RAS question
The Dilwara Jain temples at Mount Abu were built during:
Correct answer: (D) Chalukya-Solanki rulers era.
The Dilwara Jain temples at Mount Abu were built during the Chalukya-Solanki rulers' era, with major temples such as Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi dated to 1031 CE and 1230 CE respectively.
Explanation
The Dilwara Jain temples exemplify the Chalukya-Solanki tradition of western Indian temple architecture, rather than the later Delhi Sultanate, Mughal, or Mewar Rajput periods. Vimal Vasahi dates to 1031 CE and Luna Vasahi to 1230 CE, placing the main temples between the 11th and 13th centuries. Vimal Shah, a Jain minister under the Solanki ruler Bhima I, is associated with the earliest temples. The wider complex spans the 11th to 16th centuries and is known for white marble and intricate carving. Historically, these temples are linked to Gujarat's Chalukya-Solanki era and Mount Abu's tradition of marble Jain temples.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) The main Dilwara temples predate the Delhi Sultanate. Vimal Vasahi was built in 1031 CE under the Solanki ruler Bhima I, and the main temples belong to the 11th-13th-century Chalukya-Solanki era.
- (B) The Mughal era is too late: Vimal Vasahi, dated to 1031 CE, and Luna Vasahi, dated to 1230 CE, were built centuries earlier.
- (C) The patronage should not be assigned to Mewar Rajputs. The major early temples were commissioned by ministers of Gujarat's Solanki rulers, especially Vimal Shah, a minister under Bhima I.
Concept
Rajasthan's Jain temple art is closely linked with the wider Maru-Gurjara, or Solanki, architectural tradition. For RAS, a major Rajasthan monument should be studied together with its dynasty, patrons, and chronology.