History and Origin of the Ranakpur Temple

Ranakpur Jain temple, also called Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara, is situated in the Ranakpur village of Rajasthan. This temple is dedicated to the first Tirthankara of Jainism, Lord Rishabdeva or Adinath. Ranakpur Jain temple is an excellent work of architecture. It consists of 29 halls, and it is entirely constructed of light-coloured marble. It is among the most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism.

The history of the Ranakpur Jain Temple

The Ranakpur Jain temple is believed to have been built by Darna Shah in the 15th century CE, a minister to then ruler of Mewar, Rana Kumbha, after he received a dream of a divine vehicle. The principal architect of this temple is Depa.

When Darna Shah visited Rana Kumbha and requested a piece of land for constructing a temple, the king also advised building a town along with the temple. The temple’s construction began in 1446 Vikram Samvat and lasted for more than 50 years, with more than 2500 workers being actively involved.

The architecture of the Ranakpur Temple

• The temple is known for its intricate carvings. It is considered an engineering marvel. The temple has four entrances. 
• It consists of several temples inside, including the Chaumukha temple dedicated to the main deity Lord Rishabhdeva, the Surya temple, and the Supershvanatha temple.  
• The temple has 80 domes, 29 halls and a pavilion with 1444 pillars. Each pillar is carved differently and is unique in itself. The pillars are also engraved with the figures of dancing goddesses.
• All the statues in the Ranakpur temple face each other.
• There are two bells in the temple weighing 108 kg, each known to produce a melodious sound.
• There is a single marble rock with carvings of snakes and tails.
• The 1444 pillars of the temple show a unique show of light and shade. In terms of design, each pillar is different from the other.
• The temple has 80 domes supported by nearly 400 columns and has 24 pillared halls.
• The lower and upper part of the dome is connected through brackets.
• The temple’s architecture is such that the main deity can be seen from all sides.
• Ranakpur temple has a 48000 square feet basement with a ceiling carved with geometrical patterns and scrollwork.

Temples on the premises of the Ranakpur Jain Temple

• Chaturmukha Temple: This temple is devoted to Lord Adinath, and it is made using white marble. It is the most popular temple in Ranakpur. Because of its four-faced design, it is known as ‘chaturmukha’.
• Suparshvanatha Temple: This temple is famous for its artwork on the walls, and it is dedicated to Seventh Tirthankara in Jainism.
• Seth ki Baadi Temple: This temple is well known for murals on its walls, and it is dedicated to Lord Shwetambar. (Jainism has two branches: Digambar and Shwetambar).
• Surya Temple: This temple is dedicated to the Sun god and was constructed much earlier than the Jain temple of Ranakpur, but this temple was reconstructed with the construction of Ranakpur because of several attacks it had faced.
• Chaugan ka Mandir: This temple is dedicated to the first Tirthankara of the next cycle of Jainism. Jainism has 24 Tirthankaras in the present cycle, in which the first Tirthankara was Rishabdeva or Adinath, and the 24th was Mahavira.

Conclusion  

The Jain temple of Ranakpur is situated in the Pali district of Rajasthan. It was built in the 15th century CE by Darna Shah, a minister to the ruler Rana Kumbha of Mewar. It is said that it took nearly 50 years to complete the construction of this temple. Along with the temple, a town was also built on the recommendation of Rana Kumbha. This temple is dedicated to the first Tirthankara of Jainism, Lord Rishabhdeva.

The Ranakpur temple is mainly built of light coloured marble. It has several temples on its premises, namely the Seth ki Baadi temple, Chaturmukha Temple, Surya Temple, and the Suparshvanath Temple. The temple has 80 domes, 29 halls and a pavilion with 1444 pillars, each carved uniquely.

Jainism is one of the oldest religions of the Indian subcontinent, and the Jain temples are not only a place of worship but also show the grandeur of the ancient times in terms of wonderful architecture, carvings and decorations.