Taranga Jain Temple was constructed by the Solanki Dynasty King Kumarpal of Gujarat under the advice of his teacher, Acharya Hemachandra. Nestled at the Mehsana town of Patan district in Gujarat Taranga (Taranga Tirtha) is a Shvetambar Jain Temple and pilgrim center. A 2.75m marble statue of Adinatha is the fundamental (Mulnayak) idol. The compound consists of 14 temples in all, five of which are from the Digambar sect.

The Digambar Jains established themselves on an isolated hill with its three rocky peaks. Taranga is a siddh kshetra. It is said that 35,000,000 `rishis` including Vardutt and Sagardutt achieved nirvana from this place. The two hillocks named Kotishala and Sidhhshila have idols of Bhagwan Neminath and Mallinath of Vikram 1292. There are 14 Digambar Jain Temples in the foothills. The Digambar Jain Dharamshala is in the foothills. Sometime in the 12th century, Kumarpal, the Solanki King, residing in Patan, himself a Svetambar Jaina, chose this site to erect an exceptionally beautiful temple in honour of Adinath. Under the motivation of and guidance of Kalikalasarvajna Acharyashri Hemchandracharya, this temple was built in the year 1200 of the Vikram era. Of the 108 names of Siddhachal, one is `Tarangir`. For this reason, Taranga is regarded as a peak of Siddhachal.

In the centre of the main vast square with the length of 230 feet and the breadth of 230 feet (70m square), the temple measures 50 feet in length, 100 feet in breadth and 142 feet in height (15m x 30m x 43m). It has a perimeter of 639 feet (195m). The 275m (902 feet) high wooden summit of Taranga Temple is magnificently carved. It has seven domes in all. On the right side of the temple, there are foot-idols of Bhagwan Adinath and of the 20 wondering Bhagawan and on the left hand side there is a temple of Gaumukhji, the Samavasaran (the open lecture hall), and the Jambudvipa painting. On the outer podium of the main temple, there are idols of Padmavatidevi and Kumarpal Maharaja.

Kumarpal had also built a temple of Adinath on Mount Shatrunjay near Palitana, some years earlier to the Taranga temple. Built of light sandstone, the Taranga temple measures 45 metres in length by 30.4 metres in width, reaching up to an imposing height of 30.6 metres (148 ft by 100 feet by 100 feet). In its plan and design it resembles the Neminath temple on Mt. Girnar and the above mentioned Adinath temple on Mt. Shatrunjay. On the highest elevation of the three-peaked hill there stands a so-called Tonk, a small building in the art of a Muslim grave. Built by Digambars, it houses a marble statue of the 19th Tirthankara, Mallinathji.

Originally Digambaras settled on this isolated hill with its three rocky peaks. In Jainism, Taranaga is considered a siddha kshetra. It is said that 35,000,000 monastics, including the Ganadharas Vardutta and Sagardutta, attained moksa here. The two hillocks named Kotishila and Siddhashila have idols of the Tirthankaras Neminath and Mallinath of Vikram 1292. There are 14 Digambara temples in the foothills and a Digamabara dharamshala is at the foothills.

At some time in the twelfth century, Kumarpal, the Solanki king residing at Patan, who himself was following Jain Religion( Svetambara), selected this site for the erection of an exceptionally beautiful temple in honor of Lord Ajitnath, the 2nd Jain Tirthankara. Under the inspiration and instructions of his Guru, 'Kali kala Sarvagya' Acharya HemChandraJi, this temple was built by the King in the year 1200 of the Vikram era. Of the 108 names of Siddhachal, one name is ‘Tarangir’. For this reason, Taranga is regarded as a peak of Siddhachal. In the center of the main vast square of the length of 230 ft and the breadth 230 ft (70 m square), this temple is 50 ft long, 100 ft broad and 142 ft high (15 m by 30 m by 43 m). It has a perimeter of 639 ft (195 m). The 275 m (902 ft) high wooden summit of this temple is beautifully carved. It has seven domes. On the right hand side of the temple, there are foot-idols of Lord RishabhaDev and of the 20 Tirthankaras and on the left hand side, there are a temple of Gaumukh, the Samavasarana, and the Jambudvipa painting. On the outer platform of the main temple, there are idols of Padmavati and King Kumarpal.

Some years earlier, he had a temple built on Mount Shetrunjay near Palitana. Built of light sandstone, the Taranga temple measures 45 meters in length by 30.4 meters in width and reaches up to a majestic height of 30.6 meters (148 ft by 100 ft by 100 ft). In its plan and design it resembles the Neminath temple on Mount Girnar and the above mentioned Rishabha temple on Shetrunjay. The temple on Mount Girnar is lower in height and less ornate, and the Shetrunjay Rishabha temple has lost some of its original features in the process of restoring damage caused by Muslim raiders. During the last major renovation works the roofs and the stone carvings on the outer walls were cleared of thick layers of white paint.

On this hill, there are four other temples and also there are five Digambar temples. On the hill at a distance of one kilometer, there is a sacred place called Kotisheela. It is said that many monks practiced penance here and attained salvation. Here, there is a moksha-window. In the north-west, there is peak called Siddhasheela. In it there are foot-idols of choumukhji and Bhagawan Ajitnath.

Along with the vast open square, the well-curved, eye-catching, summit of the artistic, four-storeyed temple made of yellow stone looks beautiful like a God’s residence. It is said that the summit built by Kumarpal was of 32 storeys. Possibly, at the time of renovation, the height was reduced. Since the wood used in building this temple was of the tagar (veleriana hardwickii) wood, it is fire-extinguishing. when set to fire, it does not catch fire but oozes out water. This idol of god is lovely to see.

The nearest railway station of Taranga is at a distance of 6 kilometers from this place. From the Taranga hill station, Visnagar is 51 kilometers away and Mehsana is 70 kilometers away. Bus service and service of private vehicles are available. There are boarding and lodging provisions for Svetambaras and Digambaras. There are comfortable blocks too.

Shri Anandji Kalyanji Svetambar Murtipujak Jain Pedhi, Taranga-hill, Dist Mehsana, Gujarat State, India.

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