Bhojpur
Shri Shantinath Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra Bhojpur
Place & Post – Bhojpur, Taluka – Gauharganj, District – Raisen (M. P.)
Phone 07480-262225, Mobile No. – 9425681438, 9425006825
Shri Shantinath Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra Bhojpur is situated at a distance of 30 km from Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. This place is surrounded by dense forests of Vindhyachal Mountain Range. The Kshetra is famous for miraculous idol of Bhagwan Shantinath (16th Teerthankar) 22½ feet high in standing posture. This was installed here by the consent of ‘King Bhoj, the famous King of Dhar during 11th century. According to the inscription on idol, it was reverenced in year 1100 AD.
This Kshetra is also related to Acharya Mantunga, who was the writer of famous Bhaktamar Stotra. It is said that he stayed at Bhojpur and did his meditation for a long time here. The rock seat on which Acharya Mantunga sat and did his meditation is still present here. His shrine is also here. At the place of shrine, charan chinh (pair of foot) images is reverenced. At a distence of 13 km from Dhara, in the village ‘Ahu’, ruins of 48 pillars may be seen where Acharya were kept during prison.
Later on a huge temple of Bhagwan Shantinath was constructed here by the consent of King Bhoj and 22½ feet high standing idol of Bhagwan Shantinath was installed in the huge sanctum of temple. This huge temple was built in year 1100 AD. The miraculous idol of principal deity Bhagwan Shantinath in standing posture (22½ feet in height) is installed in the huge sanctum of this temple. On the both sides of this idol, 2 standing beautiful idols of Bhagwan Parshvanath & Suparshvanath (7th Teerthankar) 8 feet in height each are installed. Near the feet of Bhagwan Shantinath, artistic whisk bearers are carved on both sides.