Ranakpur
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Ranakpur is a village near Sadri town in Pali district of Rajasthan in western India. It is located between Jodhpur and Udaipur, in a valley on the western flank of the Aravalli Hills. Ranakpur is easily accessed by road from Udaipur.
Jain temple
Ranakpur is widely known for its marble Jain temple, and for a much older Sun Temple which lies opposite the former.The renowned Jain temple at Ranakpur is dedicated to Adinatha. Light colored marble has been used for the construction of this grandiose temple which occupies an area of approximately 60 x 62 meters. The temple, with its distinctive domes, shikhara, turrets and cupolas rises majestically from the slope of a hill. Over 1400 marble pillars, carved in exquisite detail, support the temple. The idol faces all four cardinal directions. In the axis of the main entrance, on the western side, is the largest idol. The construction of the temple and quadrupled image symbolize the conquest of Tirthankara of the four cardinal directions and hence the cosmos.
The dating of this temple has been a matter of controversy but it is largely considered to be anywhere between the late 14th to mid-15th centuries. Inspired by a dream of a celestial vehicle, Dharna Shah is said to have commissioned the temple construction, under the auspices and patronage of Rana Kumbha, then ruler of Mewar. The architect who saw the project to fruition is said to have been named Depaka.
Picture gallery
References
- L. Clermont & T. Dix authored/photographed book, "Jainism and the temples of Mount Abu and Ranakpur".
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