Situated in the Aravalli Mountains in the state of Rajasthan, about 90 kilometers north of the city of Udaipur, the beautiful marble temple of Ranakpur is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of the religion of Jainism. Ranakpur Jain Temple or Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara is a Śvētāmbara Jain temple at Ranakpur, Rajasthan dedicated to Jain Tirthankara Rishabhanatha. The temple is located in a village of Ranakpur near Sadri town in the Pali district of Rajasthan.
The temple honours Adinath, the first Tirthankar of the present half-cycle (avasarpiṇī) according to Jain cosmology. The Ranakpur temple is one of the largest and most important temples of Jain culture. The complex of Ranakpur ka Jain mandir includes 5 other temples such as Chaumukha temple, Surya temple, Suparshvanatha temple and Amba temple. The place is well connected through a road network to other places in the region. Falna is the nearest Railway Station, around 35 km away with Udaipur and Jodhpur being the closest major cities that have many places worth visiting.
Darna Shah, a local Jain businessperson, started construction of the temple in the 15th century following a divine vision. The construction is well documented in a 1436 CE copper-plate record, inscriptions in the temple and a Sanskrit text Soma-Saubhagya Kavya. Inspired by dream of a celestial vehicle, Dharna Shah, a Porwal from Ghanerao, commenced its construction in 1389, under the patronage of Rana Kumbha, then ruler of Mewar. The architect who oversaw the project was named Deepak from Mundara. There is an inscription on a pillar near the main shrine stating that in 1439 Deepak, an architect, constructed the temple at the direction of Dharanka, a devoted Jain.
Many sculptors and artists had submitted their designs but none of them matched the image he had dreamt of. Deepak was able to make a design because he was impressed by the dedication of Shah to build this temple. Afterwards, Shah sought from King Rana Kumbha. Not only did he was given a big piece of land to build the temple, but the king also asked Deepak to build a town around it. The town built was named Ranakpur, after the king. The construction began in the 14th century and went on till 15th century.
When the ground floor was completed, Acharya Soma Sundar Suri of Tapa Gaccha supervised the ceremonies, which are described in Soma-Saubhagya Kavya. The construction continued until 1458 CE. However, according to the audio guide provided to visitors to the site, construction lasted fifty years and involved 2785 workers. Another source reports that construction continued until 1496. The town of Ranakpur and the temple are named after Rana Kumbha who supported the construction of the temple. Ranakpur along with Muchhal Mahavir, Narlai, Nadol and Varkana forms “Gorwad Panch Tirth”.
These temples are in turn surrounded by a number of smaller shrines and domes, each dedicated to other tirthankaras. The entire complex is covered with fine, lace-like carvings of foliate scrollwork, dancing nymphs, images from Jain mythology, and geometric patterns. Whilst Dilwara temples are known for their sculptural work, Ranakpur is famous for its intricate carvings and unique architecture. It was built in the form of Nalini-Gulma Vimana, the heavenly vehicle Dharna Shah saw in his dreams. This temple is built in Māru-Gurjara architecture. The temple has a garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum in which the main Chaumukha Adinatha idol is placed.
The four openings of the sanctum lead to rangamandapa or Dancing hall, which is connected to a two-storeyed mandapa, which is again connected to another two-storeyed mandapa called Balana and nalimandapa. This courtyard is surrounded by a wall enclosing other shrines. The wall also has carvings of devakulikas and minor deity. The temple has five shikharas amongst which the central one is the largest. The Shikhara in the temple is symbolic of Mount Meru, the mountain which forms the axis of Jambudvipa with a preaching hall as the Samavasarana. The temple is rich with sculptural pieces – carvings created with great skill and artistry. In the 17th century, during reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the temples were plundered and thereafter fell into ruin, only being restored to its former glory in the early 20th century.
Chaturmukha Temple
Chaturmukha temple is a 15th-century temple dedicated to Adinatha, built using white marble in the midst of a forest. The temple name is credited to its design of chaumukha with four faces. The construction of the temple and quadrupled image symbolise the Tirthankara’s conquest of the four cardinal directions and hence the cosmos. The temple is one of the largest Jain temples, and considered one of the five holiest Jain shrines in India and part of Gorwad Panch Tirth. The architecture and stone carvings of the temple are based on the Ancient Mirpur Jain Temple at Mirpur in Rajasthan.
The temple is a grand white marble structure spread over 48,000 square feet with 1444 marble pillars, , and two large bells weighing 238 pounds, twenty-nine halls, eighty domes and 426 columns. One pillar is incomplete and legend says every time it is built the next morning the pillar breaks down. The temple, with its distinctive domes, shikhara, turrets and cupolas rises majestically from the slope of a hill. The 1444 marble pillars, carved in exquisite detail, support the temple. The pillars individually carved and no two pillars are the same.
Legend says that it is impossible to count the pillars. In the axis of the main entrance, on the western side, is the largest image. Inside the garbhagriha, the moolnayak of this temple, there is a 6-ft. tall, white-coloured chaumukha idol of Adinath with four heads facing in four direction. Temple has a total of 84 bhonyra (underground chambers) built to protect the Jain idols from the Mughals.
The temple is famous for its beautiful carved idol of Parshvanatha made out of a single marble slab. The idol has 1008 snake heads and numerous tails. Two chauri bearers and Yaksha and Yakshi, half-human and half-snake, stand on either side. There are two elephants purifying Parshvanatha. one on either side. One cannot find the end of the tails. The temple also has a representation of Ashtapad, showing eight tirthanakars in a row, Girnar and Nandishwar Dvipa. The design of the temple inspired Pittalhar temple, Dilwara in 1459 CE and in the Palitana temple complex in 1681.
Suparshvanatha Temple
The temple dedicated to Suparshvanatha is famed for its intrinsic design and for erotic arts on the wall. Supershvanatha is the seventh Tirthankara. The intricate designs are present even in this temple.
Neminatha Temple
The temple is dedicated to Neminatha is known for its exquisite carvings. The Neminath Temple is dedicated to the 22nd tirthankara.
Sun Temple
The sun temple at Ranakpur dates back to the 13th century CE. The construction of this sun temple dates back to the 13th century, full 2 centuries before the construction of Ranakpur Jain Temple. Highlight is a statue of the Sun God in his chariot driven by seven horses. But it got desecrated during the time of disturbance due to repeated attacks and was later reconstructed with the remaining temple complex in the 15th century. This temple is managed by Udaipur royal family trust.
The current cycle of Jainism has 24 Tirthankaras. Tirthankars are the spiritual teachers of Jainism, the first of which was Rishabanath or Adinath and the last was Mahavira. The next Tirthanakar is said to be the first Tirthankar of the next cycle. It is said that Ravana will be the next Tirthanakar as he and 23 other Tirthankars were stuck in a cycle between life and death. Chougan ka mandir in the Ranakpur Jain Temple complex is dedicated to the first tirthanakar of the next cycle, which is Ravana.
Management
The temple complex has undergone periodic renovations. Several families supported the construction of devakulikas and mandaps. It has been managed by the Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi trust for the past century. The temple has a dharmshala, bhojnalya and club. The trust also maintains a secondary school and Vijya Shanti Shiksha Bhawan. Best time to visit Ranakpur is winter from October-March, though the temples are open throughout the year. The timing of Ranakpur temple is 12 pm to 5 pm. There is no entry fee but the priest who doubles as guide may ask for a donation. Tourist are advised to be fully clothed. Ranakpur Jain Temple must be on your list when visiting Rajasthan.
