Shri Mahaveer Ji temple is in Karauli district in Rajasthan, India and is 110 km from Sawai Madhopur town. Earlier known as Chandanpur, this small village became famous as a Jain religious site after an ancient idol of Mahaveer was excavated from its soil several hundred years ago. It was then renamed as Shri Mahaveer Ji This idol was excavated over 200 years ago from the same spot, after which the temple was constructed. Thousands of worshipers flock from across India to catch a glimpse of this famous statue.
Symbol of emotional integration Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra Shri Mahaveer Ji is a holy place of pilgrimage in Rajasthan ( India). It is dedicated to Lord Mahaveer, the 24th Tirthankar. Shri Mahaveer ji draws people of all classes, creeds and communities from all over the world. Thousands of pilgrims throng here everyday to have Darshan of Lord Mahaveer and offer prayers for attaining peace and solace. The devotees who come here experience eternal happiness and self contentment, which is unique in itself.
There are five temples in Shri Mahavirji.
Atishaya Kshetra Shri MahavirjiEdit
Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra Shri Mahavirji: Shree Chandanpur Mahavirjee is one of the miraculous pilgrimages of Jains. This pilgrimage situated at
Hindaun Sub District in Karauli district of
Rajasthan is splendoured with natural beauty. Built at the bank of a river, this pilgrimage is a prominent centre of devotion for Jain devotees. Chandanpur Mahavirji temple is hailed as the heart of pilgrimages. This is a sacred place of the
Digambar tradition of Jainism.
The iconic idol of Lord
Mahavira, the principal deity of the pilgrimage temple, was found during an excavation. Some 'Kaamduhadhenu' (self milching cow) used to pour out its milk everyday upon a mound near Chandanpur village. It was surprising for the owner of that cow and the villagers. They excavated the mound. The villagers were overwhelmed with emotion on witnessing the emergence of the icon of the Lord. The news of appearance of the icon spread everywhere. The masses surged to have a glimpse. The wishes of people began to be fulfilled and thus a magnificent temple was built to ceremoniously install this uniquely miraculous icon of Lord Mahaveer.
Getting impressed by this miraculous Bhagwan Mahaveer’s icon, Shri Amar Chand Bilala of Baswa (Jaipur) constructed a vast & magnificent temple here. Between 17th and 19th centuries, this temple had been occasionally renovated. In respect of art, the magnificence of this temple is, on the whole, praiseworthy, but in view of its auspiciousness, Mahaveerjee is a pilgrimage without a peer. Millions of devotees visit this temple every year to pay their floral reverence at the feet of the Lord.
Even the royal lineage of
Jaipur rulers has been respectful towards this pilgrimage. The kings have been providing grants for the management of this temple. Activities related to the service of humanity have also been performed here.
A marble-umbrella has been built over the spot where the icon had emerged, and a pair of foot-images ('Charan paduka') has been ceremoniously installed to symbolize the Lord's feet. The architecture of the temple is interesting and magnificent. The scenic beauty of the cluster of spires of the temple wins the heart at a single glance.
Drenched in the full moonlight, Chandanpur pilgrimage conveys the message of purity and peace to the humanity at large.
Architecture
The main temple of Shri Mahaverji Atishaya Kshetra is vast & magnificent ornamented with so many pinnacles. This temple is surrounded by Dharmashalas (Guesthouses). The premises of Dharmashalas surrounding the temple is called Katla. In the center of Katla, main temple is situated. The entrance gate of Katla is very attractive and magnificent.
The temple is decorated with three sky high pinnacles. As one enters the main gate, there comes a rectangular ground and then there are seven beautiful gates to enter the Mahamandapa. After entering the temple we found a big shrine before us. An icon of Bhagwan Mahaveer resembling to the miraculous principal deity and two other icons are installed here.
In Garbh Griha (Central Room of Temple), on the main shrine, the miraculous icon of Bhagwan Mahaveer in Padmasana posture, coral colored made of sand stone is installed with Bhagwan Pushp Danta in right side and Bhagwan Adinath’s icon in left side. There are so many agreeable ancient icons of other Teerthankaras, installed in this temple.
Exterior & interior walls of the temple are richly decorated with beautiful carvings and golden paintings to improve the attraction, impression and glory of temple.
