Ceiling of Dilwara Temple Rajasthan

Ceiling of Dilwara Temple Rajasthan

13th Century AD

            Numerous ancient temple complex dot the hills and dales and the desert of Rajasthan : Osia in near Jodhpur , Kiradu in Barmer District, Eklingji in Udaipur.  But the best known temple complex are the Dilwara temples of Mt Abu. Made of white marble, intricately carved--like a filigree,  these temples are mind bogling.  Here we see a temple ceiling.  The thousand petal lotus is the center piece. It is said that when one reaches the highest state of meditation,  the mind blossoms like a thousand petal lotus. Hence this image on the ceiling. Like bees,  the celestial beings havor around this lotus. That is the power of the  mind. As the Urdu poet said, "make thyself so strong that even God should come and ask what is your wish." 

           Although Dilwara temples are known for their delicate carvings, but they are like a Kathak dance: full of technical perfection but without much substance.  The sculptures  are heavily laden with jewellery, figures frozen in stereotyped postures. But the lack the liveliness of the Khajaraho figures or the serenity of Chola Bronze.  These figures merely dazzle us with the virtuosity of the sculptor in using the chisel and the hammer. But somehow the breath of life is missing in these marble wonders.