Kirti Stambha

Not to be confused with Vijaya Stambha (similar structure, also located at Chittorgarh).

Kirti Stambha
Religion
Affiliation	Jainism
Sect	Digambara
Deity	Rishabhanatha
Festivals	Mahavir Janma Kalyanak
Location
Location	Chittor Fort, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
Location within Rajasthan
Geographic coordinates	24°53′32″N 74°39′0″E
Architecture
Type	Tower
Style	Māru-Gurjara architecture
Creator	Jeeja Bhagerwala
Date established	12th century CE

Kirti Stambha is a 12th-century tower situated at Chittor Fort in Chittorgarh town of Rajasthan, India.

History

An 1847 drawing of the Kirti Stambha

Chittor has a history going back several centuries. It was an ancient centre of Jain tradition. Chittor is adjacent to the ancient city of Madhyamika. The Jain inscriptions at Mathura from the Kushana period (1st to 3rd centuries) mention a "Majjhimilla" branch of the "Kottiya" gana, indicating that it was a major Jain centre. The famous Acharya Haribhadra Suri (6th century) was born in Chittor and wrote "Dhurtopakhyana" there.

There was a scholar Elacharya at Chittor from whom Vira-senacharya (9th century) learned the ancient Shat-khandagama and Kashayapahuda. Virasena later wrote the famous "Dhavala" and "Jayadhavala" on the basis of these books.

The 22 metres (72 ft) tower was built by a Jain merchant Jeeja Bhagerwala during the reign of Rawal Kumar Singh in c. 1179–1191 CE. It was the residence of Jinavallabha who propagated the Vidhimarga in the 12th century. From the 15th to 17th centuries, it was the seat of a Bhattaraka.

Three inscriptions have been found that mention Jija of Bagherwal community as the builder of the stambha. One of the inscriptions mention Dharmakirti, the disciple of Shubhakirti, who was disciple of Vasantkirti. According to the Balatkara Gana Pattavali, Dharmakirti headed the patta during 1224-1257 AD. Thus the structure dates from the 13th century, although an unrelated Jain inscription of 896 AD was found in the vicinity. Kirti Stambha is older than another tower in the same fort, known as the Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory).

Architecture

Kirti Stambh

The tower is built in the Solanki style. The tower is 75 feet (23 m) Height. The tower is famous for its for intricate carvings and architecture. The seven storey temple is adorned by sculpture and mouldings from the base to summit. The carvings on each summit is different from other. The tower stands near the Saat-Bees Jain temple.

The lower level is called Hansh Peeth, then Sinha-mukh Thar, Gaja Thar and Nava Thar.

Gallery

• 

  A recent photo of the tower standing tall in Chittor

• 

  Mahavir temple with Kirti Stambha

• 

  Mahavir Jain temple

• 

  Saat-Bees Jain temple near Kirti Stampla

See also

• Stambha
• Vijay Stambha
• Manastambha
• Chittor Fort

References

Sources

Book

• Mehta, Jodh Sinha (1970). Abu to Udaipur (Celestial Simla to City of Sunrise). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120829848.
• Singh, Nagendra Kumar; Mishra, A. P. (2005). Encyclopaedia Of Oriental Philosophy And Religion. Vol. 10. Global Vision Pub House. ISBN 9788182200715.
• Vashistha, Radhakrishna; Vashistha, R. K. (1995). Art and Artists of Rajasthan: A Study on the Art & Artists of Mewar with Reference to Western Indian School of Painting. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 9788170172840.
• Arihant Experts (2018). Indian Art & Culture. Arihant Publications India limited. ISBN 9789350944844.

Web

• Bareth, Narayan (17 November 2017). "The citadel is of Chittor, the rest is of Garhaiya" (in हिन्दी). BBC.
• "Major attraction". Government of Rajasthan. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
• "Chittorgarh". Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation.