JAIN TEMPLES

The rich Jain merchants of Jaisalmer built seven shrines between the 12th and 15th centuries. Of modest size, they contain very beautiful sculptures of ochre sandstone, typical of the region.

The first temple, Chandraprabhu, is dedicated to the 8th tirthankar (holy man), symbolized by the moon. Some sculptures represent Ganesh, the elephant-headed god and son of Shiva, and evoke the close links between Jainism and Hinduism. On the upper floor, a gallery surrounding the main hall houses 108 marble statues representing the tirthankar. It was built in 1509.

Sambhavanth Temple is dedicated to the^3rd tirthankar. In the basement of this temple, there is a library, closed to non-Jews, containing ancient manuscripts dating for some of the 16th century.

The temple of Parshvanath (23rd tirthankar) is the oldest and the most spectacular. It is preceded by a magnificent torana (arch) on which you will see sculptures representing dancers, musicians and Jain saints.

The Sitalnath temple (10th tirthankar) houses a statue made of an alloy of eight different metals, supposedly emitting favorable vibrations.

Atthe Adinath temple (^1st tirthankar), you will see a statue of the goddess Khali, a sign of Hindu-Jain syncretism.

The Rikhabdev temple, located to the right of the Chandraprabhu temple: admire the finesse of the sculptures on the walls (protected by glass) and the columns where apsaras (feminine representation of clouds and water) and gods are mixed.