Jain Architecture in India

Dr Uday Dokras
6th century B.C. in India marked a significant phase of history with the beginning of
new religious and social movements in the form the shraman tradition which included
new Buddhism and Jainism etc. Emergence of Buddhism and Jainism contributed
significantly in the development of early architectural style in India. Under this new
architectural style, stupas and viharas were constructed on a large scale. A Jain
temple or Derasar is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism.[1] Jain
architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings
generally reflect the prevailing style of the place and time they were built.
Jain temple architecture is generally close to Hindu temple architecture, and in
ancient times Buddhist architecture. Normally the same builders and carvers worked
for all religions, and regional and period styles are generally similar. For over 1,000
years the basic layout of a Hindu or most Jain temples has consisted of a
small garbhagriha or sanctuary for the main murti or cult images, over which the high
superstructure rises, then one or more larger mandapa halls.
Māru-Gurjara architecture or the "Solanki style" is, a particular temple style
from Gujarat and Rajasthan (both regions with a strong Jain presence) that originated
in both Hindu and Jain temples around 1000, but became enduringly popular with
Jain patrons. It has remained in use, in somewhat modified form, to the present day,
indeed also becoming popular again for some Hindu temples in the last century. The
style is seen in the groups of pilgrimage temples at Dilwara on Mount
Abu, Taranga, Girnar and Paltana.
The art and architecture of the Jains have the main objective to maintain, preserve
and glorify the culture extensively. Jain architecture especially their temple
architecture is one of a kind in India. The great Jain temples and sculptured
monuments of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are world-renowned. Jain
temples at Ranakpur and Mount Abu in Rajasthan are among the most spectacular
Jain temples. Excellent rock cut architecture can also be found in the caves of
Mathura, Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. A number of rock-cut caves
have been discovered in Udaigiri and Khandagiri, twin hills in Puri District of Orissa
and in Ellora in Maharashtra.

Rock-cut cave temples

Early examples of rock-cut architecture in India include the Buddhist and Jain cave
temples (Chaityas), monasteries (Viharas). In the early years, Jain temples were built
adjoining the Buddhist sites following the Buddhist rock-cut style. Early cave sites,
found in western India were used by Jain monks as places of worship and residence.

Ellora, dating from the fifth century CE onwards to the eleventh century CE, is one
such cave site located in Aurangabad District of Maharashtra. It is a unique historical
site as it has monastries associated with the three religions (Buddhism, Brahmanism
and Jainism).
The remnants of the rock-cut cave architecture are also found in Odisha. The earliest
examples are the Udaigiri-Khandagiri caves in the vicinity of Bhubaneswar. These
caves have inscriptions of Kharavela kings. According to the inscriptions, the caves
were meant for Jain monks.

Features of Jain temples

Jain architecture developed largely as an offshoot of Hindu and Buddhist styles. It
cannot be accredited with a style of its own. Compared to the number of Hindu
temples in India, Jain temples are few and spaced out. The regional styles of Jain
temple architectural are easily distinguishable in different parts of the country.
Early Jain temple architecture was mostly rock cut and bricks were hardly used. In
later years, however, brick temples were constructed in a large scale. At the same
time, they also deviated from Hindu and Buddhist sites to build on their own.
The majority of Jain temples in India consist of three core building elements:

 Image chamber Garbhagriha
 Hall Mandapa
 Porch
A fourth element, referred to as Antarala, can also be seen lying between the image
chamber and its hall. Antarala, a small vestibule is a space where worshippers can
stand and gaze at the icon or follow rituals conducted within the shrine.

