Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara

Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara is an extraordinary Jain temple in the hills of Rajastan. It was constructed in the 1400s to honor Adinath, the first Tirthankar – great master, exalted teacher, or some such epithet – of the present descending half-cycle. So, in case you were wondering why things are so rough these days, it might just be that we are in the descending half of the cosmic cycle. 

And yet what a building! Pretty good for people in a world doomed to decline and decay.

The richness of the carving is simply astonishing.

Each of the hundreds of pillars is unique.

Sculptural details. The being with five bodies represents the five elements. (Earth, fire, water, air, and ether or heaven)

Famous rendering of the Kalpavriksha, a mythical wish-granting tree that my sources say symbolized divine abundance.

Elephant.

Truly an amazing place.