Rikhabdev is famous only for its temple dedicated to Lord Rikhabdev, the first Jain Tirthankara. This temple is situated 40 km away from Udaipur. Rikhabdev is also claimed by the Vaishnavas as the eighth Avatar of Lord Vishnu. The temple belongs to the Svetambara sect of the Jains but at present is under the control of the State of Rajasthan. The temple is better known as Kesariyaji, derived from kesar or saffron that is put on the forehead of the idol of the Lord. The tribals, Bhils, who worship the idol, call it Kalaji due to the black image of the idol. The town of Rikhabdev is also known as Dhulev as the Bhil Dhula had once protected the idol and worshipped it at this place. The Bhils are very loyal to this Lord and always take an oath by uttering the name of Kalaji. The deity of Kesariyaji is said to be so strong and influential that it has fulfilled the wishes of most of his worshippers. The pilgrims, whose wishes have been granted, besmear the idol with kesar or saffron often equal to the weight of their child born.
Sri Mahavirji Temple:
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The town of Sri Mahavirji is one the most popular Jain pilgrimages in India for here is one of the holiest Jain temples in Rajasthan. This temple is situated 110 km from Sawai Madhopur. The Shri Mahavirji temple on the banks of the river Gambhir was built in white marble in honour of Mahavira, the 24th Jain saint. The temple has a nice legend attached to it. The story goes that a couple of centuries ago there was a cow which would leave home in the morning and return in the evening but when it did came home uddurs of the cow would be empty. To solve this mystery, the cow’s owners son followed it one day and discovered that the animal stopped at a particular stop and emptied itself of all the milk it had. Intrigued, the cowherd began to dig at this spot and discovered a statue of Mahavir. Today, a huge statue of Shantinath, one of the Jain fordmakers, stands at the height of 32 feet, casting a noble eye on disciples below. Visual at night as the temple is completely illuminated by the light bulbs.
Osiyan Temple:
Osiyan has as many as 15 Jain Temples, the most spectacular being the Mahavira temple dedicated to the 24th and last Jain Prophets. The temple were built around 775 A.D and the smaller shrines were added till about the 15th century. The temple complex sits atop a terrace & is built in sandstone, having an ornamented roof. Prima donna among Jain temples,the Mahavira Temple has an inner sanctum and three balconied windows.The main mandapa has beautiful ornate pillars decorated with motifs typical of religious architecture. The ceiling is delicately embellished with lace-like scalloped motifs & a hanging pendant. The most striking feature is the radial struts portraying female dancers & musicians.
Juna Temple:
The chief claim to fame of Juna is a Jain temple which was built around the 12th or the 13th century. This temple is located 42 km from Barmer. This is ascertained from an inscription carved on a stone pillar situated right adjacent to the temple. On the hilltop nearby is an old fort which encompasses an area of about 15 sq km. The fort is surrounded by a series of hills, adjacent to which lies a small lake. Between the mountain peaks is a small island known as Juna Barmer which houses a small well. At one time Juna was quite densely populated, but most of its inhabitants migrated from the area. It is believed that the emigres from Juna established the town of Barmer.
Nakoda Temple:
Nakoda boasts of three Jain Temples. The most impressive being Parsvanath Temple dedicated to one of the Jain Tirthankaras. Every year a fair is held on the tenth day of Paush (Dec-Jan) to celebrate Parsvanath's birthday - a tirthankar of the Jains.The other two Jain Temples - Adinath and Shantinath Temple are known for their beautiful construction.
Chaumukha Temple:
This 15th century temple also called Adishwar Temple, built by Sheth Dhanna, is the largest and most complex Jain temple in India.This four-faced temple is designed in form of a Nalinigulm Vimana(heavenly aircraft), with three storeys along with several pavilions accomodated on the temple base itself.The temple has 29 halls, 80 domes & pavilions include 1,444 pillars - each of them intricately carved.The carved 'mandapa' or porticoes around the shrine have a 'shikhar' or spire adorned with little bells on the top.The inner sanctum is enshrined with a four faced white marble image of Lord Adinath or Rishabhdev, surrounded by several other smaller shrines and domes.