Shri Ajitnath Bhagwan Shwetamber Jain Derasar, Taranga — Attraction in Gujarat

Beautiful natural and devotional location

Ajitnath Jain temple Taranga became important Jain pilgrimage site after 12th century. In Kumarapala Pratibodha of Somaprabhacharya, composed in Vikram Samvat 1241, states the local Buddhist king Veni Vatsaraja and Jain monk Khaputacharya had built a temple for goddess Tara and thus the town was named Tarapur.

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

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 2.75 m 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 Gaumukha, the Samavasarana, and the Jambudvipa painting. On the outer platform of the main temple, there are idols of Padmavati and Kumarapala himself.

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.

Digambara Jain temples 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 Varadutta and Sagardutta, attained moksa here. The two hillocks named Kotishila and Siddhashila have shrines with idols of the Tirthankaras, Neminath and Mallinath dated Vikram Samvat 1292. There are 14 Digambara temples in the foothills and a Digamabara rest house 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.

Buddhist monuments The earliest archaeological were reported in 1938. The place was historically associated with Buddhism when Vadnagar was also under Buddhist influence in 4th-5th century. The Taranga hill bears the name of Taringa or Taranga, probably from a shrine of Taran Mata.

About 2.5 km north of the hill, the shrines of Taran Mata and Dharan Mata is situated near a natural stream. These shrines are built on high platform. The idol of local deity Taran Mata in the shrine is of Buddhist deity Tara originally. There are other Buddhist statues including Avalokiteshwara Padmapani there. The idol of Taran Mata is dated to 8th-9th century based on its style. The construction of the right side of the stream is probably an altered Buddhist stupa. Two large-sized terracotta images of Buddha were found here in the past which were dated to last quarter of the 4th century based on their style.

There are also ancient cave shelters. Nearby cave, locally known as Jogida ni Gafa has a relics of four Buddhist statues known as Dhyani Buddhas under the Bodhivriksha. The cave was used by Buddhist...

The Ajitnath Temple at Taranga is situated near Kheralu in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. Built-in A.D. 1152-74 it is an example of a unique Maru-Gurjara Style of architecture that developed in Western India in the 11th century. The style largely patronized by the Solanki rulers in Gujarat has some of the most famous surviving monuments like the temples at Abu, Kumbharia, Shatrunjaya, and Girnar. The Taranga Temple was built during the reign of Kumarpal, but the funds for it were largely donated by the Jain sanghs and not the state.

Taranga had been an important check-post on the border between Gujarat and Rajasthan since centuries. You can even see ruins of an old fort on the hills. The temple is nestled beautifully between several hills and views of this rugged terrain are amazing. The place is a good visit in both monsoon and winter season. One can climb on to the various hills and have spectacular views. There are several caves and incredible rock shapes which are a photographer's delight.

It is found that a Buddhist settlement existed there in 8th century A.D., and the place derives it's name Taranga from the name of Buddhist Goddess Tara, whose temple had existed before. The Taranga Temple is the most evolved form of an Indian Temple, with great refinement of elements. It elegant height makes it the loftiest temple amongst others and a gracefulness is seen in its form and proportion. The temple was covered in lime plaster on outside, to save the buildings original sculptures from invaders, which archeologists discovered around 70 years back and removed this plaster, uncovering the beautiful sculptures seen on the walls. Wood is used in the interior of the structure. This wood is 800 years old and is a wonder that it has survived this long.

There are excellent dharamshalas and bhojanshalas where travellers can put up for the night and...

Namo jinanam.

Taranga became important Jain pilgrimage site after 12th century. In Kumarapala Pratibodha of Somaprabhacharya, composed in Vikram Samvat 1241, states the local Buddhist king Veni Vatsaraja and Jain monk Khaputacharya had built a temple for goddess Tara and thus the town was named Tarapur.

The hill for the most part covered with brushwood and forest is, on the east and west, crossed by road that lead to a plateau where stand the temples built of white sandstone and brick. The main temple was built by Chaulukya king Kumarapala (1143 - 1174) after he became follower of Jainismunder his teacher Acharya Hemchandra.

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 2.75 m 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 Gaumukha, the Samavasarana, and the Jambudvipa painting. On the outer platform of the main temple, there are idols of Padmavati and Kumarapala himself.

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...