A group of five Shvetambara Jain temples at Mount Abu, famous for some of the finest marble carving in India. The two oldest, Vimal Vasahi (1031) and Luna Vasahi (1230), were built by ministers of the Chaulukya and Vaghela rulers of Gujarat.
HistoryDocumented history
Mount Abu was an important Jain pilgrimage place, and wealthy Jain merchant-ministers built the temples. The plain exteriors hide interiors where white marble is carved so finely it looks almost translucent, especially the domes.
Sthala PuranaTradition
In Jain tradition Mount Abu (Arbuda) is a sacred mountain. Vimal Shah built Vimal Vasahi to atone for the violence of his military career.
Aitihyas and storiesTradition and folklore
Tradition says the carvers were paid in silver equal to the weight of the marble dust they removed, to encourage ever-finer work.
PhilosophyInterpretation
Jain temples teach the path of the Tirthankaras, the 'ford-makers' who crossed the river of rebirth through non-violence (ahimsa), truth and non-attachment. Vimal Shah's story ties beauty to repentance.
Meaning todayInterpretation
Dilwara shows the depth of Jain contributions to Indian art and the role of merchant communities as patrons. Ahimsa is a core value in today's ethics of non-violence and ecology.
Timeline
- 1031constructeddocumentedVimal Shah, minister of Bhima I (Chaulukya)Vimal Vasahi built for Adinatha.
- 1230constructeddocumentedVastupala and TejapalaLuna Vasahi built for Neminatha, named after their late brother Luniga.
- 1311damagedprobableDamaged during Alauddin Khalji's campaigns, and repaired in 1322.
Videos
No videos have been curated for this temple yet.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Dilwara Templestertiary
This entry is a draft. Traditional stories are presented as tradition, not as historical fact.