Jain Temples in India
India is blessed with diverse religious faiths. Jainism is one of them. There are many famous Jain temples in India. Jain Tirthankars – religious preachers spread the message of peace, non violence, love and enlightenment all over the world. This is the main reason the Jain shrines have attracted and moulded the sentiments of millions of people across the nation as well as the world. Today about 3.2 million Jain devotees live in India. Jain religious places are some of the best destination options for tourists and pilgrims in India.
Many devotees visit India from all over the world to seek blessing and also to marvel at the great Jain architectural splendor. Jain temples are located across the Indian sub-continent, these Jain pilgrimage sites are the best destination options for tourists and pilgrims.
The famous and most important Jain shrines to be visited in India are
Dilwara Temples, Rajasthan
Palitana Temples, Rajasthan
Sravanabelagola, a great centre for Jain culture
Falna Ranakpur
Digamber Jain Bada Mandir
Sri Parshwanath Temple
Bachraj Ghat Jain Temple
Shri Digambar Jain Teerth Rishbhanchal
Chamukha Jain Temple
Dilwara Jain Temple
Falna Ranakpur
Dilwara Temples : The Jain dilwara temples are located about 2 ½ Kilometers from Mount Abu, Rajasthan’s only hill station in India. Dilwara temples are dating back from 11th to 13th century AD and these temples are famous for their stunning use of marble. The simplicity in architecture reminds every one of us that Jainism as a religion “encouraged honesty and frugality”. These temples reside amidst mesmerizing surroundings of wooded hills and Mango trees. Although there are many temples built by Jains in other places of rajasthan but none come close to these dilwara temples in terms of architectural perfection.
Palitana Temples, Rajasthan: Amongst all the Jain temples, Palitana temples are considered to be the most sacred in India. Palitana temples are located on Shetrunjaya hills there are 863 temples, exquisitely carved in marble. No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods. It is also one of the greatest tourist attractions in Gujarat for foreign tourists.
Chamukha Jain Temple :
Chamukya Jain temple is the largest and most complex Jain temple sprawled over 48,000sft in India. Chamukya Jain temple is one of the five most important holy shrines of the jains. The complex and artistic engravings on the pillars and domes leave a lasting impression
Falna Ranakpur
The Jain Golden Temple in Falna, a small town in Rajasthan has a unique attraction worldwide. It is the first temple that has been constructed by the people of the Jain community. The specialty of the temple is that, from the Falna town itself about 90 Kg. of gold was donated by the ladies of the Jain community for the idolization of temple dome and Lords idol.
Nakoda
Nakoda is a well known Jain pilgrim centre There are 3 jain monuments famous for their beautiful construction and carvings A complex of three Jain temples – Parsvanath temple, Adinath temple and Shantinath temple are dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras.
Osiyan
Osiyan has as many as 15 Jain temples, the most spectacular of which is the Mahavira temple dedicated to the 24th and last Jain Prophets. The temple was built around 775 A.D. and other smaller shrines were added on to the complex till about the 15th century. Osiyan has great relevance for the Jain community because the Oswal Jains originated in Osiyan and derive their name from the town. The Oswals were a rich trading community and they donated generously for the construction and upkeep of their temples.
Artuna
Arthuna as well as its surrounding areas have clusters of ruined Hindu and Jain temples belonging to the 11th, 12th and the 15th centuries. Arthuna was once the capital of Paramaras who ruled over the state of Vagad. Paramaras were originally the rulers of the Malwa region in the 11th century. One of the most famous Paramara king was Raja Bhoja, a great patron of Sanskrit.
Sri Mahavirji
The town of Sri Mahavirji is one the most popular Jain pilgrimages in India for here is one of the holiest Jain temples in Rajasthan. It is located 110km from Sawai Madhopur. The Shi Mahavirji temple is located on the banks of the river Gambhir and was built in white marble in honour of Mahavira, the 24th Jain saint. The temple has a nice legend attached to it.