Some of the prominent features of Jain temples are listed below:-

 As opposed to solitary Hindu temples, Jain temple architecture are mostly

found in the form of temple-cities . These temple-cities are large temple
compounds, which contain large numbers of individual or interconnected
temples and shrines.
 Most of Jain pilgrimage sites were built on hilltops which include Palitana
temple in Gujarat, Sonagiri temple in M.P. etc.
 The chambers of these temples have pointy domes and wherever there is dome,
the pillars are omitted to create an octagonal space within.
 Jain temples are noted for the use of rich materials like marble and
ornamentation.
 Domes or shikharas on the top are usually smaller than the ones found in
Hindu temples. These multiple dome points, reaching toward the sky give a
very distinct appearance to Jain temple cities.
 Jain temples have numerous pillars having a well designed structure, forming a
square.
 The squares thus formed create chambers or chapels which contains the image
of a deity.
 These pillars and roofs of the temple are richly carved and well decorated.
 Unlike Buddhist Viharas, the Jain viharas do not have the assembly or prayer
hall surrounded by cells. The cells of Jain viharas are small and plain,
designed to observe rigorous asceticism by Jain monks. The doorways are also
small and one has to bend or crawl to enter a cell.
 Jain temples were mostly built on platforms or terraces, commonly referred to
as Jagati or Vedi . Even rock-cut cave temples have platforms. This was done
to elevate the temple above the surrounding surface and create a distinct
sacred area.
 Jain temples are enclosed by free-standing high compound walls, called
as Prakara.
 Structurally speaking, a Jain temple is constructed on a square plan with
openings in four cardinal directions, each of which could lead to the image of a
Tirthanakara. The Chamukh temple of Lord Adinath is a characteristic
example of the four-door temple.

Jain temples
Like their Hindu counterparts, Jains were also prolific temple builders. Their sacred
shrines and pilgrimage places can be found across different parts of India.
Some of the most architecturally important Jain sites can be found in Ellora and
Aihole in the Deccan. The famous statue of Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola in
Karnataka is example of rich heritage of Jain architecture in this region. In central
India, Deogarh, Khajuraho, Chanderi and Gwalior have some marvelous examples of
Jain architecture. In the west, Gujarat and Rajasthan have been strongholds of
Jainism since early times. Akota, on the outskirts of Baroda in Gujarat is famous for
Jain bronze images.

Derasar is a word used for a Jain temple in Gujarat and southern

Rajasthan. Basadi is a Jain shrine or temple in Karnataka The word is generally used
in South India. Its historical use in North India is preserved in the names of
the Vimala Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temples of Mount Abu. The Sanskrit word
is vasati, it implies an institution including residences of scholars attached to the
shrine.
Temples may be divided into Shikar-bandhi Jain temples, public dedicated temple
buildings, normally with a high superstructure, typically a north
Indian shikhara tower above the shrine) and the Ghar Jain temple, a private Jain
house shrine. A Jain temple which is known as a pilgrimage centre is often termed
a Tirtha.
The main image of a Jain temple is known as a mula nayak. A Manastambha (column
of honor) is a pillar that is often constructed in front of Jain temples. It has four
'Moortis' i.e. stone figures of the main god of that temple. One facing each direction:
North, East, South and West.
Jain temples are built with various architectural designs . The earliest survivals of
Jain architecture are part of the Indian rock-cut architecture tradition, initially shared
with Buddhism, and by the end of the classical period with Hinduism. Very often
numbers of rock-cut Jain temples and monasteries share a site with those of the other
religions, as at Udayagiri, Bava Pyara, Ellora, Aihole, Badami, and Kalugumalai.
The Ellora Caves are a late site, which contains temples of all three religions, as the
earlier Buddhist ones give way to later Hindu excavations.
There is considerable similarity between the styles of the different religions, but often
the Jains placed large figures of one or more of the 24 tirthankaras in the open air
rather than inside the shrine. These statues later began to be very large, normally
standing nude figures in the kayotsarga meditation position (which is similar to
standing at attention). Examples include the Gopachal rock cut Jain monuments and
the Siddhachal Caves, with groups of statues, and a number of single figures
including the 12th-century Gommateshwara statue, and the modern Statue of
Vasupujya and, largest of all at 108 feet (32.9 meters) tall, the Statue of Ahimsa.
In recent times, the use of murti images has become controversial within Jainism, and
some smaller sects reject them entirely, while others are selective in terms of which
figures they allow images of. In sects which largely disapprove of images, the religious
buildings are far more simple.
Following the regional styles in Hindu temples, Jain temples in North India generally
use the north Indian nagara style, while those in South India use the dravida style,
although the north Indian Māru-Gurjara style or Solanki style has made some inroads
in the south over the last century or so. For example, the Mel Sithamur Jain
Math in Tamil Nadu has a large gopuram tower, similar to those of local Hindu
temples.

