Udaipur To Osian Jain Temple
Mahavira Jain Temple in Osian, a prime tourist attraction & a Jain pilgrimage site, was built during reign of Pratihar king Vatsaraj. It is dedicated to twenty fourth Tirthankar and holds great religious eminence among the Jain devotees. There are two sects in Jainism – Digambara & Shvetambara. Mahavira Temple belongs to Shvetambara sect of Jainism. The most complete example of the Osian group as it consists of a sanctum, a closed hall and an open porch immediately in front of which is an ornate ‘torana’ or gateway.
The ‘nalamandapa’, which was erected subsequently over the staircase, was added afterwards. The ‘torana’ or entrance archway appears to be even a still later addition probably made in the eleventh century AD. The sanctum sanctorum of the Mahavira Temple is placed on the high platform which is composed of sandstone.
Mahavira Jain temple Osian Timings
Monday to Sunday – 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Best time to visit Mahavira Jain temple Osian
October to March,
Crowded during Mahavir Jayanti, festival time of Jains
Minimum time required to see Mahavira Jain temple Osian
30 min – 1 hour
History of Mahavira Jain temple Osian
This Temple was built by King Vatsaraja of Gurjara Pratihara dynasty in 783 AD and was renovated in 956 AD during the period of Aacharya Ratna Prabhasuri. There is an inscription stone found at Sachiya Mata temple regarding the construction and renovation of this temple. Though the early construction of this temple was done in the 8th century, there are additional structures added during the renovation in the 10th and the 12th century. There is an ‘Ornate gateway’ believed to be constructed in 1015. It is believed there were 100 Jain temples at Osian, which came to an end in 1195 during Mohammad Ghori attacks.
Architecture of Mahavira Jain temple Osian
The temple is dedicated to Mahavir, a Jain tirthankara of Svetambara set. In the Garbhargriha, a large idol of Lord Mahavir can be seen in Padmasana posture. On the walls carvings of Tirthankara, Saraswathi with veena, Yaksha-yakshini are seen. Ornate carvings of lotus Creeper and buds along with yogi with meditative position are seen. On the eastern side of the temple complex idols of Mahavir and Parshvanatha are seen, on the other three sides (North, West and South) carvings of Neminath’s life is seen.