Parshvanath Jain Temple Jaisalmer

Parshvanath Jain Temple
Vital Information for Visitors
Address:

Parshvanath Jain Temple, Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Open & Close:

Open on all days
08:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Entry Fees:

Nil – for Indians
INR 10/- pp – for Foreigners

Duration:

1 -2 Hours

Significance:

Historic & beautifully built live temple

Among the cluster of several Jain temples within the ramparts of the Golden Fort (Sonar Qila / Jaisalmer Fort), the Parshvanath Temple, built in the twelfth century, is the oldest and most beautiful. It was repaired from time to time. The most important part of the temple is the shrine containing the image of the Tirthankara. The four walls of the shrine are beautifully carved with animals, and human figures. Over the roof of this particular shrine is built a highly decorated ‘sikhara’ (शिखर) invariably crowned by an ‘amalaka’ (आमलक). Above the amalaka is the water pot containing a lotus flower. There is a porch and ‘bhoga mandapa’ in front of this shrine. Facing this porch, there is the ‘natamandapa’, octagonal in shape, which is decorated with themes of Jaina and Hindu mythology.

TProfuse ornamentations in the shape of foliage, flowers, birds and human figures were used in decorating every part of the pillar, arch, lintel or bracket. There hang the graceful full blown lotus-shaped pendants from the centre on the ceiling of the ‘mahamandira’ dome. Over the columns of the porch are the bracket capitals, which are also surmounted by dwarf columns, which support the architraves of the dome, and the struts supporting the gallery. Between the bracket capitals and under the struts are placed beautifully ornamented ‘torana’-shaped figure forming a kind of pierced arch. The surrounding courtyard is enclosed by a double colonnade of smaller pillars, finely carved and ornamented ceilings. Behind it, there stands a range of cells and each of it contains the cross-legged seated Tirthankara. Before the entrance gate of the temple is the porch supported by decorated columns. Just over the ‘chhajas’ at both corners in the friezes of the porch are two figures of elephants. The carvings perforated in the architraves, ‘kangura’, parapet, specially the ‘shikhara’ or dome, and over the porch are elegant and graceful. The greatest attraction of the Jain temples in Jaisalmer Fort is the ‘toran’ (तोरण) that stands on a pair of decorated columns in front of the entrance porch of Parshvanath Jain Temple. The columns are ornamented with lotus, animals, ‘makaras’ and adorned with sculptures, which seem almost instinct with life and motion. There is a wonderful grace in these sculptures of different gods and ‘apsaras’ etc.

Jaisalmer Tour Packages

Cultural Rajasthan Tour

Cultural Rajasthan Tour

14 Nights / 15 Days
Destination : Delhi- Mandawa- Bikaner- Jaisalmer- Jodhpur- Kumbhalgarh- Udaipur- Bundi-Ranthambhore- Jaipur

Golden Triangle with Jaisalmer Tour

Golden Triangle with Jaisalmer Tour

6 Nights / 7 Days
Destination : Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Jaisalmer

Mansions & Havelis of Rajasthan Tours

Mansions & Havelis of Rajasthan Tours

11 Nights / 12 Days
Destination : Delhi-Jaipur-Mandawa-Bikaner-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Rohet-Ranakpur-Udaipur-Dungarpur

North India Holidays Tour

North India Holidays Tour

12 Nights / 13 Days
Destination : Delhi-Jodhpur – Jaisalmer- Udaipur- Jaipur- Agra- Varanasi

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