Rajasthan
Pilgrimages
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Jagdish Temple, Udaipur |
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About
Jagdish Temple
Jagdish Temple is one of the famous temples
of Udaipur. Located in the City Palace complex
of Udaipur, this temple is made in the Indo-Aryan
style of architecture. In 1651, Jagdish temple
was built by Maharana Jagat Singh, who ruled
Udaipur during 1628-53. The temple is dedicated
to Lord Vishnu (Laxmi Narayan), the preserver
of the Universe. It is celebrated for being
the largest temple in the city of Udaipur.
The gateway of this temple can be sited at
a distance of 150 meters from the Bara Pol
of the City Palace.
This three-storied temple is a wonder of architecture
that comprises beautifully carved pillars,
decorated ceilings, painted walls and lush
halls. In those times, 1.5 million rupees
were
spent to raise this structure. The spire of
the main temple is around 79 feet high that
undoubtedly dominates the skyline of Udaipur.
This shikhar (spire) is festooned with sculptures
of dancers, elephants, horsemen and musicians
making it truly a sight to behold.
As and when you approach the temple, you will
be welcomed by two huge stone elephants at
the entrance. On the very front of the temple,
you would find a stone slab that is imprinted
with the inscriptions with reference to Maharaja
Jagat Singh. To reach the main shrine, you
have to take a marble flight of 32 steps.
Here, you will find a brass image of Garuda,
a figure of half-man and half-eagle. This
huge idol stands as if; it is guarding the
doorway of Lord Vishnu.
The main shrine houses the striking four-armed
image of Lord Vishnu. This idol is carved
out of a single piece of black stone. A single
glimpse of the idol takes the person to the
celestial world to find everything calm and
serene. The main shrine of Lord Jagdish/ Vishnu
is centrally located encircled by four smaller
shrines. These shrines are dedicated to Lord
Ganesha, Sun God, Goddess Shakti and Lord
Shiva respectively.
The splendid architecture of the temple boasts
of a pyramidal spire, mandap (prayer hall)
and a porch. The first and the second storey
of the temple possess 50 pillars each. The
intricate carvings on the pillars need an
enduring sight to praise the noteworthy beauty
of this temple. This temple was built keeping
in the mind the Hindu architectural science
of 'Vastushstra'. Every year, people from
far and near come to visit this holy place
of worship. The serenity as well as the architectural
magnificence of the temple cannot be bounded
in words, so one must visit this temple to
get the blessings of Lord Jagdish. |
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