The Chaumukha Temple at Ranakpur is a 15th century Jain temple located in Rajasthan built in the form of a crucifix or cross with four entrances. It took 65 years to complete and has 1444 intricately carved pillars without any two being alike. The temple is dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara, Adinath, and is considered one of the five most important pilgrimage sites in the Jain religion.

1. CHAUMUKHA TEMPLE AT
RANAKPUR
• Ranakpur is in Rajasthan . It is located
between jodhpur and Udaipur. 162 km from Jodhpur and
91 km from Udaipur, in a valley on the western side of
the Aravalli Range.

3. ABOUT
• The word ‘chaumukha’ means four faced which represents
the powers in all four directions .
• This temple is also known as the Adinatha Temple named
after its god or the Dharna Vihara Temple named after its
builder.
• This temple was built in 15th
century and it took about 65
years to complete this temple.
• It is said that the main structure of the temple was
inauguared in 1441which included the central part along
with the 4 sabha manadapas and one meghanada on then
western axis.
• It is dedicated to lord Adinath who was the first
tirthankara.
• This temple is believed to be one of the five holiest jain
sites.

4. HISTORY
• This temple was built by seth dharna vihara who
belonged to a rajasthani jain family.
• He was the minister of the king Rana Kumbha, the ruler
of mewar.
• Seth dharna asked the king for the land to build a temple,
king agreed to his demand but on one condition that the
temple should bear his name.
• Because of this, the temple site on the banks of the river
maghai came to be known as Ranakpur.
Depaka was only one among the 51 architects who could
fullfil dharnas wish and combine the idea of nalini-gulm-
vimana (lotus fight) and chaturmukha temple (a temple with a
“four faced” image of the tirthankara, facing the four cardinal
direction).

5. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
• It covers an area of approx. 60 X 62 meters.
• It is made up of light coloured marble from the quarries of Sonana
and Sewadi.
• Since the temple is located on the slope of a hill so the plinth at the
main entrance in the west has been constructed visibly higher.

6. • It has 29 halls , 80 domes and 1444 pillars which are beautifully
carved with gods and goddesses.
• Out of 1444 pillars no two pillars are alike.

7. • The ceiling of the temple are beautifully carved with fine lace like
patterns, geometic patterns, musicians etc.

8. PLAN
• It doesn’t has the
traditional longitudinal
plan like that of other
temples in India , but
follows a CRUCIFORM
(cross shaped) one.

9. • This plan has four separate entrances one on each side .
1. Each of these then lead through a series of columned halls to a
central arena and the sanctum (garbagriha) which has the four faced
white marble image of LORD ADINATHA.

10. 2. The sanctum is then surrounded by hallswhich are known as the
sabha mandapa (assembly halls)or ranga mandapa (dance halls)
3. The central area of the temple is in the form of a crucifix and
encircled by an open rectangular courtyard but in comparision with
older jain temples , the court here does not have much prominanace.

11. 4. Along the axis of the assembly halls there are other halls which are
three storied and are known as the meghanada mandapa .
5. Which is then followed by the balana mandap which provide an
access to the temple.

12. 6. courtyards are then surrounded by three halls on each side .
7. Whose corners are formed by large shrines, this in turn has a series
of columns which bound 84 subsidiary shrines.the figure 84 is a
representative of the 24 tirthankaras of the past, present and future.
8. In between these are the entrances , on the north and south
side,which are flanked by two highly extended shrines.

13. OTHER FEATURES
• The four shrines at the corners which border the courtyard
give the monument the appearance of a panchratha (five
shrine temple) which is popular in hindu temples.
• The 8 dikpalas (guardians of the
cardinal points are placed
on the top of the pillars.
• The domes are adorned with
the 16 jain goddessess
of knowledge.

14. • The interiors of the temple are
beautifully carved with
floralmotifs, musicians,
elephants etc.
• As we enter in the temple from
the western side we could see
a kichaka ( figure having one
head and five bodies) which
represents the five elements of
which the world is composed
of.

15. In meghanada mandapa on the northern side there is large marble
elephant and on the back of it is mounted the mahout and beside
him marudevi, the mother of lord adinatha.
• The most remarkable thing of the temple is the wonderful play of light
and shade on the pillars,as the sun rays shift through the daythe pillars
color is changed from gold to pale blue.
• The temple has two big bells which are of 108 kg each and produce a
harmonious sound on the movement.

16. • PRESENTED BY-
RASHI JAIN(2)
SHIVANI DAAD
SNEHA SHARMA
VARTIKA AGARWAL(39)
YASHIKA AGARWAL(45)
VIDHUSHI METHWANI(40)