Bara Mandir (हनुमान-ताल मन्दिर) is a historic

Jain Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

temple in

Jabalpur Jabalpur is a city situated on the banks of Narmada River in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. According to the 2011 census, it is the third-largest urban agglomeration in Madhya Pradesh and the country's 38th-largest urban agglomeration. J ...

, right on the edge of Hanumantal, once the main center of Jabalpur.

History

Bhattaraka A Bhaṭṭāraka ( pka, भट्टारक "holy one") heads traditional Digambara Jain institutions. He is responsible for training scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing endowments, presiding over installation ceremonies and running ...

Harichandrabhushan of

Sonagiri Sonagiri ( hi, सोनागिरी) or Swarnagiri about 60 km from Gwalior, has scores of Jain temples dating from the 9th century onwards. It is located in the Datia district of Madhya Pradesh, India. This location is popular among ...

, belonging to the

Balatkara Gana Balatkara Gana is an ancient Jain monastic order. It is a section of the Mula Sangh. It is often termed ''Balatkara Gana Sarasvati Gachchha''. Until the beginning of the 20th century it was present in a number of places in India. However all it ...

division of

Mula Sangha ''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major Jain schools and branches, schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvētāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic practi ...

conducted pratishas in 1834, 1839, and 1840. Bhattaraka Charichandrabhushan conducted pratishthas in 1866, 1867 and 1889. The bhattarakas of Sonagiri also administered the nearby Jain center of Panagar, where Narendrabhushan installed images in 1797, Surendrabhushana conducted pratishtha in 1822, and Acharyabhushan in 1838. The temple houses several images from the

Kalachuri The Kalachuris (IAST: Kalacuri), also known as Kalachuris of Mahishmati, were an Indian dynasty that ruled in west-central India between 6th and 7th centuries. They are also known as the Heheya Kingdom, Haihayas or as the Early Kalachuris to d ...

period (10-12th century), including an ornately crafted image of Lord Adinath. It also has many Mughal period,

Maratha The Marathi people (Marathi: मराठी लोक) or Marathis are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who are indigenous to Maharashtra in western India. They natively speak Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language. Maharashtra was formed as a M ...

period and

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

period images, along with those installed after India's Independence. The temple was visited by Acharya

Shantisagar Acharya Shri Shantisagar (1872–1955) was an Indian monk of the Digambara school of the Jain faith. He was the first Acharya (preceptor) and a leader of his sect in the 20th century. Shanti Sagar ji revived the teaching and practice of traditi ...

in 1928, the first Digambar Jain Acharya in the region after many centuries. He arrived after a

Chaturmas Chaturmasya ( sa, चातुर्मास्य, lit=Cāturmāsya), also rendered Chāturmāsa, is a holy period of four months, beginning on Shayani Ekadashi—the eleventh day of the bright half, Shukla paksha, of Ashadha (fourth month of ...

in Katni and left for damoh. He later commented that the temple was built like a fortress.

Architecture

The temple appears like a fortress with numerous

shikhara ''Shikhara'' (IAST: '), a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak", refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India, and also often used in Jain temples. A ''shikhara'' over the ''garbhagriha'' chamber ...

s. Originally built in 1686 CE, it was renovated in the 19th century, the temple has 22 shrines (vedis), making it the largest independent Jain temple in India. The images range from

period to modern times. The main room with glasswork was built in 1886 by Bholanath

Singhai Singhai (also Sanghvi,sangoi, Shanghvi, Shingavi or Singhi from Sanskrit Sanghapati (संघपति), literally chief of the Sangha) is a hereditary title awarded in the past to leaders of the Jain Sangha. Among the Digambara Jains the title ...

, who also helped initiate the first two

Hitkarini Sabha Hitkarini Sabha ( hi, हितकारिणी सभा) is a historic, educational, non-profit organization located in the city of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is runs some of the oldest academic institutions in the region. It was ...

schools. The main room contained the only image of the Jain Goddess,

Padmavati Padmāvatī may refer to: Deities * Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of fortune * Alamelu, or Padmāvatī, a Hindu goddess and consort of Sri Venkateshwara of Tirupati * Manasa, a Hindu serpent goddess * Padmavati (Jainism), a Jain attendant goddess ( ...

, that is still worshipped in central India. After extensive rebuilding of the internal structure of the temple inspired by Jain Muni Shri Sudhasagar ji, the image was shifted to a cabinet on one side. The idol was found missing on the night of 16th May, 2022. A police investigation revealed that the trustees had decided to remove the image from the temple. It is the main Jain temple in Jabalpur, the annual Jain procession on the birthday of

Lord Mahavira Mahavira (Sanskrit: महावीर) also known as Vardhaman, was the 24th ''tirthankara'' (supreme preacher) of Jainism. He was the spiritual successor of the 23rd ''tirthankara'' Parshvanatha. Mahavira was born in the early part of the 6t ...

starts from here and terminates at Bada Fuhara. Daily shastra-sabha and evening classes are held. The temple has been renamed Shasanodaya Jain Tirth. In May 2022, a Panchkalyana Pratishtha was organized with culminated in a Gajrath celebration on May 9, 2022.Panchkalyanak Mahotsav : युवराज आदिकुमार का राज्याभिषेक और वैराग्य की बारह भावनाओं का सुंदर प्रदर्शन, Nai Dunia, 07 May 2022
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Nearby Jain temples in the Jabalpur area

* Jain Mandir, Bada Fuhara (Payalwala) * Jain Mandir, Lordganj * Wright Town Boarding Jain mandir * Madhiaji Jain Tirth ( Pisanhari Ki Madiya) * Bhedaghat Shantinath Dig. Jain mandir * Panagar Jain Tirth *

Bahuriband Bahuriband (or Bahoriband), near Katni in Madhya Pradesh, is a famous inscription at the feet of a colossal stone image of Jain Tirthankara Shantinath. The colossal statue is in height. Inscription The inscription reads: :संवत १� ...

* Bilahri, katni * Parasnath Jain mandir, Parar-bhata, (Pahadi) katni There are about 50 Jain temples in Jabalpur.

Photo gallery

File:Hanumantal adinath.jpg, Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir, Jabalpur, Kalchuri period Adinath image File:Hanumantal vedi.jpg, Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir, Jabalpur, vedi with

period, Mughal period and

period images File:Hanumantal padmavati.jpg, Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir, Jabalpur, Goddess Padmavati File:Hanumantal kshetrapal.jpg, Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir, Jabalpur, Kshetrapal File:Hanumantal granth.jpg, Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir, Jabalpur, sacred texts

References

External links