>Monkbot at 16:10, 18 January 2021

2021-01-18T16:10:51Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
[[File:JainTempleCluster1885.jpg|thumb|Jain temple cluster in Khajurao in 1885: L to R: a small temple, Parshvanath temple with entrance, Adinath temple, two smaller temples with ruins with 3 columns. The Shantinath temple, out of the view, would have been on the left]]
{{Jainism}}

The '''Jain temples of Khajuraho''' are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of [[Khajuraho Group of Monuments|Khajuraho]].<ref name=unesco>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/240 Khajuraho Group of Monuments] UNESCO World Heritage Site</ref> They are located in [[Chhatarpur district]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]], about 175 kilometres southeast of the city of [[Jhansi]].

==History==
During the [[Chandela]] rule, many towns in [[Bundelkhand]], including [[Khajuraho]], were home to large and flourishing [[Jain]] communities. At Khajuraho the Jains apparently lived on the east side of town. A number of [[Jain temple]]s from that period have survived in this part of Khajuraho in various states of preservation. Many Jain inscriptions from the Chandela period can be seen at Khajuraho.<ref>B. L. Nagarch, ''Jaina Inscriptions of Khajuraho'', Dr. Hiralal Jain Smriti Granth, 2001</ref> All the Jain temples are now enclosed within a modern compound wall constructed in the 19th century, with the exception of the Ghantai temple, when the restoration of the temples was initiated. There is also an archaeological museum where historical Jain artifacts from the chandella period are preserved.

A key difference between the Jain temples and most other Khajuraho temples is that the Jain temples are alive with active praying and worship. Digambar Jain monks still visit from time to time and can be seen meditating, studying or preaching.<ref>[https://www.patrika.com/sagar-news/live-khajuraho-acharya-vidyasagar-maharaj-diksha-divas-event-3114291/ खजुराहों में गुरू दर्शन को उमड़ा जनसैलाब, Patrika-Jul 17, 2018]</ref><ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ahead-of-polls-shivraj-singh-chouhan-announces-to-set-up-cow-ministry-in-mp/articleshow/66019099.cms Ahead of polls, Shivraj Singh Chouhan announces to set up cow ministry in mp, Rajendra Sharma, TNN, Sept 30, 2018]</ref>

==Temples==
Two of the large temples still stand in a good state of preservation in the original form. The portico of the Adinath temple is a later addition. The enclosed Shantinath temple houses a massive monolithic Shantinath image. It also incorporates at least one other Chandella period temple. To the east of these temples are several small Chandella temples that have been restored using masonry. The temple complex underwent restoration in 1870 AD, when a [[Gajarath]] festival was organized by Kanchhedtilal Jain of [[Nagaur]] marking a renewal of the site accompanied by installations of new images, as indicated by the inscriptions.<ref>M.N.P. Tiwari, Khajuraho Ka Jain Puratattva, Varanasi, 1987, p. 19</ref> The stone structures were stabilized using masonry and the Shantinath temple was constructed incorporating two Chandella period temples.

There is a museum called [[Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain]] Samgrahalaya right outside the main compound constructed in 1984 to house sculptures of historical and artistic merit. There is a dharmashala to the south for the pilgrims.

A number of Jain inscriptions from the Chandella period have been found in Khajurao. The earliest is the Samvat 1011 (AD 954) in the Parshvanath Temple,<ref>Jaina inscriptions of Khajuraho, B.L Nagarch, p. 69-75</ref> and the last is Samvat 1234 (1177 AD, it is also the last Chandella era inscription in Khajuraho<ref>Report of Tours in Bundelkhand and Malwa in 1874-75 and 1876-77,Alexander Cunningham, V. X 1880</ref>).<ref>Epigraphia Indica, Volume 1, Archaeological Survey of India, 1892 includes Khajuraho inscriptions upto sam. 1215 as given in p. 121-153 by Kielhorn</ref> Pratishtha events must have taken place in Samvat 1205 and 1215 with multiple images of those years. During the time of Kirttivarman (reigned c. 1060–1100 CE), the capital shifted to Mahoba, and Khajuraho declined. The Jain activity resumed around samvat 1915 (1858 AD), when the temples were repaired and installation of new images was restarted.

