Jain Temples Jaisalmer

Jain Temples situated in the Jaisalmer Fort are a must visit site in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. You will find these temples to be very old and high pilgrimage as well as archeological value attached to them. These are a group of Jain temples dating back 12th and 15th centuries and are dedicated to various Jain Tirthankars (Hermits). On the walls of the temples, you can find animal & human figures, carved in famous Dilwara style.

These temples are built in the Dilwara style that is famous all over the world for its architecture. The style got its name from the famous 'Dilwara Temples' situated on Mount Abu, a famous Hill station and pilgrimage destination in Rajasthan. The Jain temples in the Jaisalmer Fort are dedicated to Rikhabdevji and Shambhavdev Ji, the famous Jain hermits known as 'Tirthankars'. Like all other structures in Jaisalmer, these temples are craved of yellow sandstones. The beautifully carves decorations on the wall will give you divine peace. The Astapadhi Temples that are situated in the same complex are a must visit too.

The temple complex is open through out the morning till 12noon, for the visitors. So try to get up a bit early or you might miss this splendor. The campus also contain Gyan Bhandar library. Well if you are a student of comparative archeology or otherwise, the library will prove to be a good place to prowl as it contains some of the rare manuscripts available in India.

History Of Jain Temples
All the Jain temples are located within the Jaisalmer Fort but which one came to exist first in the fort is a fascinating story. History has it that traditionally two communities namely the Kshatriyas who were the kings and Brahmins who were the priests resided in the fortress. However, Muslim kings invaded the area during the 15th and 16th centuries from across the borders. They would loot these rich Jain temples and vandalise the idols. Witnessing this numerous times made the Brahmins reach out to the king who then allowed them to build the Jain temples using a handsome amount of money. Even today, only Kshatriyas and Brahmins live within the fort, but the temples survive on the huge donations that they receive from the Jains. These are great pilgrimage centres for the community.

Architecture Of Jaisalmer Jain Temple
There are seven Jain temples present within the walls of the Jaisalmer Fort all of which were constructed around the 15th and 16th centuries. The spires of the temple can be seen clearly and can be picked out easily from anywhere in the fort. All these temples are built using the golden-yellow sandstone and are dedicated to different Tirthankars. The temples are all interconnected to each other confusing the visitor while differentiating one from the other. The most massive temples are the ones which are dedicated to Rishabhnath, Parsvanath, Sambhavnath, and Chandraprabhu and these are ones with the most beautiful carvings out of the lot. The entrance of the Parsvanath Temple is extraordinarily exquisite and unique in itself.