Collapsed stupa reveals there is nothing inside// Temple interior, Dilwara

Characteristics of the original Māru-Gurjara style are "the external walls of the
temples have been structured by increasing numbers of projections and recesses,
accommodating sharply carved statues in niches. These are normally positioned in
superimposed registers, above the lower bands of mouldings. The latter display
continuous lines of horse riders, elephants, and kīrttimukhas. Hardly any segment of
the surface is left unadorned." The main shikhara tower usually has
many urushringa subsidiary spirelets on it, and two smaller side-entrances with
porches are common in larger temples.
Later, with Dilwara in the lead, surrounding the main temple with a curtain
of devakulikā shrines, each with a small spire became a distinctive feature of the Jain
temples of West India, still employed in some modern temples. These are fairly plain
on the outer walls, and often raised on a very high platform, so that the outside of
larger temples can resemble a fortress with high walls. However the entrance(s), often
up high, wide steps, are not designed for actual defence, even though medieval Muslim
armies and others destroyed many Jain temples in the past, often permanently.
Inside the temple, the Māru-Gurjara style features extremely lavish carving, especially
on columns, large and intricately carved rosettes on the ceilings of mandapas, and a
characteristic form of "flying arch" between columns, which has no structural role,
and is purely decorative. Most early temples in the style are in various local shades of
pink, buff or brown sandstone, but the Dilwara temples are in a very pure white
marble which lightens the style and has become considered very desirable.
While, before British India, large Buddhist or Hindu temples (and indeed Muslim
mosques) have very often been built with funds from a ruler, this was infrequently the
case with Jain temples. Instead they were typically funded by wealthy Jain individuals
or families. For this reason, and often the smaller numbers of Jains in the population,
Jain temples tend to be at the small or middle end of the range of sizes, but at
pilgrimage sites they may cluster in large groups - there are altogether several
hundred at Palitana, tightly packed within several high-walled compounds called
"tuks" or "tonks".Temple charitable trusts, such as the very large Anandji Kalyanji
Trust, founded in the 17th century and now maintaining 1,200 temples, play a very
important role in funding temple building and maintenance.
 Most Popular Jain Temples in India

Travel the length and width of India and wherever Jains live, there you will find a
community Jin temple or Derasar because, for Jains, starting the day with worship is
the ideal way. Even if it is small, the Derasar will have characteristic carved pillars
and arches. This is a tradition followed since centuries and India is home to some of
the most breathtaking Jain temples. Take a look at 15 of these selected Jain temples
you must visit.

1- Dilwara Jain Temples, Mount Abu

About 2 km from Mount Abu, the famous Dilwara Jain Temples are known for their
exquisite marble carving and the “Chattris” are a tribute not only to the sculptor but
also to the architects and engineers of that age. Built between the 11th and 14th
centuries, with Vimal Shah, Minister of the Solanki ruler being primarily response for
its construction, the complex houses temples to Shri Adinath, Shri Parshvanath, Shri
Rishabh Dev and Shri Neminath. The last one is credited t Maharana Kumbha of
Mewar.

2- Palitana Jain Temples

If Dilwara is striking, Palitana is even more so. Located on top of the Shetrunjaya Hills
in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, this complex is home to 900 small and large temples,
each one with its own unique and exquisite carvings. Devotees must climb over 3500
steps to a height of 3.5 kms to reach the complex. Many do so before the sun rises to
have a view of the glory of the sun as its pink and gold rays bathe the marble and
sandstone edifices. One unique feature of Palitana is that devotees must leave by
evening since no one is permitted to sleep inside the complex. It is the abode of Gods.

3- Gommateshwara Temple

Shravanabelagola is about 51 km from Hassan in Karnataka and the temple is located

at a height of 3350 feet with the idol of Gommata towering high into the skyline. The
image of Lord Bahubali as he is also known, towers to a height of 57 feet. Once in 12
years crowds of devotees throng the temple for the Mahamastakabhisheka when the
giant statue is anointed with milk and sandalwood. Succeeding rulers added more
temples to the complex, one of which has marvelous paintings depicting Jain
mythology, ceremonies, celebrations and rituals.

