Navagarh is a Jain Tirth (pilgrimage site for

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, 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 ...

) in India. It is located at the Nabai village near Sojna in central India in

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...

, just across the border from

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, and Rewa being the other major cities. Madhya Pradesh is the seco ...

. It is 65 km east from Lalitpur and 110 km north from Sagar. This ancient cite was excavated in 1959. It is the only tirth in India where the main deity is the ancient image of Lord

Aranatha Aranath was the eighteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present half cycle of time ( Avasarpini). He was also the eighth Chakravartin and thirteenth Kamadeva. According to Jain beliefs, he was born around 16,585,000 BCE. He became a siddha i.e. a l ...

, preserved in the ancient underground chamber.

Navagarh Tirth

Navagarh is a place full of natural attractive beauty being surrounded by rocky wilderness. It is famous for the exceptionally crafted life size image of Lord (

) in standing (

Kayotsarga Kayotsarga ( , pka, काउस्सग्ग ) is a yogic posture which is an important part of the Jain meditation. It literally means "dismissing the body". A tirthankara is represented either seated in yoga posture or standing in the kayo ...

) posture. It is in the

Chandela The Chandelas of Jejakabhukti was an Indian dynasty in Central India. The Chandelas ruled much of the Bundelkhand region (then called ''Jejakabhukti'') between the 9th and the 13th centuries. They belonged to the Chandel clan of the Rajputs. ...

style and finely polished. It does not have an inscription, but a fragment of a

Shantinatha Shantinatha was the sixteenth Jain tirthankar of the present age (Avasarpini). Shantinatha was born to King Vishvasena and Queen Aiira at Hastinapur in the Ikshvaku dynasty. His birth date is the thirteenth day of the Jyest Krishna month of the ...

image from the same chamber has the date samvat 1202. There are nearby prehistoric rock shelters where Jain monks used to meditate. Some of them contain prehistoric drawings.

Discovery and development

In 1940s the site was noted as a collection of ruined sculptures and a set of columns inscribed with Samvat 1203 in a nearby village. There was a platform under a tree with a large number of ancient Jain historical relics. It was explored by Pt. Gulabchandra Pushpa, an Ayurvedic physician (later famous as a Pratishthacharya) while visiting nearby Mainwar village. The exploration yielded the image of Lord Arnath in an underground chamber, along with a number of intact as well as damages idols. In 1959, systematic development was initiated with the advice of note Jain archaeology expert

Niraj Jain Pandit Niraj Jain (31 October 1926 – 27 March 2013) was a scholar of Jainism, archaeologist, poet and speaker. His contributions to Jain studies span nearly 60 years. He was also an expert on Urdu poetry, which is unusual for a Jain scholar. H ...

of Satna. Since the spot was in a forest, it was proposed that the main image should be transported to nearby town, however it was opposed by local villagers. In 1990, an initial structure was built with a boundary wall.

Gajrath ''Panch Kalyanaka Pratishtha Mahotsava'' is a traditional Jain ceremony that consecrates one or more Jain Tirthankara icons with celebration of Panch Kalyanaka (five auspicious events). The ceremony is generally held when new Jain temple is ere ...

festivals organized in 1985 and 2011. It was decided that the image of Lord Arnath should be kept in the same underground chamber ( Bhonyra) which was accessible only though narrow staircases. A spacious chamber was excavated in front of the bhonyra allowing a large space for the worshippers. The tirth has been visited by Acharyas Vidyasagar, Vardhmansagar, Devnandi, Padmanandi, Viragsagar, Gyansagar, Vishuddhasagar, vibhavasagar as well as a number of other munis and aryikas.

Historical statues and inscriptions

In addition to the bhonyra, the compound includes two additional shrines with modern and ancient images and a sangrahalaya, where a large number of historical idols and fragments are preserved. These include idols of Lord Adinath and Lord Parshvanath from early middle age (500-1000 AD). Lower fragment of a finely polished black schist Mahavira image dated samvat 1195 (1138 AD) mentions Golapurva Mahichandra, his son Delhan and their family members. Four columns dated samvat 1202 once reused in a reservoir at Sojna are also preserved.

Development

The tirth has been developed by Pt. Gulabchandra Pushpa, who has served as a Pratishthacharya for numerous Jain temple installations, and is now overseen by his son Br. Jaikumar Jain Nishant, who is also a noted Pratishthacharya.आय की 10 प्रतिशत राशि दान दें: आचार्यश्री, Amar Ujala, 03 Feb 2016
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Facilities

There are 20 rooms in the Hospice (Dharmashala). There is a Canteen (Bhojanshala) available for delicious food.

Location and nearby tirths

Atishaya Kshetra:

Paporaji Paporaji, also called Pampapur, a temple site in Madhya Pradesh, India, 5 km east of Tikamgarh. The site is a center for the Jainism, Jain religion. This is an atishaya kshetra ("miraculous holy place"), with 108 shrines. History Poporaji ...

30 km, Siddha Kshetra

Aharji Aharji is a historical pilgrimage site for Jainism in India. It is located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on the road from Tikamgarh to Chhatarpur. This place is famous for Jain Temple. Aharji Jain Teerth Aharji is a place full ...

55 km, Siddha Kshetra Drongiri 55 km, Siddha Kshetra Badagaon 15 km.

Gallery

File:UndergroundNavagarh.jpg, Underground chamber in Navagarh File:NavagarhPushpaJi.jpg, Bust of Pratistha Pitamah Gulabchandra Pushpa, founder and developer File:NavagarhBhattaraka.jpg, Fragment with inscription mentioning a

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 ...

with a pichchhi File:NavagarhGolapurva.jpg, Mahavira image installed by Golapurva Mahichandra File:AdinathNavagarhMadhyakal.jpg, Adinath image in Navagarh from early Middle age File:RockShelterNavagarh.jpg, Rock Shelter used by Jain monks at Navagarh File:Navagarh Arishay Kshetra Map.jpg, Route to reach Navagarh Atishaya Kshetra File:AF1QipPce1ezKzsfIMzGB3Q1igxd8fMZ9Ok85rNkZ3xn=w720-h1212.jpg, Honorific(MaanStambh) Navagarh Teerth

References

External links

* {{Jainism Topics History of Madhya Pradesh Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh 12th-century Jain temples Lalitpur district, India