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Osian, an ancient small temple town 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 belongs to the two periods,
namely 8th century represented by nearly 12 temples and 12th
century represented by 6 temples. Osian was an important
centre of pilgrimage between the 8th and 9th centuries. This
can be known from the surviving Hindu temples of the
Vaishnava, Surya (Sun) and Shakti (mother goddess) sects.
The Brahminical influence was very strong in Osian during
that period and later, Jainism also flourished in the place
through the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty. But still, various
Hindu devotees visit the Osian temple dedicated to the
goddess Sachiyamata. In ancient times, Osian was known as
Ukeshpur.
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