16 mythological scenes are carved beautifully on the outer walls of temple. The sculpture of temple shows an exquisite beauty of execution and a high degree of skill.
In the front of main gate of temple a 52 feet high
Manastambha (Column of pride) is standing, this is very beautiful and attractive. Four Teerthankar icons are installed at the top of Manstambha in all directions.
Shantinath JinalayaEdit
Shantinath Jinalaya
Shantinath Jinalaya (Temple): Shantinath Jinalaya at Shantiveer Nagar. In this Jinalaya Bhagwan Shantinath’s 28 feet high standing colossus is very beautiful. Icons of 24 Teerthankaras and their Shasan Deotas are also installed here. An attractive sky high Manstambha is also standing here.
The main attraction of the temple is an imposing 32 ft high image of Lord Shantinath, the 16th Jain tirthankar.
Bhagwan Parshvanath JinalayaEdit
Bhagwan Parshvanath Jinalaya
Bhagwan Parshvanath Jinalaya: Bhagwan Parshvanath Jinalaya also called ‘Kanch Ka Mandir’ due to beautiful and attractive mirror and glass work is situated in front of Sanmati Sanmati Dharmashala. This temple was constructed by Late Bramhacharini Kamla Bai. Main idol of this temple is black colored idol Bhagwan Parshvanath.
Kirti Ashram ChaityalayaEdit
Kirti Ashram Chaityalaya (Jain Temple): Kirti Ashram Chaityalaya is located in front of Shri Shantinath Jinalaya.
Bhavya Kamal MandirEdit
Bhavya Kamal Mandir: This temple is recently built and located on the road connectingShantinath Jinalya and Main Temple.
There was a Gurjar man who began to notice that one of his cows would come home in evening with empty udders. One day, he decided to follow the cow and finds that she goes daily to a "Tila" (a small hill of sand) and emptied herself of all the milk she had on the top of that hill. Puzzled by this scene, the man began to dig at that very spot and unearthed the statue of Bhagvan Shri Mahavir ji.
The main temple contains the statue of lord
Mahavira and few others. The 'Mulnayak pratima' (main statue) is nearly 78 cm high and is made of copper. In this statue lord
Mahavira is sitting in
padmasana posture.
An annual fair is organized in the temple premise around Mahavir Jayanti (April) which attracts Jains and people from many other communities and religions in a great number. The fair is for five days (starts 2 days prior to Mahavir Jayanti and end two days post Mahavir Jayanti) and ends with a splendid and colorful Rath Yatra. Many Jain sadhus or monks deliver religious discourses during this fair.
It has a 78 cm high copper-colored idol of Mahavir in the Padmasana posture. About 175 km away from
Jaipur it lies on the banks of Gambhiri river. The main attraction of the temple is an imposing 32 ft high image of
Lord Shantinath, the 16th Jain
tirthankar.
Shri Mahavirji Temple is situated at the Chandanpur village on the bank of the Gambhir river in
Hindaun Subdivision as can be seen from the
Map of the area .
All the major trains on Delhi-Mumbai line stop here. There are board and lodging provisions all around the temple.
The details of trains connecting Shri Mahavirji, their frequency and their timings are available at
Indian Railways website. [Hindaun City railway station]] is nearest major
Railway Station which lies on the
Delhi-
Mumbai rail line and is located about 21 kilometers away from Shri Mahaveerji.
By Road : The nearest Major bus stand is
Hindaun City Bus Depot is located 18 kilometers away from Shri Mahaveerji. Shri Mahavirji is at a distance of 140 km from Jaipur, 175 km from Agra and 300 km from Delhi.
Best route to reach Shree Mahavirji from
Delhi is to take
NH8 connecting Rajasthan State Highway 25 and go via Gurgaon, Bhiwadi,
Tijara,
Alwar,
Rajgarh, Bandikui, Sikandara, Gudha, Nadoti. At Nadoti one needs to go off the Rajasthan State Highway 25 towards east to reach Shree Mahavirji which is about 28 km from Nadoti. As of April 2012, except for this last stretch, most of the stretches are toll roads and are very well maintained. Avoid going via Mathura, Baharatpur as the section from
Mathuraonwards (which is more than 60% of the journey distance from
Delhi) is not fully developed.
No comments:
Post a Comment