4- Ranakpur Temple, Udaipur

Not far from Udaipur is the sleepy town of Ranakpur, home to the Ranakpur Jain
Temple. Said to have been built in the 14th and 15th century, it holds a record for
having 1444 carved marble pillars so intricate and exquisite as to keep visitors
enthralled for hours. Ranakpur is one of the major pilgrimage spots for Jains. The
temple was built by Seth Dharna Shah along with contribution from Rana Kumbha.
The complex houses temples dedicated to Amba Mata, Suradev, Parshwanath and
Lord Adinath who presides in the Chaumukha temple.

5- Khajuraho Jain Temples

Located in the town of Khajuraho in MP, the Khajuraho Jain temples make up the
Eastern group and are 34 in number of which the temples dedicated to Adinath,
Shantinath and Parsvnath are exceedingly striking. It is said that the wishes of
devotees are fulfilled when they pray in these temples. Along with the main deities
there are smaller but exquisitely carved statues of the Tirthankaras. The carvings of
the divine nymphs are exquisite and of great beauty.

6- Sheth Hutheesing Jain Temple, Ahmedabad

Constructed in exquisitely carved white marble sometime around 1848 AD by Sheth

Hutheesing, it is primarily dedicated to Shri Dharmanath. However, the temple
complex houses finely carved statues of 52 Tirthankaras. A more recently built 78 feet
high Mahavir Stambh modeled after the one in Chittor also graces the courtyard.

7- Parsvanath Jain Mandir, Tamil Nadu

Modeled after the Dilwara Temples, Rajasthan, the Parshvanatha Jain Mandir here
has 3 Gopurams and pillars. The main deity is Lord Parshvanatha, the 23rd
Tirthankaras with his idol made of green quartz. IT is one of the few temples to house
glasswork.

8- Nasiyan Digambar Jain Temple, Ajmer

Unlike other Jain temples that feature marble as the main stone or sandstone, the
Nasiyan Digambar Jain Temple in Ajmer is made of rd stone and draws inspiration
from the temple of Ranakpur and Dilwara. The temple was built during 1864 to 1895
AD and it is dedicated to Rishabhdev. The temple has wooden figures from Jain
mythology and a museum in the complex. More astonishing is the Swarna Nagari Hall
on the first floor that has replicas of Jain temples around the country, each one with
gold leaf covering.

9- Bawangaja Temple, Madhya Pradesh

The Bawangaja temple in Madhya Pradesh lays claim to having the tallest statue of
Lord Adinath, the first Tirthankara. The temple dates back to the 12th century and
the 84 feet high statue is believed to have been cut from one single rock from the
mountainside.

10- Shikharji Jain Temple, Jharkhand

Held in high reverence by Jain devotees, the Shikharji temple in the Parasnath Hills in
Jharkhand is located at a height of 429 feet. It is believed the 20 Tirthankaras and
saints achieved salvation here. The temple is unique for having about 30 marble
structures and a Jal Mandir. Pilgrims pay their respects to Lord Parasnath and go for
a walk to the Parasnath Hill.

11- Tijara Jain Temple, Alwar

The Tijara Jain Temple is dedicated to Shri Chandra Prabhu, the 8th Tirthankara. The
temple has beautiful walls with lovely glass work and paintings based on Jain
mythology. Jains flock in millions to the Tijara Temple because it is believed to the
place of salvation.

12- Sonagiri Temples, Madhya Pradesh

The Sonagiri Temples in Madhya Pradesh resemble those of Palitana in Gujarat insofar
as they are located on the Sonagiri Hills and surrounding areas. There are about 103
temples dotting the landscape with the main temple dedicated to Lord
Chandraprabhu.

13- Ellora
Though not currently considered as temple spot, Ellora has five Jain caves at the
North end, housing beautifully carved idols dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries.
The 24 Jaina are depicted here along with yakshas and yakshis as well as devotees.
Jains flock here and the focus of interest is the Samavasarana hall where
Tirthankaras are shown preaching to devotees. Also of interest is the Indra Sabha Jain
temple. There are quite a few other attractions at Ellora such as the Chota Kailasha
cave that features Indra in a dancing pose and represents a fusion of Hindu and Jain
spirituality. One of the most impressive caves is that of Jagannatha Sabha with 12
large pillars and idols of Lord Parsvanath, Mahavir and the last two Tirthankaras.

