Sanganer

The township of Sanganer ten kilometres south of Jaipur (take a bus near the Jaipur Ajmer Gate), is of great interest to students of Jaina art. In the local Shvetambara temple it is the painted interior that attracts one’s attention; whereas the Digambara Sanghiji Mandir (above and left) abounds in exuberant carvings in marble of a style that pleasingly counterpoises the filigree and ‘rococo’-like art of Abu.

Jaina art lacks life and diversity’, this often-voiced comment is here refuted. Unfortunately, only a few temples of that period (11th to 13th century) have survived.

Sanganer, Sanghiji Mandir. 12th. cent.

Close-up of one of the scenes surrounding the inner entrance of the temple.