Jain Temple at Nareli
Nareli Jain Temple is a modern Jain temple complex, located on the outskirts of Ajmer at Kishangarh Bypass, which is famous for its carvings and intricate designs. The temple complex is also known as Shri Gyanodaya Tirth Kshetra and includes numerous temples and shrines, some of them still under construction. The construction of the main temple was started in 1994/95 due to blessings of Muni Sudha Sagar, disciple of Acharya Vidya Sagar.
In the year 2002 the largest ever-made statues of Ashta-dhatu (an alloy of eight metals) are being installed at a new temple complex, fast coming up on a hillock at Gyanodaya Teerth Kshetra, village Nareli, near Ajmer in Rajasthan. The complex is spread over the entire hill and a large number of pilgrims are pouring over the place every day, which is becoming a big religious pilgrimage centre for the Jain community, specially those belonging to Digambar sect. According to the plans, the complex will consist of 24 temples, one for each Tirthankar. Out of these, images of three tirthankars, Shri Shanti Nath Ji, Kunthu Nath Ji and Arah Nath Ji have already been installed. These are made in Ashta-Dhatu and each of them is reporting to be weighing as much as 24 tons, which is a record figure for any metallic Jain statue in the world. The estimated cost of the entire project is said to be Rs. 25 crores.
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