Abu (Mount Abu)
Kala Kshetra
Information: This place is the master piece of architecture and sculpture in
the world. The construction is in white marble. The sculpture work is much
more intricate and wonderful than of the Taj Mahal.
Acarya Suriji has described this place splendidly. Here was a Tirthankar
Rishabhdev Chaitya. Vimal was the marshal of king Parmar of Mahadri.
Chandravati was the capital. The people here were very wealthy. Vimal in
V.Sam. 1088 got the Vimal Basati constructed.
In 13th cent., one night Goddess said to king Virdhwal in dream to make
Vastupal and Tejpal his ministers, which would add to his wealth and make
ruling worryless. In the morning king appointed Tejpal as his treasurer and
made Vastupal the ruler of Stambh. They got constructed 1304 Jain temples,
and renovated 2300 temples. The king revered 125000 idols. He spent at
Shatrunjay 189 million Rupees (buying value of 1 Rupee of those days was
equal to 20 dollars of present times). He spent at 128 million Rupees Girnar
and He spent 125 million Rupees Lunigbasti.
Achalgarh is 6 km. away from Mt. Abu, Adinath temple is 500 years
old. The idol of Tirthankar Adinath is of 'Ashtdhatu' (alloy of eight metals)
and weighs 55 tons.
How to reach: Abu Road station is 186 km. from Ahmedabad on the meter
guage
Ahmedabad - Ajmer rail line. This is well connected by road to Ahmedabad,
Jodhpur, Ajmer, Udaipur etc. Foothill of Abu hill is 10 km. from the Abu Rd.
station, and then 18 km. of road on the hill to go to the top. Delwada is 2kms
from Mount Abu.
Lodging: Dharamshalas are all around the temple. Secretary, Shri Digamber
Jain
Mandir, Dilwara, PO Mt. Abu, Dist. Sirohi, Rajasthan
Vimalbasti:
This was constructed by Vimalshah in 1088. The sanctum has the white
marble image of Tirthankar Adinath in Dhyanmudra. This is not the original
image but placed in the restoration of 1322 A.D., the original image is
preserved in Devakulka 20. Its lintels, jambs and sill are very beautifully
carved. The buffer wall between sanctum and 'gudamandapa' contain niches
having images of Jinas in Dhyanmudra. The porches to the lateral entrances
of 'gudamandapa' are splendidly sculptured. The pillars at the base are square
and have carved images of Goddesses.Then the section changes to octagon,
sixteen-sided, and circular. The octagon portion also has images of
Goddesses, on sixteen-sided portion are the carvings of Sharavakas, and the
circular section has images of 'gandharvas' and 'vidyadharas'. The eight
pilasters inside the 'gudamandapa' are similarly carved. The ceiling is a
beautifully carved lotus. Gudamandapa has two marble idols of Tirthankar
Parasvnath.
Next to the room of 'gudamandapa' is the hall of 'mukhamandapa. On either
side of the gudhamandapa door is an ornamental niche which has the image
of Tirthankar Adinath in Dhyanmudra. There are about 12 pillars which divide
the ceiling into three bays each containing three ceilings. These pillars are
also beautifully fully carved. The ceilings are domical, in the center is the
padmasila and many other courses containing sculptured ornamentations of
lotuses, Jinas, Sravakas, diamonds and beads and different motifs, the
padmasila too is a big lotus or some other figure. The sculpture work in the
marble is simply superb.
After the entrance and before the mukhamandapa is the Rangamandapa. This
has twelve columns arranged along the four sides to give a square central
nave. The columns are similarly splendidly carved as are for the
mukhmandapa. The square central nave has the ornate dome which is 25 ft. in
diameter and is 30 ft. high above the floor. The dome is composed of 11
circular courses of elephants, Goddesses, diamonds & bead, horse riders,
'kolas', standing Goddesses Cakresvari and Vajrasrnkhala, geese and
projecting 'lumas'; between the 3rd and 8th courses are provided 16 bracket
figures of Vidyadevis. The 'padamasila' consists of two courses of 8-foil and 6foil 'kolas' and a band figure between them representing horse riders &
elephants etc. From the 'padmasila' issues out a long stamenal tube clasped
by musicians and one row of petals.
All around halls are Devakulikas, there are two rows. All the pillars are
octagonal at the base but are circular at the top, the carvings of lotuses, geese
etc. on them are beautiful. The ceilings in some are domical and other are
plane. They carry images of Goddesses, Jinas; figures of elephants,
Sharavakas, lotuses, creepers, lions, monkeys etc.The lives of Tirthankars are
depicted on the ones which are plane.
Lunavasahi:
The floor plan is similar to Vimalavasahi, the entrance is from the side instead
of the front. It is equally splendid in sculpture work to Vimalashahi. The
doorframe of the sanctum is decorated with foliate scrolls. The lintel continues
the decorations of the jambs and has the image of Jinas. Beautiful white
marble pedestal has the black marble idol of Tirthankar Neminath. Projecting
sculpture nitches on the side walls carry images of Jinas. The buffer wall
between the sanctum and the 'gudhamandapa' contains two niches sheltering
the image of Tirthankar Mahavira on the right and Tirthankar Shantinath on the
left, both being lately installed.
Gudhamandapa is square in plan and is completely sculptured, and has two
lateral porches. Its columns have the images of Goddesses, lotus flowers and
buds, diamonds and beads etc. The doorframe has niches containing
sculptured images of the Goddesses, deities, Jinas. The walls of the
gudamandapa are reinforced with eight pilasters to support the domical roof.
The circular ceiling bears a full blown lotus flower having three rows of petals.
The gudamandapa contains many Jin images and image of Rajmati, the bride
of Tirthankar Neminath to whom the temple is dedicated.
The hall of 'mukhmandapa' which is after 'gudamandapa' is similar in plan to
that of Lunavasahi. Its pillars, ceilings etc. like Lunvasahi are highly
sculptured. It has three bays each bay containing three ceilings. Ceilings are
adorned with kolases, lotus petals, whorls etc.
Rangamandapa comes after Devakulikas from the entrance. It has twelve
pillars arranged along the four sides of the square. These are three types:
octagonal, hexagonal and circular. From the side brackets of pillar-capital
emerge 'torana' arches which are wave, cusp tilak, and whorl type. Flanking
the gudhamandapa door are two ornamental niches popularly known as
'gokhalas'. The left has the idol of Tirthankar Sambhavnath, and the right has
the idol of Tirthankar Santinath. The domical ceiling of the 'rangamandapa' is
about 20 ft. in diameter, and is made of 10 circular courses of ornamentations,
and 'padmasila'. There are 2x48 'Devakulikas' around the halls. Its pillars are
octagonal at the base, above they are sixteen-sided, and circular , the ceilings
are beautifully carved. On the backside of the sanctum is the 'hastisala'. In the
central part of the hastisala is a
magnificent image of Tirthankar Adinath seated on a moulded pedestal. In
front of him is a Meru tower built of white marble. The tower is divided into
three storeys bottom has standing Jina idols and the top storeys have Jina
idols in pasmasana. On both sides of Meru tower are aligned ten gigantic
elephants. They are made out of single block of white marble highly polished.
The back wall of hastisala is divided into 10 niches, each containing the
portraits of a family. They contain the figures of Tejapala and Vastipulas sons',
brothers' etc. families.
Achalgadh
How to reach: Railway train available, Bus available, Taxi available and can
go by car. Near by station is Abu Road 37kms away.It's base is 6kms from
Mount Abu and 4kms from Delwada.
Lodging: Staying facilities available.