Mahavira Jain temple, Osian

The Mahavira Temple is an important tirtha for Jains. According to an inscription found at Sachiya Mata Temple dating back to 956 A.D., it was built during the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty by King Vatsaraja in 783 AD,[2] making it the oldest surviving Jain temple in western India.[3] The temple had its first renovation in 956 AD during the time of Acharya Ratnaprabhasuri.[4]  George Michell describes the existing main temple as "mostly 11th century", with parts from the 8th century.  The "ornate gateway" is from 1015.[5] 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.[6] The temple was later renovated in the 12th century.[7] An inscription dating 953 CE found in the temple states that Osian was rich with decorated temples of every caste.[2]

The Jain temple is dedicated to Mahavira and belongs to Śvētāmbara sect of Jainism. The temple is considered a testimony of architecture Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty.[8] This a large temple[9] surrounded by enclosing wall consisting of garbhagriha, mandapa. The temple features a sanctum, a closed hall, an open porch and an ornate Torana (gateway) and exquisite sculptures.[10][11] The torana in front of the sanctum is rich with ornate carvings of tirthankaras, 12 in padmasan posture and 4 kayotsarga positions.[12] The pillars of the temple feature intricate artwork are particular Maha-Maru tradition.[10][13] The temple has seven subsidiaries, four on the eastern and three of the western side of the sanctum.[14] These shrines are joined by pradaksinapatha. Eastern parts of the shrine have figures of Mahavira and Parshavanatha.[9] The Shikhara of the garbhagriha and subsidiary shrine are crowned with amalaka and kalasa. The shikhara above mulprasad was constructed later with Māru-Gurjara architecture.[12]

The temple has a large image of Mahavira inside the garbhagriha. The outer and inner walls of the sanctum and closed hall are profusely decorated with carvings of Asta-Dikpalas, yaksha-yakshi, tirthankara, vidyadevi, and other deities. Vidyadevi sculptures are portrayed as playing musical instruments. The northern, southern, western walls of the temple have carvings of Neminatha's life like birth, war, renunciation, etc. The antarala ceiling of every shrine in the temple complex is rich with carvings of flowers.[9] Dev-Kulika temple is also part of the temple complex.[15]

Mahavira temple is the one of the most renowned temple in India.[16] The elobrate architecture is comparable to that Parshvanatha temple, Khajuraho and Ranakpur Jain temple.[6]

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  Sikhara of the temple
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  Detailed carving on wall
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  Temple side view
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  Shikhar
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  Carving of Parshvanath on wall
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  Pillars in Jaina temple Osia in India 1897
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  A crowned and jewelled figure of a Jain savior or saint.

The temple is protected by Archaeological Survey of India.[17]

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• Jainism in Rajasthan
• Naugaza Digambar Jain temple

• Vasavada, Rabindra J., Temple of Mahavira Osiaji, 2001, L. D. Institute of Indology, fully online