13/05/2024
1239 years old Mahavira Jain temple, Osian,Rajasthan, Bharat 🇮🇳
The Mahavira Temple is an important tirtha for Jains. According to an inscription found at Sachiya Mata Temple dating back to 956 CE,it was built during the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty by King Vatsaraja in 783 CE,making it the oldest surviving Jain temple in Western Bharat. According to Jain legends, Acharya Ratnaprabhasuri in (c. 457 BCE) restored the life of son of a prominent brahman following this even the villagers converted to Jainism and this place for origination of Oswal community.Witnessing the power of Ratnaprabhasuri Goddess Chamunda was compelled to become a Jain vegetarian deity and became the protector deity of the temple, protecting devotees who worship image of Mahavira in the temple. Ratnaprabhasuri then named her Sachiya Mata as she truthfully advised Ratnaprabhasuri to stay in Osian during Chaturmas. The idol of Mahavira was discovered from buried at temple site.
An inscription dating 953 CE found in the temple states that Osian was rich with decorated temples of every caste.The temple had its first renovation in 956 AD.George Michell describes the existing main temple as "mostly 11th century", with parts from the 8th century. The torana (ornate gateway) is from 1015 CE.The temple was plundered by Muslim rulers, and none of the original idols survived. In 1016 CE, the temple was restored, and a manastambha was constructed.The temple was later renovated in the 12th century.
Photo Credit : Krishnendu Mitra.
