Adinath Temple of Ranakpur

Published on 2nd October, 2016, in Mumbai Mirror. Before me was the gigantic image of Adinath, the first Tirthankara, of this era, sitting crosslegged, no clothes on his body, his expression serene. Above in the ceiling was an exquisitely carved marble leaf of the wish-fulfilling tree, the Kalpa-vriksha. If you stand below it and make a wish, it will be granted. That’s what the tourist guide said and so a queue of eager pilgrims had already formed, ready to make their wish. As I made my, I overheard a lady chuckle, ‘They don’t seem to get the irony. Above is the leaf that fulfils all ..