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This is one of the most magnificent temples in all India. It was built by a single individual, a rich Hindu who lives in a palatial house just beyond your present range of view, at the right. At the first glance you hardly begin to realize the marvellous elaboration of the building, but, as you look at it more closely, you see that every square foot of the surface is decorated as if it were a jewel-box. The chief material is white marble. You can see how it has been chiselled into elaborately lace-like patterns of ornament; notice for example that square-topped gateway at the foot of the great staircase, and the curving balustrades at the head of the same staircase- they are like the work of a goldsmith for intricacy of line. The posts of that gateway and the wall spaces of the façade are almost entirely covered with a mosaic made of bits of marble and bits of mirror-glass which reflect the light in such a way as to give the effect of incrustation with diamonds.

If you were to go inside you would find enshrined images of old-time tirthankars or prophets of the Jainist faith, to whom worshippers of this sect pay special reverence. The Jainists are a sect, are neither Brahman nor Buddhist; they do not believe in the many gods of the orthodox Hindu faith and they do not recognize caste as a religious distinction, but their original leader, who lived about 2500 years ago, near the time of Buddha, taught the doctrine of the transmigration of souls, and they have always been famous, even here in India, for their reluctance to take animal life. They even support hospitals for sick animals.

From Notes of Travel, No. 9, copyright, by Underwood & Underwood

Jain temple, the richest place of worship in Calcutta, India.

Le temple Jain, le plus riche Sanctuaire à Calcutta, Inde.

Jain Tempel, der [[?]] [[?]] in Calcutta, Indien.

Temple Jain, El punto de adoracíon más rico en Calcutta, India.

Jains tempel, den rikaste andaktsplatsen i Calcutta, Indien.
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