Jagdish Temple in Udaipur, Rajasthan
The Jagdish temple is situted in the town not far from Tripolia (Three arched) GAte of the Palace. This eighty foot high edifice which can be seen rising above its neighboring roofs (and clearly visible from the Lake Palace) was built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651.
A flight of thirty two steps rised to the large central temple which is ornmented with much excellentcarving. among which can be found a black stone image of Loard Vishnu as Jagnath, Lord of the Universe. Facing the entrance, in an enclosed shine, is a fine bronze figure og Garuda, a human form with wings and face of an eagle, who was the stead of Lord Vishnu and carried the God on the back.
The Sanskrit inscription by Krishna Bhatt, written in 1961, tells you more about the life and times of Jagat Singh. The local tourist guide will be able to give you a gist of what the inscription at Udaipur Temple Jagdish means.
About Jagdish Temple in Udaipur :
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.
Architecture of Jagdish Temple :
Constructed in 1651 A.D. by Maharana Jagat Singh I, the Jagdish temple in Udaipur is a three-storied monument. Its wall paintings, beautiful ceilings and luxurious halls are the main highlights. It is believed that around 1.5 million rupees was used to make this temple.
While exploring this temple, you will come across an elegant spire of 79 feet long. The spire is carved with the beautiful figures of elephant, musician, horsemen and dancer. Further, when you come close to the entrance point of the temple, you get to see two large stone elephants. There is a stone slab near entrance point. You can check inscriptions on this slab which refer to Maharaja Jagat Singh.
After climbing 32 marbled steps of the temple, you will be able to enter the main shrine. Here, you will encounter a figure which looks like half-eagle and half-man. This figure is actually called Garuda. Lord Garuda is the mount of Lord Vishnu.
In the main shrine of the temple, you will see a mesmerizing figure of Hindu Deity Vishnu with four arms. This image is made of one full piece of black stone. There are four other surrounding shrines in the complex. These shrines contain the figures of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Shakti and Sun God.
Gradually, your attention will shift to the other elements of this temple like pyramid shaped spire, porch and prayer hall. First and the second stories of the temple contain 100 pillars in total. You can stop near any of those pillars to explore beautiful carvings.
Tourist Attractions :
JAgdish temple is the scene of a courageous attempt amde by one Naroo Bharat, a member of the bardic community; to defend the temple from the destructive hands of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzed. After the battle of Debari onJanuary 4th, 1680 between the Mughal army and the combined forces of Mewar and Marwar the whole od central Mewar, including the capital Udaipur, waslaid waste. Maharana Raj Singh, hurring back to defend his capital, camped with his army in the surrounding hills sand began to harass the Mughal invaders by a series of sharp attacks. Meanwhile, those loyal to Mewar remaining within the town put up what resistance they could and Naroo Barhat organised a small force to defendthe temple. His courage and determination in the face of the enemy have gained him a place in Mewar’s history.
Location: Inside City Palace Complex
Built by: Maharana Jagat Singh
Built in: 1651 A.D
Dedicated to: Lord Laxmi Narayan
Highlights: Intricate carvings on pillars
How to reach: One can easily reach Jagdish Temple from the city by taking local Buses, Rickshaws, Tongas and Taxis
