TEMPLES

Sas Bahu Temple 

The ancient capital of Nagda now only has the ruins of some Vishnu, Shiva and Jain temples to prove that it wasn’t behind when speaking of architecture. The most important temples that have survived the test of time are the Sas-Bahu pair and are said to be as old as the eleventh century.

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Sas Bahu Temple are the most intricately carved temples and are ornamented and decorated with attractive figures and sculptures. Both these temples were built in the late 10^th century. The Sas (mother in law) temple is much larger than the temple of Bahu (daughter in law) and has a torana (archway) in the front. It is said that the image of the Lord was swung from the torana accompanied by hymns on ceremonial occasions. They have been raised on a common terrace to face east towards the tank. The entrance to the temples is through a doorway with carved lintels and a multi-lobed arch at the centre. 

10 other smaller shrines surround the temple of Sas while four lie around the Bahu temple. Both the temples have the same plan; each has an altar, a mandapa (columned prayer hall) with projections and a porch. The walls are mostly plain, except for the sculptures on the main projection. The sculptures are in two tiers – the gods Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, surmounted by Rama, Balarama and Parashurama respectively. Though ruined, the brick towers have clusters of minute turrets. The mandapas and porches have sculptures and decorative motifs, in direct contrast with the plain altar walls. Relief images include the Dikpalas, maidens, amorous couples, narrative friezes as well as scenes from the Ramayana. The columns are richly ornamented and the ceiling of the Bahu temple is also not far behind in decoration and has eight female brackets. Porches in the larger temple have replaced the detailed stone windows in the mandapa of the smaller temple.

Jain Temple 

Ranakpur is located in the mountain ranges of Pali district, 23 kms away from the Phalna railway station. The Jain temples in Ranakpur were built during the region of the liberal and gifted monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century.

The entire temple area is enclosed within a wall. The main 'Chamukha' temple is dedicated to the tirthankara, Rishabdeoji and a four-faced image is enshrined in the inner sanctum, open on all four sides. The temple has a 4,500 square yard basement and is the largest Jain temple in India. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty four pillared halls and eight domes supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of columns is 1,444, all of which are intricately carved. The creativity and beauty of the artistic works is unimaginable and the variety is such, that no two of the 1444 columns are alike. A special effect is the amazing play of shadow, light and colours. As the light shifts through the temple over the day, the colour of the columns changes from white over bluish to gold

A corridor around the shrine has niches for the tirthankara images and each niche has its spire or shikhar. Little bells are festooned atop each shikar and their jingling in the breeze creates celestial music. A small shrine dedicated to Prashvanath faces the main temple. It has a black image of the tirthankara in the inner sanctum. 

When the Mogul emperor Akbar visited this temple, he was so full of admiration that he had made an inscription on one of the columns, which says, that, “no one ever will be allowed to destroy this jewel of architecture”.

Eklingji Temple 

This temple, actually a complex of 108 small temples, lies in Eklinkji(Kailashpuri), a town situated in a beautiful valley, 12 miles to the north of Udaipur. Eklingji, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, was the tutelary deity of the Maharanas of Mewar.

 This temple is said to have been built in the 8th century by Bappa Rawal the first of the great Sisodia Kings, and rebuilt in the 15th century. The main temple is of an unusual design: built of marble, it has a clustered, carved tower and a mandap, roofed with a pyramid of miniature architectural motifs. The sanctum sanctorum has a four-faced image of Shiva, carved in black marble, representing Brahma facing west, Vishnu facing north, Maheshwar facing south and 'Surya' (Sun) facing the east. The flat top of the composite idol is covered with a Yantra, a mystic symbolic drawing, standing for the ultimate reality.  

Outside the main sanctuary is a large statue of Bappa Rawal standing beside Nandi, Lord Shiva's bull. According to legend, Allaudin Khilji, Sultan of Delhi attacked the temple in the late 13th century and struck this Nandi idle with his mace. Out of its hollow interior a swarm of angry bees emerged and attacked the Sultan, forcing him to call off his attack. 