14- Samet Shikhar, Bihar

For Jains Samet Shikhar in Bihar is a place of special religious significance because a
pilgrimage to this place destroys sins and 20 Tirthankaras attained salvation here.
Located on a hill of the same name at a height of 4450 feet, the temple complex is
surrounded by greenery. The complex itself has temples dedicated to Lord
Parshwanath represented by a 92 cm high black idol along with shrines for the 20
Tirthankaras. At the foot of the hill is a temple dedicated to Bhomiyaji where pilgrims
pay their respects before proceeding up the hill. Samet Shikhar also has a Jain
museum with a unique collection of stamps on Jainism as well as other artifacts.

14- Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, Delhi

While the Red Fort is undoubtedly the star attraction in Chandni Chowk, the ancient
Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is of special interest to Jains. Built sometime around
1656 of red sandstone the first floor is a large hall and the temple has shrines to Lord
Mahavir, Lord Adinath and Lord Parasnath.

There are hundreds of Jain temples dotting the landscape of India, a testimony to the
spiritual aspect of the Jain community down the ages. Funded by prominent
businessmen, the temples promote pilgrimages and it is common for larger temples to
offer accommodation as well as food to devotees.

The Jetavanarama stupa or Jetavanaramaya is a stupa, or Buddhist reliquary

monument, located in the ruins of Jetavana monastery in the UNESCO world heritage city
of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. At 122 metres (400 ft), and was the world's tallest stupa;
[3]
 and the third tallest structure in the world  when it was built by King Mahasena of
Anuradhapura (273–301). He initiated the construction of the stupa   following the
destruction of the Mahaviharaya of Anuradhapura. His son Maghavanna I completed the
construction of the stupa, and was renovated by Parakramabahu I of Polonnaruwa. A part
of a sash or belt tied by the Buddha is believed to be the relic that is enshrined here.
The structure is significant in the island's history as it represents the tensions within
the Theravada and Mahayana sects of Buddhism; it is also significant in recorded history
as one of the tallest structures in the ancient world; and the tallest non-pyramidal
building; the height of the stupa was 122 metres (400 ft). making it the tallest stupa in the
ancient world. With the destruction and abandonment of Anuradhapura kingdom in the
11th century, the stupa with others was covered by jungle. King Parakramabahu in 12th
century tried to renovate this stupa and it was rebuilt to the current height, a reduction
from the original height. Today it stands at 71 metres (233 ft).
The compound covers approximately 5.6 hectares and is estimated to have housed 10,000
Buddhist monks. One side of the stupa is 176 m (576 ft) long, and the flights of stairs at
each of the four sides of it are 9 m (28 ft) wide. The doorpost to the shrine, which is
situated in the courtyard, is 8 m (27 ft) high. The stupa has a 8.5 m (28 ft)
deep foundation, and sits on bedrock.
The structure is no longer the tallest, but it is still the largest, with a base-area of
233,000 m2 (2,508,000 sq ft. Approximately 93.3 million baked bricks were used in its
construction; the engineering ingenuity behind the construction of the structure is a
significant development in the history of the island.
Lightning Rod atop a Stupa

A stupa is a dome or bell shaped structure used as monuments, traditionally used to

store religious sacred relics of the Buddha. They were first used in India and quickly
spread across Asia becoming more elaborately decorated with time. Stupas are
enclosed and without entrances, as to protect the sacred relics contained within. They
have also been used as burial mounds and monuments to deceased royalty and men of
religious importance.

Buddhist Temple

A temple is a place of worship. Similar to a church for Christians or a mosque for

Muslims, a temple is where Buddhists come to mediate. It is usually a collection of
buildings, stupas, pagodas and wats. The architectural style varies greatly throughout
Asia, but they are always built to face the East or South for better luck and designed to
inspire inner and outer peace.
Hindu Temple and jain temples are very similar with the above parts