shrines and domes. Yet again, another range of cells with individual roofs surrounds these shrines and domes. The complexity of the structure was the main reason behind, why this Jain temple took around 65 years to complete.

  The two other Jain temples in Rankapur are worth visiting in the complex are the ones dedicated to Parsavanath and Surya God. The former Rankapur Jain temple is also known as the Patriyon ka Mandir. It is also renowned for its pierced windows studded with Jain figures and pictures of attendants of maidens. The Surya Narayan Jain Temple as an exquisite idol of Sun God in his chariot which is been drawn by the seven horses. There is another temple located which is dedicated to Amba Mata.

  Some of the Jain temples in the close vicinity of Rankapur have also gained the respect of the followers of the faith. The Muchhal Mahavir temple in the Kumbhalgarh sanctuary is also well known for its statue of the Lord Mahavira with a moustache. There are two statues of elephants protecting the gateways boats a special charming appeal about them.

  Falna, the near by town of the Rankapur has the Golden Jain temple. In fact, Golden Jain temple was the first temple to be built by the people of the Jain community. During the construction of temple, 90 kg of gold was donated by the Jain women of Falna for the embellishment of the idol as well as the temple overall.