Gleanings: Pārśvanātha Temple Lodrova

Summary

In the ‘Gleanings’ section of this issue there is a descriptive note on the Pārśvanātha Temple at Lodrova (Lodrovā); an abandoned town near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert. Rajat Kanta Ray; writing in The Statesman in 1988; extols this late fifteenth‑ or early sixteenth‑century Jain temple as one of the most beautiful buildings in the Great Indian Desert. The temple is constructed from yellow sandstone that glows like gold under the desert sun; and its surface is adorned with superb jāli—stone‑carved lacework—that combines simplicity and boldness of design. The author remarks that while yellow sandstone and jāli carving are common in the palaces and havelis of the erstwhile Jaisalmer state; this temple stands out because of its innovative star‑shaped ground plan and the way its walls slope outward from the base like the angles of a spread‑out fan. The temple consists of a cella (garbha‑gṛha) enclosed by perforated screens where the principal image was once enshrined; a richly carved porch supported by elegant pillars; a circumambulatory path (pradakṣiṇā‑patha) around the sanctum and a highly ornamented toraṇa or gateway. A towering shikhara with miniature spires rises above the cella; accentuating the upward movement. Unlike many Indian temples where the sanctum remains dark; this cella is illuminated by light streaming through large jāli windows cut into the walls of the sanctum. The outer wall of the circumambulatory mirrors the star‑shaped plan of the sanctum; and its roof is pierced by large open windows; allowing light to flood the space. This unusual combination of star‑shaped plan and outward‑inclined walls creates striking angles and affords a play of light and shadow that enhances the building’s sculptural qualities. The author notes that despite its uniqueness; the temple has received little attention from art historians because of its remote location in the heart of the Thar Desert. On the east side of the temple stands a carved tree believed to represent the mythic kalpavṛkṣa or wish‑fulfilling tree. According to Jain and Hindu mythology; the kalpavṛkṣa grants every desire and is associated with Tirthaṅkaras’ heavenly abodes. The tree at Lodrova is sheltered by a tower and continues to be venerated by devotees; underscoring the living religious significance of the site. Ray’s description situates the Lodrova temple within the broader architectural heritage of Jaisalmer; where the combination of yellow sandstone and jāli carving reached an artistic zenith. Yet he emphasises that this structure is distinguished by its ‘inexpressibly lovely contours’ and innovative geometry. As the temple was built during the period when Jaisalmer was a prosperous trading centre on caravan routes; its construction testifies to the patronage of Jain merchants who funded religious architecture. The article thus draws attention to a medieval monument that combines architectural innovation with exquisite craftsmanship and remains an under‑studied gem of Jain art history.