Taranga is one among the Jain pilgrimage destination situated in District of Mehsana, Gujarat, India. This is one among the few tirthas visited by both Digambaras and Shvetambaras. Guru Acharya Hemachandra advised Kumarpal, Solanki King to construct this temple in the year 1121. The central idol is the 2.75 m Lord Rishabha marble statue. There are totally 14 temples in Shvetambara compound. Originally the Taranga temple goes to Shwetambars. There are 5 other temples affiliated to Digambara at hill Taranaga.

Location

Taranga temples are situated at Hill Taranga, Kheralu Taluk, Mehsana District, Gujarat state. Taranga Tirtha (Taranga) is Digambar Jain and also a Shwetambar pilgrimage destination situated at Mehsana district.  Digambar temple carries Shri Adishwar Bhagwan idol whereas Shwetambar temple carries 2.75 m idol of Shri Ajithnath Bhagwan in Swet varn. The entire pilgrimage compound contains 14 temples in which 5 are from Digambar sect.

History

Digambaras originally got settled on an isolated hill with 3 rocky peaks. Taranaga is known as Siddha Kshetra in Jainism. There believe that 35,000,000 monastics (including Sagardutta and Ganadharas Vardutta) attained moksa at this place. These 2 hillocks was named as Siddhashila and Kotishila and contain the idols of Mallinath and Tirthankaras Neminath. The foothills contain about 14 temples of Digambara along with Digambara dharamshala.

During 12th century, a Solanki king, Kumarpal who resided at Patan, chose this place to erect an outstanding temple for Ajitnath God, 2nd Jain Tirthankara. During 1200 VE, this temple was constructed by the king under the instruction and inspiration of Kali Kala Sarvagya Acharya HemChandra Ji. Among 108 Siddhachal names, one is ‘Tarangir’. Because of this, Siddhachal peak is considered to be Taranga. The major vast square is about 70 sq m (230 feet) breadth and 230 ft length whereas the temple is about 142 m height, 100 feet broad and 50 feet long. The perimeter of this temple is 195 m (639 feet). The summit of this temple is carved from 902 feet wood and it looks amazing. There are 7 domes. Towards the left side of this temple, there is Samavasarana, Gaumukh temple and also Jambudvipa painting whereas the right side of this temple carries 20 Thirthankaras and Lord RishabhaDev foot idols. The outer part of this main temple carries idols of Kumarpal king and Padmavati idols.

Few years before, there was a temple constructed on Shetrunjay mount close to Palitana. This Taranga shrine is made of sandstone and measures approximately 30.4 m width and 45 m length with a height of about 30.6 m. the design and plan of this temple resembles Mount Girnar Neminath temple and Shetrunjay Rishabha temple. Mount Girnar temple is less in ornate and height and also Shetrunjay Rishabha temple lost few of its earlier features during restoration process. During last renovation, the stone based carvings and roofs on outer walls got cleared by thick layer of clear white paint.

The top of the 3-peaked hill, there is a ‘Tonk’, temple constructed by Digambaras. It contains marble Mallinath statue, the 19th Tirthankara.

Architecture

The centre portion of major vast square is about 70 m breadth and 230 feet length. The temple is about 142 feet height, 100 feet breadth and 50 feet length. The perimeter of this temple is about 195 m (639 feet). The 902 feet wooden summit is magnificently made in this Taranga temple. There are 7 domes. Towards the left side of this temple, there is Samavasarana, Gaumukh temple and also Jambudvipa painting whereas the right side of this temple carries 20 Thirthankaras and Lord RishabhaDev foot idols. The outer part of this main temple carries idols of Kumarpal king and Padmavati idols.

Few years before Taranga temple, Kumarpal also constructed Adinath temple on the Shatrunjay temple, close to Palitana. This Taranga shrine is made of sandstone and measures approximately 30.4 m width and 45 m length with a height of about 30.6 m. the design and plan of this temple resembles Mount Girnar Neminath temple and Shetrunjay Adinath temple. The top of the 3-peaked hill, there is a ‘Tonk’, temple constructed by Digambaras. It contains marble Mallinath statue, the 19th Tirthankara.

Specialty of the Tirth

Various Munis were believed to attain Moksha by doing tapashya (meditation) at Kotishila hill, situated about 1 km south of temple Shwetambar.

How to Reach

By Road

This place is situated about 56 km from the Mehsana, 50 km from the Ambaji temple and 130 km from the Ahmedabad. Private vehicles and bus facility is available from Ambaji, Siddhpur, Patan, Mehsana and Ahmedabad. The bus stop is at Timba, close to Danta. Taranga is only 8 km from here and one can hire either private (Rs. 50) or shared (Rs. 5) jeep from this place.

By Rail

The nearby railway stations are at Vijapur (60 km), Unjha (54 km), Mehsana (52 km) and Visnagar (38 km). There is also a slow moving local train between Mehsana and Taranga. It takes 2 hours. The Taranga temple is situated about 5 km from railway station.

By Air

The nearby airport is at Ahmedabad which is about 125 km from this place.