JAIN PILGRIMAGES : Dilwara Temple, Mt Abu:
 For many visitors, this is reason enough to visit Mt. Abu
Located within an ancient mango grove, the Dilwara temples are
profusely carved, and are open between noon and six in the
evening. During the morning, the priests perform several ritual
ceremonies that are not open for public viewing. The Jains house
images of their tirthankaras (those who impart knowledge) within
the sanctums, and the two main shrines, those of Adinath and
Neminath, are elaborately carved, from doorways and lintels to
ceilings, pillars, walls and arches. The sculptor's art is as
much a dedication to the gods as it is a repository of the
stone-carver's skill, enshrined here forever. A separate hall,
dedicated to the donors who worked towards the building of these
magnificent temples, houses their life size images including the
delicate tracery of their delicate tracery of their garments
captured in exquisite detail on marble.
Shri Mahavirji Temple
 This Digember Jain piligram centre is 90 Kms by rail from
sawai Madhopur on the Delhi-Mumbai Broad gauge route. The main
temple is in side in inclouser known as katla. Accourdinfg to a
legend , status of Shri Mahavirji, the 24th Jain tirthankar, was
unearthed by a cowherd a few hundred years back. The place, in
due course of time, become a pilgrim centre and attracts Jains
far and wide.
The temple of Shri Mahawirji combines the modem & ancient
style of architecture. It is raised on hung platfrom and is built
mostly of white sandstone. The main Chattries are visiable from a
distance and are built of red sandstone. The walls of the temple
are illustrated with carvings of religious scenes.
A man stambh (Tower) Made of marble is installed in front of the
main temple. Devotees pay specail homage at this point their
Chattri is also erected bearing the footprints of Shri Mahavirji.
An annual fair is also held here which attracts Minas, Gujars
Jains , and people of other communities in large numbers. The
fair last for the five days and ends with a colourfull Rathan
yatra.
Jain Temple, Ranakpur
 Ranakpur is located in the mountain ranges of Pali district,
23 kms away from the Phalna railway station. Ranakpur is reached
after passing lush green valleys and streams and the heart
capturing views drive away any fatigue of the journey. The
Ranakpur Jain temples were built during the region of the liberal
and gifted monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century.
The entire temple area is enclosed within a wall. The main
'Chamukha' temple is dedicated to the trithankara Rishabdeoji and
a four-faced image is enshrined in the inner sanctum, open on all
four sides.
An enormous basement cover 48,000 sq. feet are. There are four
subsidiary shrines, twenty four pillared halls and eight domes
supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of
columns is 1,444, all which are intricetrly carved, no two being
alike.
A corridor around the shrine has niches for the tirthankara
images and each niche has its spire or shikhar. Little bells are
festooned atop each shikar and their jingling in the breeze
creates celestial music.
A small shrine dedicated to Prashvanath faces the main temple. It
has a black image of the tirthankara in the inner sanctum.
There are images of Adinath in the north west, Parshvanath in the
north east, Ajitnath in the south-east and Lord Mahavir Swami in
the south west. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute
in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an
engrossing sight. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells
weighing 108 kgs whose sound enches in the entire
complex.
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