Shri 1008 Mahavir Swami Digambar Jain Temple, Dahigaon!!!

On our way back from Pandharpur, we had planned our visit to Dahigaon and booked our Flamingo watch at Bhigwan. Dahigaon is a very small village in Solapur district, which is known for 200 year old Shri 1008 Mahavir Swami Digambar Jain Temple. Been one of the oldest Jain temples in this area, the temple has 5.5ft high idol of Bhagwan Mahaveer, and 18ft high idol of Bhagwan Bahubali. Best thing about this temple is the basement, with stone cave like structure which appears to be of ages. We have always heard about the threat Jain community and the temples have been facing, and might be it was one of those reasons for idols to be placed at the basement to avoid the destruction. You can't even guess there is a basement in the temple until you are told. The basement has idols of 20 thirthankaras of Videha Kshetra which are 4.4ft high, 9ft Adhinath Bhagwan and many small idols, which count upto 50 numbers.

The temple is really auspicious and idols are so different from the regular jain idols. You can feel the calmness and serenity when you are inside the temple premises. There is Jain Dharamshala and Bhojanshala near the temple. But you need to intimate prior at the Bhojanshala to have food.

Dahigaon is around 150km from Pune and Sholapur. Its 35km from Baramati and Phaltan, there are many jain families in Baramati and Phaltan and also temples. Every year many jain muni maharaj ji visit and stay during chathurmas at Baramati, Phaltan and Dahigaon. 

Antim Kevali Shri 1008 Jambu Swami Jain Temple, Mathura

We reached Mathura around 9am and headed to Antim Kevali Shri 1008 Jambu Swami Digamber Jain temple, where we had prior booking of our room. 

As per Jainism, Mathura is considered to be the nirvana kshetra(salvation place) of Jambu Swami, who was disciple of Gandhar Sadharmacharya of last Theerthankara Mahavir. Jambu Swami attained salvation at the age of 84years in the lush green place of Uttar Pradesh known as Mathura, which was then surrounded by  84 dense forests. So is it called Mathura Chaurasi(84 in Hindi) till today, and considered to be a holi place by followers of Jainism.

The temple shrine has marble idol of lord Ajitanath theerthankar, which is said to be found during an excavation of land in Gwalior. Apart from Ajitanath, there are idols of Neminath, Parshwanath and Mahavir in the temple.

Behind the temple is the idol of Jambu Swami. The idol stands on a tall platform, in a lush green garden. Temple and the idol of Jumbu Swami is on the Delhi-Mathura National Highway No.2 and can be seen while driving.

Related Posts: Check out the complete series on Golden Triangle Tour. 

Lodha Dham

The first thing which comes to our mind when we hear of Lodha are those luxurious properties in Mumbai..  It has been the second largest real estate developer by revenue.. Lodha Foundation has been indulged in many social activities in the fields of education, healthcare, women empowerment. 

Lodha Vihar Dham in Vasai, is dedicated to the travelling Jain Munis. Realizing the need to provide a comfortable stop over for Jain Munis, Lodha Foundation has built a Jain Derasar with attached dharamshala that houses over 200 pilgrims. Lodha Dham is being quipped with state of art water harvesting and recharge technology. This ensures we give back more than we take from Mother Nature.
The campus has a temple, library, catering area and a gathering place for devotees. The temple carved of marble is dedicated to Simandhara Swami. 

  

  

         

  The library has a collection of more than 5lakh Jainism books , with Samavasaran at the centre.

 And the catering area, though this is only for Jain community.

The whole Dham is so serene and worth to spend an evening at. You can also attend the evening Arti at 7PM.
Linked to Our World Tuesday, Tuesday Around the World.

Jain Temple - Simandharaswami Jinmandir

This weekend we had been to Silvassa and Daman(detailed posts coming up soon). On NH-8, in Nandigram Thirti, in Nandigram Village is this Jain Temple. Dedicated to Simandhara Swami, this Shwethambar Jain Mandir was built in 1989.  There are other small temples as well in the campus.

 The temple is made of Marble with great intricate carvings.

 Jain devotees from across Gujarat and Maharashtra visit this place. 
Linked to Our World Tuesday, Tuesday Around the World, last picture for Tones On Tuesday.

50th Post - Happy Mahavira Jayanthi

This is my 50th post and am happy to post this on the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanthi. 
Mahavira Jayanti, also known as Mahavira Janma Kalyanak, celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last Thirthankara in Jainism. He was born on the thirteenth day of the rising moon of Chaitra maasa(first month of Hindu Calender). Born a prince in 599 BC, Mahavira renounced worldly life at the age of 30 and undertook austere penance until he achieved realization.

Birth:

Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana was born into royalty as the son of King Siddhartha(king of Kaundinyapura on the outskirts of Vaishali near Patna in Bihar) and Queen Trishala. During pregnancy, Trishala was believed to had a number of auspicious dreams, all signifying the coming of a great leader. 

An Image depicting the auspicious dreams

The astrologers interpreted these dreams claimed that the child would become either an emperor or a Thirthankar. It is said that when Trishala finally gave birth to Mahavira, the god-king Indra bathed the newborn himself with celestial milk, a ritual essentially marking him as a Thirthankar. 

Mahavira renounced worldly life at the age of 30 and undertook austere penance until he achieved realisation.  Even as a boy, Mahavira came to be associated with many episodes of absolute fearlessness which earned him the name `Mahavira'. He grew up as a prince, excelling in physical prowess and intellectual acumen. He renounced the pleasures and luxuries of the place, as also the power and prestige of kingship and undertook a life of intense penance for more than twelve years. He calmly bore not only the rigors of nature but the torments from the ignorant and mischievous among his own countrymen also. He finally became self-illumined. But not content with his own personal salvation, he chose to become a great human redeemer.

Celebration:

Local statues of Mahavira are given a ceremonial bath called the Abhisheka. 

Idols of lord Mahavir

Abhisheka with Sandal 

During the day, many Jains engage in some sort of charitable act in the name of Mahavira while others travel to temples to meditate and offer prayers. Lectures are typically held in temples to preach the path of virtue as defined by Jain doctrine. Donations are collected in order to promote charitable missions like saving cows from slaughter or helping to feed poor people. Ancient Jain temples across India typically see an extremely high volume of practitioners come to pay their respects and join in the celebrations.

A procession of a decorated chariot with Lord Mahavira

Linked to Tuesday Around the World