Taranga (Jain Temple)

Taranga Jain Tirtha
Ajitanath temple at Taranga
Location within Gujarat
Basic information
Location	Kheralu, Mehsana, Gujarat, India
Geographic coordinates	23°57′59″N 72°45′17″E / 23.96639°N 72.75472°ECoordinates: 23°57′59″N 72°45′17″E / 23.96639°N 72.75472°E
Affiliation	Jainism
Deity	Ajitnath
Festivals	Mahavir Jayanti
Architectural description
Creator	Kumarpal
Date established	1121
Specifications
Temple(s)	14 Svetambara and 5 Digambara
Elevation	45 m (148 ft) (Approximate)

Taranga is a Jain pilgrimage center in Mehsana district, Gujarat, India. It is one of the few tirthas where both the Shvetambaras and the Digambaras visit. The oldest temple constructed in 1121 by the Solanki king Kumarpal, under the advice of his teacher, Acharya Hemachandra. A 2.75 m marble statue of Ajitnath is the central idol. The Svetambara compound consists of 14 temples in all. But there are also five other Digambara-affiliated temples at Taranga hill. The place was historically associated with Buddhism also.

History

The Taranga hill bears the name of Taringa or Taranga, probably from a shrine that has long been there dedicated to a local deity Taran Mata situated 2.5 km north of the hill.^[1] The idol in the temple is of Buddhist deity Tara originally.^[2][3]

The hill for the most part covered with brushwood and forest is, on the east and west, crossed by paths that lead to a plateau where stand the temples built of white sandstone and brick. The main temple was built by Solanki king Kumarpal (1143 - 1174) after he became follower of Jainism under his teacher Acharya Hemchandra.^[3]

In the center of the main vast square of the length of 230 ft and the breadth 230 ft (70 m square), this temple is 50 ft long, 100 ft broad and 142 ft high (15 m by 30 m by 43 m). It has a perimeter of 639 ft (195 m). The 275 m (902 ft) high wooden summit of this temple is beautifully carved. It has seven domes. It is hard to see how the stones were ever brought through the forest to the top of the hill. The red interior of the temple throws out in strong relief the white marble figure of Ajitnath, the second Tirthankara seated in the shrine, decorated with precious stones let into the marble. The features wear the usual expression of deep repose or quiet covert scorn. On the right hand side of the temple, there are footprints of Rishabha and of the 20 Tirthankaras and on the left hand side, there are a temple of Gaumukh, the Samavasarana, and the Jambudvipa painting. On the outer platform of the main temple, there are idols of Padmavati and Kumarpal himself.^[3]

The special times of pilgrimage are during the full moon in the months of Kartika and Chaitra (November and April). In the adjoining shrines are various images. In one is an upright block of marble with 208 representations of the Tirthankara.^[3]

Digambaras settled on this isolated hill with its three rocky peaks in early times. It is said that 35,000,000 monastics, including the Ganadharas Vardutta and Sagardutta, attained moksa here. The two hillocks named Kotishila and Siddhashila have idols of the Tirthankaras, Neminath and Mallinath dated Vikram Samvat 1292. There are 14 Digambara temples in the foothills and a Digamabara dharamshala is at the foothills. On the highest elevation of the three-peaked hill there stands a "Tonk", a shrine built by Digambaras, it houses a marble statue of the nineteenth Tirthankara, Mallinath.

The place was historically associated with Buddhism also. Nearby cave, locally known as Jogida ni Gafa has a relics of four Buddhist statues under the Bodhivriksha. The cave was used by Buddhist monks years ago.^[1][4]

Gallery

• 
  Distant view of the temple complex at Taranga
• 
  Nearby pond and temple in background
• 
  Other temple shrines

References

Notes

1. Rajnee Vyas (2006). Welcome to Gujarat. Akshara Prakashan. p. 69.
2. "Taranga". Gujarat Tourism. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
3. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha 2015, p. 442.
4. "Buddhist Caves, Taranga Hills, North Gujarat". Gujarat Tourism. Retrieved 29 July 2016.

Bibliography

• Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha. Government Central Press. 1880. p. 442.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha. Government Central Press. 1880. p. 442.