16) Parsawanatha Jain Temple (Eastern Group)

Parsawanatha Jain Temple

It is the largest of the Jaina temples, 69 feet long and 35 feet wide. It is believed to be a shrine of Parsawanatha, the 22nd Jain Tirthankara. The temple has a naked male figure on the left side of the door and a naked female figure on the right side, with three seated female figures over the centre. 

Above the entrance is a ten-armed Jaina Goddess holding various arms and weapons riding on a garuda. Two other goddesses, riding respectively on a goose and a peacock, are carved at the ends of the lintel. Inside the temple, is a small seated figure of Parsawanatha giving the temple its name. On the jambs of the door are three short records of pilgrims in characters of the tenth or eleventh century, which is the most probable date of the origin of the temple.