Vimala Vasahi Temple Mount Abu

Vimala Vasahi Temple Mount Abu
Vital Information for Visitors
Address:

Vimala Vasahi Temple, Dilwara Road, Mount Abu, Rajasthan

Open & Close:

Open on all days

Timings:

10:00 AM – 05:00 PM

Entry Fees:

NIL

Duration:

30 min to 1 hr

Significance:

Intricate carving on marble

Vimala Vasahi Temple is one of the famous monuments and Tourist Attractions in Mount Abu. It is known for its beautiful architecture. In the 11th century Rajasthan, like Gujarat, was the traditional home of merchant princes who spent fabulous sums to commemorate their religious faiths. Vimala Shah, the Minister of the first Solanki ruler, Bhimadev-1 of Gujarat, built the first Jain temple at Dilwara in 1032 AD. From architectural perspective, the temple is comparatively of simpler and bolder ilk. Constructed entirely of white marble, which must have been brought from the famous Makrana quarries, the Vimala Vasahi Temple is one of the oldest and most complete examples of Jain architecture. It is one of a group of shrines, for the Jains believed high places to be sacred and generally built temples where the holy hills could be their foundation. Mount Abu tour essentially consists of a visit to Dilwara temples cluster. Vimala Vasahi Jain Temple is a part of the temples complex in Dilwara.

Vimala Vasahi Temple in Mount Abu, which is 98 ft long and 42 ft wide, is surrounded by a lofty wall containing 52 cells, each of which containing the image of a Tirthankar. Most of these have now been replaced. These cells are screened by a double arcade of carved pillars. A pavilion facing the entrance-porch contains a procession of marble elephants, each bearing a statue of Vimala Shah and his family. Most of these figures have now disintegrated. The temple consists of an open portico and a vestibule, both formed by a simple grouping of pillars. The octagonal shikhar of the shrine is formed by eleven concentric rings containing patterns of endless variety and is upheld by eight carved columns. A series of sixteen brackets, bearing images of the Goddess of Knowledge, supports the rings of the dome. The intricately carved reliefs illustrate incidents from Jain literature and legend, including Satrunjaya-Mahatmya. A notable feature of the decoration is the exuberance of detail and the effective repetition of the same motif. The temple is an architectural achievement as a remarkable example of tireless inventiveness and caprice in sculptured decoration.

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