Ranapur
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Ranapur
or Rampura). Site of a celebrated Jam temple in the Desuri district of the State of Jodhpur, Rajputana, situated in 25 7' N. and 73 28' E., about 88 miles south-east of Jodhpur city, and about 14 miles east by south-east of Falna station on the Rajputana-Malwa Railway. The temple was built in the time of Rana Kumbha of Mewar (fifteenth century), m a lonely and deserted glen running into the western slopes of the Aravallis, and is still nearly perfect. It is most complicated and extensive in design, covering a platform measuring 200 by 225 feet, exclusive of the projections on each face. In the centre stands the great bhiine, not, however, occupied as usual by one cell but by fom, in each of which is placed a statue of Admath, the first of the Jain saints. On a second storey are foui similar niches opening on the terraced roofs of the building. Near the four angles of the couit are four smaller shrines, and around them, or on each side of them, are 20 domes supported by about 420 columns.
The central dome in each group is three storeys m height and towers over the others ; and that facing the principal entrance is supported by the very unusual number of 16 columns and is 36 feet in diameter, the others being only 24 feet. Light is admitted to the building by four uncovered courts, and the whole is sui rounded by a range of cells, each of which has a pyramidal roof. Internally the forest of columns produces endless variety of perspective with play of light and shade. A wonderful effect also results from the number of cells which, besides being of varied form, are more or less adorned with carvings.
'The immense number of parts in the building and their general smallness prevent its laying claim to anything like architectural grandeur , but their variety, their beauty of detail no two pillars in the whole building being exactly alike the grace with which they are arranged, the tasteful admixture of domes of different heights with flat ceilings, and the mode in which the light is introduced, combine to produce an excellent effect '
Imbedded in a pillar at the enLiance to the temple is a marble slab with an inscription recording the uilers of Mewar from Bapa Rawal to Rana Kumbha
[J. Fergusson, History of Indian and Eastern Architecture^ pp. 240-2
(1899)0
