Jain temples, Abhapur

Abhapur Jain temples
Mahavir Jayanti
Location
Location	Abhapur, Polo Forest, Sabarkantha, Gujarat, India
Geographic coordinates	23°59′18.7″N 73°16′14.1″E / 23.988528°N 73.270583°E / 23.988528; 73.270583
Architecture
Date established	15th century
Temple(s)	12

Jain temples, Abhapur is a group of twelve

Abhapur Jain temples were constructed in the 15th century.[1] The Jain and Hindu temples in close proximity at Abhapur, Polo and Antarsurbha site suggests the co-existence both Jainism and Hinduism during medieval period.^[2] All 12 temples belong to the Śvetāmbara sect of Jainism.

Both Jain and Hindu temples are in ruins status and has turned black due to exposure to the sun and rain.^[3][4]

The Lakhena Jain temple or Lakhena na Dera is the largest temple in Abhapur. The temple is rich in architecture with exquisite sculptures of

Behind the Lakhena na dera is a small temple with exposed ceiling. The temple has a well in the premises.[4]

The second temple is built in bricks and marble, it was a tri-angi (tri-element) temple having sanctum, antarala and mandapa which can be identified from its surviving plinth. It also has Parshwanatha on its lintel of the doorframe of the sanctum. Adorned with Kirtimukha motifs, the threshold has images of Kubera on its both ends.

The third Jain temple has similar tri-angi to temple 2 with more ornamentation carvings. Built in bricks and sandstone, this Nagara style temple has Indra as a guardian in the surviving doorframe of the mandapa. On its exterior walls, it has images of

• 
  Lakhena temple
• 
  Jali in Lakhena temple
• 
  Outer wall of Lakhena temple
• 
  Jain temple
• 
  Jain temple

• Desai, Anjali H. (2007). India Guide Gujarat. India Guide Publications.
  ISBN 9780978951702
  .
• Mishra, Susan Verma; Ray, Himanshu Prabh (2016). The Archaeology of Sacred Spaces: The temple in western India, 2nd century BCE–8th century CE.
  ISBN 9781317193746
  .
• Rajyagor, S. B. (1974). Gujarat State Gazetteers: Sabarkantha. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State.
• Trivedi, R. K. (1961). Census of India (PDF). Vol. 14. Gujarat: Census Operations.
• Chakraborty, Mehk (24 January 2017). "Polo Forest: Waiting to be discovered, explored". Media India Group.

• Media related to Jain Abhapur temples at Wikimedia Commons