Jagdish Temple, Udaipur

Jagdish Temple, Udaipur

Jagdish Temple is a large Hindu temple in the middle of Udaipur in Rajasthan, just outside the royal palace. It has been in continuous worship since 1651. A big tourist attraction, the temple was originally called the temple of Jagannath Rai but is now called Jagdish-ji. It is a major monument in Udaipur.

Overview

The Jagdish Mandir is built on a high platform and was completed in 1651. It connects a two-storey mandap (hall) with a two-storey sandhara (covered circumambulatory path) to the sanctum sanctorum. Another storey of the mandap is located within its pyramidal samvarna (clock tower), while the hollow clustered shikhara above the sanctum has two more, dormant storeys. To reach the main temple, one has to climb 32 marble steps, at the end of which is installed a brass idol of Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. Shri Jagdish Mandir is one of the most beautiful examples of Hindu iconography, with three storeys of hand-carved stone, with a tower rising to a height of about 79 feet and is the largest temple in Udaipur.

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Summary

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Several lanes originating from the Shaharpanah (city wall) converge at the Jagdish Temple. The most beautiful event of the temple is the annual Rath Yatra. It was built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651. The Jagdish Temple is a splendid example of Maha Maru or Maru-Gurjar architecture,[5] adorned with beautiful and ornate carvings. A short walk from the Nagar Mahal will take you to this temple. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses a single black stone idol of Lord Jagannath, also called Lord Vishnu or Krishna in the local language, with four arms, adorned with flowers and ornaments.[6] Four smaller temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Surya, Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva form a circle around the main temple, where the idol of Lord Vishnu is installed. It is said that the construction of this building in 1651 cost an estimated ?1.5 million (or 1,500,000) ($22023.21).

Naruji barhath

Aurangzeb attacked Mewar and plundered Udaipur, the citizens were safely escorted to Panarwa a hilly region by Rana Raj Singh but 63 temples in and around Udaipur were plundered and many villages were burned down by Aurangzeb's general Taj Khan. The Mughal army was eventually starved because of the scorched earth techniques and guerrilla warfare used by the Rana. Aurangzeb after a failed campaign left Mewar to his son Akbar and retreated to Ajmer. During that time naruji barhath a charan warrior fought bravely to protect jagdish mandir from Aurangzeb army. He martyred himself while fighting to mughal army

Architecture of Jagdish temple

Jagdish Temple is one of the best architectural wonders of the Mewar dynasty. Jagdish Temple is the epitome of Indo-Aryan architectural style. This temple has been constructed keeping in mind the rules of Hindu architecture, Vastushastra.

This three-storey temple is built on a high platform, which has grand carved pillars, huge airy halls and brightly coloured painted walls and intricately decorated ceilings. At the entrance, two huge stone elephant statues are installed to welcome the visitors. There is also an inscription engraved on a stone slab at the entrance. Maharaja Jagat Singh installed this inscription to record his contribution to the temple.

The main temple is 79 feet high and prominently dominates the city skyline. The spire of the main temple has statues of horsemen, elephants, musicians and dancers, who were practicing dance when the temple was established. The main temple is at a distance of 32 steps from the entrance. Here you will find a brass statue of Garuda, which is half human and half eagle figure. Garuda has a special significance in Hinduism, as it is believed that Garuda guards the gates of Lord Vishnu's home.

The next statue located in the main temple is the Chaturbhuji statue of Lord Vishnu, which is considered to be one of the most attractive features of the Jagadeesh Temple. The statue of Lord Jagannath is worth seeing as it is made from a single piece of black stone, making it a wonderful example of art and devotion. It is believed that the statue of Lord Vishnu has a hypnotic effect on the devotees and gives them a feeling of peace and relaxation.

As said, the Lord is the peacemaker, so whenever you have any doubts, go to him, he will help you. People from all over the world visit the Jagadeesh temple to get their problems solved. There are small temples of other gods and goddesses around the main temple. These temples are of Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Sun God and Goddess Shakti.

The first two floors of the building have 50 pillars each. The fine carvings on each pillar make it a wonderful sight. Mandapa (prayer hall), a veranda and a pyramidal shikhara add to the beauty of the temple.

History of Jagdish temple

The temple was built in 1651 under the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh who ruled Udaipur from 1628 to 1653. Jagdish Temple is the home of Lord Vishnu and an iconic example of Maru-Gujaru architecture of the era. The Maharana Jagat Singh spent 1.5 million rupees to enhance the structure of the Jagdish temple. The temple was renovated due to Mughal invasion.

The Mughal invaders have destroyed many figurines and carvings in the temple as a part of revenge upon Rajput rulers. The Mughals took to vandalism to take out their anger and frustrations on their defeat by the hands of Mewar rulers.

According to the old legends, it is believed that the marble slab in the Jagdish temple has magical powers. If you rub your shoulder, knees, or back on the marble, you can get a quick relief against the pain. For some people, it might be hard to believe, but the beliefs associated with religion cannot be questioned.

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