The temple occupies an area of about 2500 sq. feet and is about 65 feet in height. The temple area is fortified with a strong wall running around it. The main entrance to the temple on the western side welcomes visitors into a big hall resting on lavishly carved pillars.

Other deities housed in the temple complex include Parvati, Ganesha, Ganga, Kartikeya, Yamuna and Saraswati. There are also small temples dedicated to Amba Mata, Kalka Mata and Ganesh in the temple complex. There is another temple called Nathon Ka Mandir in the temple complex with inscriptions dating back to the 10th century AD. No worship is offered here.

There are two tanks situated on the northern side of the temple - Karz Kund and Tulsi Kund. Water from these tanks is utilized for temple services. Temple services are performed in a very elaborate manner in the Vedic and Tantric styles - everyday beginning at 4 a.m. in the morning. Shivratri is an important religious event, when the image of the deity is decked with jewellery.

Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir 

Brahma Temple is probably the most important of all the temples at Pushkar, and one of the very few Brahma temples in existence in India. Built in the 14th century, it stands on a high plinth with marble steps leading up to it.  

A silver turtle is set on the floor facing the sanctum-sanctorum or garbha-griha. Around the turtle, the marble floor is inset with hundreds of silver coins, placed by devotees from all over India to commemorate the births and deaths of their loved ones. Coins engraved with donor's names are also embedded in the walls. Peacocks adorn the temple walls as they are supposed to be the vehicle of Lord Brahma's consort Saraswati. A small image of the milkmaid Gayatri, flanks the four-faced image of lord Brahma and is called Chaumurti. The sanctuary has silver doors inside a carved marble gateway.

Birla Mandir 

Birla Mandir or the Lakshmi - Narayan temple, situated just below the Mooti Doongari, which is a replica of a Scottish castle, is one of the most revered Hindu temples, dedicated to Shri Lakshmi-Narayan. This modern temple built of marble in the Nagara style is housed in the University town of Pilani in Rajasthan and is famous for its exquisitely intricate carvings in white marble.

Ajmer Sharif 

At the foot of a barren hill, is situated India's most important pilgrimage centre for people from all faiths, the dargah of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti at Ajmer Sharif. It is situated 135 km from Jaipur and is renowned for fulfilling the wishes of the followers. Apart from the devout Muslims, people of other religions throng the holy dargah and pray for the fulfillment of their desires. Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti was a Sufi saint who came to India from Persia in 1192 AD with Mohammad Ghori's invading army and died here in 1236. Hazrat Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti was the founder of Islam in India, a Sufi saint who came to Ajmer from Persia and died in 1236. He was one of the greatest preachers in the world. The revered prophet undertook to propagate Islam in India by the most peaceful means and with great forbearance. When Khwaja arrived, the Muslim community in India was not as large as it is now. The Khwaja, by his noble teachings, touched the hearts of everyone who came his way. The construction of the shrine was started by the Sultan of Delhi Altamash, and completed by Emperor Humayun

The shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims during the Urs - commemorating the death anniversary of the Saint, held from the 1st to 6th day of the Islamic month of Rajab. A famous historic ritual at the Dargah is when two massive cauldrons (capacities: 4480 kgs and 2240 kgs) are filled with rice, dry fruits and condiments and then 'looted' by professionals who slide down into it. It is then sold off as sanctified food.  

Emperor Akbar is said to have made two pilgrimages here on foot all the way from Agra: once when an heir was finally born to him, to fulfill a vow that he had made and again when he won against Chittor. The Shrine is believed by people of different faiths to have the power to make their prayers come true. 

The entry to the Dargah is through the Buland Darwaza built by the Nizam of Hyderabad. On the right side of the courtyard is the Akbari Masjid built in white marble. It leads to the inner courtyard. The high gateway has beautifully carved silver doors. The grave of the Sufi Saint is surrounded by a silver railing and is partially covered with a marble screen. The daughter of Shah Jahan had built a prayer room in the Dargah for the women devotees. The premises of the Dargah also has the tomb of Bhishti, tomb of  Bili Hafiz Jama, tomb of Shah Jahan's daughter Chimni Begum.