=== Parshvanath Temple ===
{{main|Parshvanatha temple, Khajuraho}}
This temple contains an inscription dating from 954 AD by its builder Pahila, mentioning donation of gardens and requesting future generations to safeguard the temple. It mentions [[Chandella]] [[Dhanga]] as the reigning king.<ref>''Khajuraho ke Jain Mandir'', Niraj Jain, 2000</ref>

A well known early [[Magic square#India|magic square]] is found in this temple.<ref>William Symes Andrews (1908) ''Magic Squares and Cubes''. Open Court Publishing Company</ref> This is referred to as the Chautisa (Thirty-four) Yantra, since each sub-square sums to 34.

=== Adinath Temple ===
{{main|Adinatha temple, Khajuraho}}
The Adinath [[Jain temple]] contains an idol with an inscription dated to year 1027 during the rule of [[Chandella]] king [[Madanavarman]]. The sculpture features Adinatha with an [[ushnisha]] on his head and [[dharmachakra]] with a small bull figure.{{sfn|Umakant Premanand Shah|1987|p=121}}

=== Shantinath Temple ===
{{main|Shantinatha temple, Khajuraho}}
The [[Shantinath]] Temple is a modern composite structure that incorporates sections of several temples and has several shrines. The main section has a {{convert|15|ft|m}} idol of Lord Shantinath with an inscription of year 1028(V.S. 1085).{{sfn|ASI Bhopal Shantinatha|2016}}

===Ghantai Temple===
{{Main|Ghantai temple}}
The Ghantai Temple was built around 960 AD by Chandela kings of Khajuraho. This temple was dedicated to lord Rishabha as [[Chakreshvari]] is seen in this temple along with Nine planets and Gomukh yaksha.{{sfn|Ali Javid|Tabassum Javeed|2008|p=209}}

==Gallery==
<gallery widths = "160px" heights = "150px">
File:Krajuraho Adinath temple 2010.JPG|Adinath Temple in Khajuraho
File:Khajuraho_Parshvanath_temple_2010.jpg|Parshvanath Temple in Khajuraho
File:Shantinath Jain Temple Eastern Group of Temples Khajuraho India - panoramio.jpg|Shantinath Temple in Khajuraho
File:A_ruin,_pillars_at_Khajuraho,_India.jpg|Ruins of Ghantai Temple
Image:Jain Museum, Khajuraho India.JPG|Jain Museum, Khajuraho India
File:Parents of Tirthankara.jpg|Image of King Nabhi and Mata Marudevi at Jain Museum, Khajuraho(alternatively identified as Sarvanubhuti & Kushmandini).<ref>[https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/319.2005/ Stele with 'yaksha-yakshini' couple and Jinas, Pratapaditya Pal, ‘Goddess: divine energy’, pg.30, 2006, Art Gallery of New South Wales]</ref>
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Jainism in Bundelkhand]]
* [[Jain sculpture]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* {{cite web |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Circle |title=Santhinatha Temple |url=http://asibhopal.nic.in/monument/chhatarpur_khajuraho_santhinathatemple.html |access-date=2016-11-16 |ref={{harvid|ASI Bhopal Shantinatha|2016}} }}
* {{cite book|author1=Ali Javid |author2=Tabassum Javeed |title=World Heritage Monuments and Related Edifices in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iXVNBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA209 |year=2008 |publisher=Algora |isbn=978-0-87586-482-2 }}
* {{cite book |author=Umakant Premanand Shah |author-link=Umakant Premanand Shah |title=Jaina Iconography |publisher=Abhinav |year=1987 |isbn=9788170172086 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m_y_P4duSXsC&pg=PA122 }}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100724215157/http://www.bundelkhanddarshan.com/ Get Bundelkhand Jainism Place Information in Hindi on Bundelkhand Darshan]
*[http://www.digambarjainonline.com/pilgri/kujrao.htm Khajuraho Jain Temples]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071105044825/http://www.jainteerth.com/teerth/khajuraho.asp Shri Digamber Atishay Kshetra, Khajuraho]

{{Jain temples}}
{{Jainism topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jain Temples Of Khajuraho}}
[[Category:Bundelkhand]]
[[Category:Chhatarpur]]
[[Category:Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Khajuraho]]
[[Category:10th-century Jain temples]]

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Jain temples of Khajuraho - Revision history

>Monkbot at 16:10, 18 January 2021