Osiyan: The Gateway to the Thar Desert

Osiyan or " Osian " popularily known as " Gateway to The Thar Desert " is a small town known for it's ancient temple ruins and exclusive Camel Safari , in Rajasthan, India.The ancient town of Thar Desert was a great trading center between 8th to 12th centuries. Today it is desert oasis with 16 Brahamanical and Jain temples, beautifully sculpted and designed, most of which have stood ravages of time.

Osian, an ancient small village in the Thar Desert,is located about 65 kms, North West of Jodhpur. Osian is a great centre of Brahmanical and Jain religions and contains the largest group of the Hindu and Jain temples in Rajasthan. These temples belong to the two periods, namely 8th century represented by nearly 12 temples and 12th century represented by 6 temples.

For a true lover of ancient architecture and artistic style, Osian reveals all its wealth, Osian is worth visiting. The city was a major religious centre of the kingdom of Marwar during the Pratihara dynasty. Of the 18 shrines in Osian, the Surya or Sun Temple and the later Kali temple, Sachiya Mata Temple and the main Jain temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira stands out in their grace and architecture.

Osian of today is a small town, but in its heyday, it was a bustling city and trade center of Northern India. Here convoys brought grains and produce, the citizens were contented and happy. To demonstrate their love for God, for what He had given them, they built shrines and temples. The temples of Osian are comparable in beauty to those of Khajuraho and Bhubaneswar.

The temples of Osian, though in a poor state now, have preserved their record well. The sculptures of Osian show us what people wore, how they amused themselves, how they worshiped, how they lived, what their social life was like and what they believed in.

Photos with the text are from the Grand Temple of Sachiya Mata:

The ancient temple of Sachiya Mata, a Hindu deity, is a perfect example of the medieval Indian architecture. With their artistic brilliance, temples in Osian are considered Masterpieces of Indian Heritage.

The ancient temple of Sachiya Mata, a Hindu deity, is a perfect example of the medieval Indian architecture. With their artistic brilliance, temples in Osian are considered Masterpieces of Indian Heritage.

The initial structure of the Temple in Osiyan, were built in the 8th century. However, the present temple was materialized during the 12th century. Sachiya Temple is dedicated to Sachi Mata. Wife of Lord Indra (Rain God), Goddess Sachi is also known as Indrani. The temple complex has two other shrines that are dedicated to Chandi Devi and Amba Mata respectively. Built in many phases, Sachiya Mata Temple can be entered through a series of wonderfully sculpted arches.

The interiors of the temple are decorated with beautiful images and sculptures of deities from the Hindu pantheon. In the north, a sculpture of Varaha (Incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Boar) embellishes the site, whereas an image of Lakshmi-Vishnu is visible in the east. A stone slab crammed with sculptures, emerging from the wall, can be traced in the west.