Jain Temples in South India is a new weekly feature on Religion World, which gives you glimpses of different Jain shrines in the this part of the country. Rarely people are aware that Jainism has been prevalent in South India since Maurya dynasty. It became popular over the years and it was the Vijayanagar empire that made it more popular.
With Vijayanagar empire giving the much needed impetus to Jainism, it flourished and they started constructing their temples, art and culture in South India. Moreover the digambara sect also developed here and it had its own followers too. This new series Jain Temple in South India will look at different temples, the history and legend behind the temple, its uniqueness and architecture as well as its specialities. Featured on every Week, Jain Temple in South India will be giving its darshan in Religion World.
The Varur – Hubli Navagraha kshetra is one of the famaous Jain piligrim center. A “jinalaya” (Jain Temple) said to be the biggest Jain South Temple in Southern India has been built in here. The Navagraha Tirtha has the 61-foot monolithic statue of Bhagavan Parshwanath installed along with the statues of eight other Tirthankaras eight statues of other teerthankars mounted on planet-like structures. It is the tallest monolithic statue (61 feet, 185 tonnes) of Bhagavan Parshwanath, in the Khadgasana Mudra, mounted on a 48-ft pedestal.
The construction of Navagraha Teertha began in January 2005 and the carving of the monolithic statue and other statues alone had lasted one year. And temple was inaugurated in 2009 with mahamasthabhishekam. The work was supervised by Sri Gunadhar Nandi Maharaj, supported by Sri Dharmasena Bhattaraka swamiji and hundreds of volunteers with donations from philanthropists.
Navagraha Teertha, which is located at Varur, a village just 29 km from Hubli-Dharwad city, has become an important place on the tourism map of the state, drawing huge crowds from all over the country. Navagraha Teertha, which is spread over 45 acres adjacent to the Pune-Bangalore Road, was set up by the Jain community with the help of people from other communities. It has been established largely through the efforts of Shri Gunadhar Nandi Maharaj.
Navagraha’s
According to the belief of Jains, each of these teerthankars have the power to remove the “graha dosha”. Accordingly, the statues have been mounted on respective planet-like structures that the Teerthankars represent at the Navagraha Tirtha.
Bhagavan Padmaprabhu (Sun), Bhagavan Chandraprabhu (Moon), Vasupujya (Mars), Mallinath (Mercury), Mahaveer (Jupiter), Pushpadanta (Venus) Munisruvata (Saturn) and Neminatha (Rahu) have been installed. Bhagavan Parshwanath Teerthankar is believed to have the power to remove the dosha caused by Ketu.
The monolithic statue of lord Parshwanth is not only very attractive but also larger than the statue of Gommateshwara or Lord Bahubali in Shravanabelagola. The statues of the Teerthankars in Navagraha Teertha can be seen even up to 4 km (2.5 miles) away on the national highway.
Lord Parshwanth
Parshvanatha also known as Parshva was the 23rd of 24 Tirthankaras (ford-maker, teacher) of Jainism. He is the earliest Jain Tirthankara who is generally acknowledged as a historical figure. His biography is uncertain, with Jain sources placing him between the 9th and 8th century BC, and historians stating he may have lived in 8th or 7th century BC. Along with Mahavira, Rishabhanatha and Neminatha, Parshvanatha is one of the four Tirthankaras who attracts the most devotional worship among the Jains. His iconography is notable for the serpent hood over his head, and his worship often includes Dharanendra and Padmavati – the serpent god and goddess of Jainism.
Parshwanatha is said in Jain texts to have been born in Benares (Varanasi, India), renounced the worldly life and founded an ascetic community. He is credited with starting the tradition of “fourfold restraint” for monks – don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t lie and don’t own property. Svetambara texts, such as section 2.15 of Acaranga Sutra, state that Mahavira’s parents were followers of Parshwanatha, linking Mahavira to a pre-existing theology and as a reformer of pre-existing Jain mendicant tradition. Mahavira expanded the scope of Parshwanatha’s first four restraints, with his ideas on Ahimsa (non-violence) and added the fifth monastic vow of celibacy in the practice of asceticism. Parshwanatha, in contrast, according to them, had not required celibacy, and had allowed the wearing of simple outer garments by monks. The differences between the ideas of Parshwanatha and Mahavira, have been one of the many historic foundations behind the disputes between the two major Jain sub-traditions – Svetambaras and Digambaras. The Digambara sect disagrees with the Svetambara interpretations and they reject the theory of difference in Parshvanatha and Mahavira’s teachings.
Accommodation
With the heavy inflow of tourists, a Yatri Nivas is being constructed here at a cost of Rs 5 crore. There are also plans to set up a musical fountain and garden on the lines of the one in Brindavan. Lodging and boarding facility is available for visitors free of cost here. About 50 rooms have been built to accommodate tourists, who are also served breakfast and lunch every day. Bus services are available to this place from Hubli Old Bus Terminus. Long-distance buses also stop at Navagraha Teertha on request. Auto-rickshaws are also available from the city and charge Rs 150-200 for a trip.
The swamiji has plans to construct “tirtha kundas” and other structures that would convert the place into an important pilgrim centre for Jains.
While Mahamastakabhisheka will be held at Shravanabelagola once in 12 years, the same would be conducted at Navagraha Tirtha, Varur, once after nine years, nine months and nine days.
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