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Eastern Group
The Temples
in this
group can
further be
subdivided into two, one being a cluster of
Jain temples and another scattered through
the small village. Jain Museum has recently
been constructed with a circular gallery of
statues of 24 Tirthankaras. This museum can
be visited from 7 A.M to 6 P.M. after paying
a nominal entry fee. The largest in this
complex is the Parsvnath Temple. The
beauty of the sculptures here is exceptional
with women figures seen applying makeup and
other such scenes far less erotic than in
the Western Group. It is said that this
temple was initially dedicated to Adinath
but the statue was replaced by that of
Parsvanath about a century ago and thus
named.
However, the Adinath Temple lies adjacent to
this one and has been restored in recent
years to some extent. The fine carvings are
seen along the three bands of sculptures and
the black image inside gives it the look of
a Jain temple, as also in the case of the
Parsvnath temple. Another relatively modern
temple, built around 1028 A.D. is the Shanti
Nath Temple, also dedicated to Adinath, in
which his idol stands 4.5 meters high. This
is visited by the Digambar Jains.
Towards the village is he Ghantai (Bell)
Temple whose name relates to the Bell and
Chain decoration on its delicately carved
columns. There is a figure of a Jain goddess
astride a Garuda, which is at the entrance.
Dating back 1075-1100 A.D. is the Javari
Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is
smaller version of the usually found
Khauraho Temples but its carvings on the
exteriors are no less than the others. North
of this is the Vamana Temple
dedicated to the Dwarf incarnation of Lord
Vishnu. The sculptures on the outer walls
and in bands all over are remarkable. West
towards the modern village lies what is
known as the Brahma Temple made of marble
and granite. The name is actually incorrect
as this Temple is dedicated to Vishnu and
not Brahma. There is a Hanuman Temple in the
same vicinity. It has a 2.5-meter High idol
of the Monkey God and an inscription dating
it back to 922 A.D.
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