Adinath Jain Temple
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(a human being who leads other souls to eternal salvation or nirvana), Jian Adinatha. Lord
Adinatha is also known as “Lord Rishaba”. The Adinath Temple is in the Eastern Group of temples along with several
other Jain temples. On the 19th month?,1986, the temple, along with a host of other temples in Khajuraho,
were declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO and are now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of
India.History
The temple is believed to have been constructed in the mid-twelfth century during the reign of Chandela Rajput, King
Raja Madanaverman (1129 AD to 1162 AD), who also built the Duladeo Temple in the Southern
Group of Khajuraho temples. The temple is among those that have survived the ravages of time, the elements, and the
invading armies. It is believed that a total of 85 temples were built during the-more-than-two-century reign of the
Chandela Rajput kings from the middle of the 10th century to the end of the 12th century.Architecture and Construction
Located to the north of the larger Parshvanath Temple, the Adinath Temple is built to a plan confirming to the sapta-ratha (seven chariots) design of temples. Only the inner sanctum (garbha-griha) and the porch (antrala) of the temple have survived. The temple does not have a pradakshina (ambulatory path). The Archaeological Survey of India have attempted to build a mandapa (assembly hall), built with bricks and plastered with lime. Understandably, the class and intricacy of the latter addition is nowhere close in artistry and craftsmanship of the original building.
The shikhara (main spire) of the temple, a conical crown or forehead atop the garbha-griha, is impressively tall for the size of the temple, though it is smaller than the adjacent Parshvnath Temple. It bears a close resemblance to the shikara of the Vamana Temple, but the top portion of the spire of the Adinath Temple is more intricately carved. The base of the tower is adorned with three tiers of exquisite and beautifully proportioned carvings of surasundaries (celestial beauties).
The lintel to the entrance is carved with 16 depictions on the dreams that the mother of Jina Adinath saw at the time of his conception. The walls of the temple too are adorned with beautifully carved panels of Apsaras (celestial maidens), Yakshines (fairies), Shasan Devi (Goddess Padmavati), and Vidyadevis. The skills of the craftsmen of the era are displayed in the carvings of Bhaminis, Kaminis, and Nayikas, all pretty women. Nilanjana, a dancer in the court of Lord Adinath, is also extensively carved on the walls.
Location and Travel
Khajuraho is a quaint village in the Chattarpur district of the Madhya Pradesh state of India. Located 620 kilometers southeast of Delhi, the closest city to the village is Jhansi*, which is 175 kilometers away. The temples are spread over an area of 20 square kilometers around Khajuraho and are easily reachable by road.Well connected by road to the major cities and towns, Khajuraho also has a railway station linked to all the important cities in India, although it might require changing trains on the way to far off cities. An airport, located 5 kilometers away from the village, links Khajuraho with the major cities of Delhi and Mumbai as well as the Agra, the city that is home to the world famous monument, the Taj Mahal.
Visiting the monuments
The temples are open to visitors from 8 AM to 6 PM. The entry fee for Indian visitors is ₨ 10 ($0.16), while foreigners will have to pay a fee of $ 10 USD in equivalent value to Indian rupees. Sound and light shows are conducted daily in English at 6.30 PM to 7.25 PM. There is a show in Hindi after. Entry fees for the shows are ₨ 75 ($1.20) for an Indian adult and ₨ 25 ($0.40) for a child, whereas a foreign adult will have to pay ₨ 300 ($4.80) and a child must pay ₨ 150 ($2.40).
Interesting Places near Khajuraho
Along with the other temples of the Jain school, among those are the Parshvnath Temple and the Shivnath Temple, a tourist will get to explore and admire numerous structures, built and stacked without mortar more than a millennium earlier. The prominent Hindu temples in the Eastern Group are the Brahma Temple and Vamana Temple. The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, the Lakshmana Temple, the Chitragupta Temple, and the Vishwanatha Temple in the Western Group of temples. The Chatrabhuj Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and the Duladeo Temple built during the reign of the King who built the Adinath Temple are in the Southern group and are also worthy of a visit.Close to the Khajuraho village are the Raneh Falls, Ken Nature Trail, Panna National Park, Pandava Falls, and the Benisagar Lake. The holy city of Varanasi and the Gwalior Fort are located within a radius of 300 kilometers from Khajuraho.
Where to stay
A visitor to Khajuraho will get to enjoy the serene Indian village atmosphere as well as good accommodations. Hotels like the Isabel Palace, Hotel Surya, and Hotel Harmony will cater to the budget traveler, while the Taj Hotel Chandela and the Radisson Jass* will accommodate those seeking luxurious comfort.Do you see any omissions, errors or want to add information to this page? Sign up.
Author: jackmartis. Last updated: Dec 11, 2014
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