Jain Temples Jaisalmer Rajasthan

Jain Temples

Jaisalmer, the city with golden sands, speaks stories of the brave heroes, little princesses, culture and religion. The city boasts of unique and beautiful architecture.Jaisalmer Fort, also called Sonar Qila or Golden Fort, is home to a cluster of Jain temples. The Jain Temples in Jaisalmer are like memories unraveled in stone and stories narrated by the scriptures. These Jain temples, built during 12th -15th century, hold immense religious and historical significance. These holy shrines are constructed in honor of the Jain Tirthankaras. Gorgeous sculptures of carved animals and humans on the walls bear similarity with the sculptures of Jain temples in Dilwara. The walls in yellow sandstone radiate a loving peace. There are about seven prominent Jain temples within Jaisalmer Fort city complex. Each one is dedicated to a diﬀerent Tirthankar and embellished with the most impressive carvings with its own tale to tell. These Jain temples attract a large number of pilgrims and tourists not only from Rajasthan, but across India and globe.

The ﬁrst temple one would encounter upon entering the complex is dedicated to the eighth Tirthankar Chandraprabhu whose symbol is half moon. Named after the Tirthankar, Chandraprabhu Temple, built in 1509 AD, is iconic and full of sheer greatness. Right behind Chandraprabhu Temple is another majestic shrine calledParshvanath Temple. Another shrine in the complex is Rishabhdev Temple , safeguarded with glass cabinets. Parshvanath Temple’s entrance has a beautifully carved image of Jain Tirthankara at its apex. This one stands for compassion and is the most popular one in the complex as of today. While the Shitalnath Temple , dedicated to the 10th Tirthankara, houses statue of the deity built of combination of eight precious metals (‘Ashtadhatu’). Another one called the Sambhavnath Temple is used by the devotees for meditation. Then, there are two other temples, the Shantinath Temple & Kunthunath Temple , which were built in 1536 AD. Both of these temples have very detailed and beautiful sensual carvings. Among these temples is a fascinating underground library called the ‘Gyan Bhandar Library’ , founded in 1500 AD. It’s a treasure trove of ancient manuscripts & priceless texts. Along with the very precious thousands of manuscripts and astrological charts, the library also has a collection of paintings from the Pre Mughal Rajput era and related to Jainism. There is also a small locked cabinet with images of Tirthankar Parshvanath, made of beautiful jewels and stones like the emerald & ivory.

There’s also a little story that the priest tells about the construction and existence of people. Prominently two communities lived in the fort - the Kshatriyas (the warriors) and the Brahmins (the priests, teachers & moral custodians). Back in the 15th century, Muslims used to invade and loot the temples. So, the Brahmins went to the king and sought permission to build these temples inside the fort. The king not only granted nod but also gave a large amount of money to construct these temples. Oh, and on a side note- shoes, leather items and food are not permitted inside the temples, so while one heads to Jaisalmer, relish history and blend in with the Jain heritage.