• A brief write up on what is common to Hindu and Jain temple architecture.

Part 1 Why Temples are Sacred Text in Stone? Part 2 What is the Symbolism behind Temple Sculptures? Read on for part 3.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Indian temple architecture is the extent to which Hindu and Jain traditions share a common visual vocabulary.

At first glance, sectarian identities appear distinct. Hindu temples centre around deities such as Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, or Surya, while Jain temples focus upon the Tirthankaras—the enlightened teachers who attained liberation. Their theological frameworks differ, as do aspects of ritual and philosophy.

38 Samadisvara Temple, Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan. Made by Raja Bhoj.

73 Adinath Mandir, Palitana, Gujarat.

Yet when one looks closely at their architecture and sculpture, striking continuities emerge.

Both traditions employ similar architectural principles: sanctum, mandapa, circumambulatory paths, towers, gateways, and sacred orientation. More importantly, they share an underlying sculptural grammar.

Lotus motifs, celestial beings, guardian figures, sacred animals, geometric ornamentation, narrative panels, and auspicious symbols appear across both Hindu and Jain monuments.

This continuity reflects more than artistic borrowing.

It reveals the existence of a broader civilisational imagination within which different religious traditions evolved. Sculptors, patrons, and artisans often worked across sectarian boundaries, drawing upon shared workshops, techniques, and symbolic conventions.

A temple in medieval India was, therefore not created in cultural isolation.

The same artisan guild might carve both Hindu and Jain shrines, adapting iconographic programmes while maintaining common aesthetic principles. This explains why temples of differing affiliations frequently display comparable decorative systems despite theological distinctions. This is visible in Dilwara Temple, Mount Abu.

36 Saraswati in Dilwara Jain Temple, Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

The shared visual language becomes particularly evident in sculptural treatment.

Graceful female figures, floral scrolls, mythical creatures, and elaborate ceiling patterns occur across traditions. The aim was not merely embellishment but the creation of sacred ambience—a visual environment worthy of divine presence and spiritual contemplation.

Jain temples provide especially illuminating examples.

While Jain philosophy emphasizes renunciation and detachment, Jain temple architecture often displays extraordinary ornamental richness. Intricately carved ceilings, decorative pillars, guardian motifs, and symbolic ornament coexist with the serene simplicity of Tirthankara images.

This coexistence demonstrates that visual abundance and spiritual restraint were not viewed as contradictory.

54 Column design, Jain Caves Ellora.

Similarly, Hindu and Jain temples alike conceive architecture as a cosmic order made visible. Sacred geometry, directional orientation, and symbolic placement of imagery reinforce the understanding of the temple as a microcosm of the universe.

The shared language of temple iconography therefore transcends narrow religious boundaries.

It points toward deeper cultural continuities that shaped the Indian sacred landscape. Dynasties changed, sects flourished, and regional styles evolved, yet the symbolic vocabulary endured.

This continuity is one of the most remarkable features of Indian temple traditions. It reminds us that sacred architecture was never merely sectarian expression. It was also the product of a shared artistic and philosophical heritage that recognised symbolism as a bridge between the visible and invisible worlds.

In this sense, Hindu and Jain temples do not merely stand beside one another as separate traditions. They participate in a larger conversation—one conducted not through words, but through stone, image, and sacred form.

Jain Iconography and Tirthankara Imagery

Although Jain temples share much of the broader iconographical vocabulary of Indian architecture, they articulate a distinctive spiritual vision centred upon serenity, renunciation, and liberation.

At the core of Jain iconography stand the Tirthankaras—the enlightened teachers who discovered and transmitted the path to liberation.

Unlike many Hindu deities represented through dynamic gestures and numerous attributes, Tirthankaras are characterised by profound restraint.

37 Adhinath Bhagwan, Dilwara Temple Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

74 Tirthankara, Halebidu Jain Temple.   

They appear seated in meditation or standing in kayotsarga, the posture of bodily abandonment and spiritual detachment. Their faces remain composed and inward-looking, expressing equanimity rather than dramatic emotion.

This stillness is central to Jain philosophy.

The Tirthankara image does not display divine intervention or cosmic power in a theatrical sense. Instead, it represents spiritual conquest—the triumph over desire, attachment, and ignorance.

Identification of individual Tirthankaras often depends upon lāñchanas, symbolic emblems associated with each figure. A lion identifies Mahavira, a bull signifies Rishabhanatha, and other emblems assist recognition while preserving iconographic consistency.

Yet Jain temples simultaneously participate in the wider artistic culture of Indian sacred architecture.

39 Collage Ranakpur Temple, Rajasthan.

Floral ornament, celestial imagery, guardian figures, and decorative ceilings frequently appear alongside meditative icons. This coexistence of visual richness and spiritual restraint creates a striking aesthetic tension.

Jain iconography therefore illustrates both continuity and distinction—sharing a broader sacred language while articulating its own philosophical emphasis on self-realisation and inner stillness.

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The author is a Conservationist, Architectural historian, Author, Ph. D. in Dravidian and Khmer temple Architecture, Cambodia and the Founder of Samrachanā - Heritage Conservation & Research Initiative, Pune.

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2. Appreciating Indian Temple Architecture - An Indian viewpoint

3. How did Hindu Temples evolve

4. Why do Temples have Tanks and Stepwells

5. What do Ganas, Gandharvas, Mithuna Couples and Dancing girls on Temple Walls tell us

6. Why Dilwara Temples are a must visit

7. Why Ranakpur Temples are a wonder of the world