Nemgiri (MH)
Shri Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra Nemgiri Sansthan, Nemgiri, Jintur
At post Jintur, Taluka Jintur, Parabhani 431509, Maharashtra
Phone Number(s) 02457- 220113 02459- 220123
Nemgiri is an atishay kshetra in Jintur district in the state of Maharashtra. It is said about the kshetra that at one time there were two Jain kings Yamraj and Nemiraj who ruled this place when Jintur was know as Jinpur. There were 14 Jain temples at that time.
But during invasions both the kings were killed and most of the richest temples and 100s of Jain Idols were looted and destroyed. A few of these Jain Idols were saved somehow and are preserved in the Mahavir Jain Temple in the city.
Today only two temples remain while the third was recently demolished and idols brought into the main temple. The main temple has idols from 7 of the 14 temples which existed at one time.
Around 450 years ago, Vir Sanghviji with his three sons migrated to Jintur and started restoring temples and idols and discovered a few caves at Nemgiri. Three huge idols (Neminath, Shantinath, Parswanath) were found in the caves. All of these idols were reinstated with grand Panchkalyanak in the year 1611.
Numerous Atishyas have occured in and around Nemgiri. The most important of them has been the 9 ton black idol of Parswanath Bhagwaan that was at a moment completely in air. With time it gradually came down, but today still rests on a single point while rest of it is still suspended in the air.
Caves and Idols:
- 1. Mahavir bhagwaan installed in 1610.
- 2. Adinath Idol. The peculiarity of this idol is the length of the hair that come until ear.
- 3. Shantinath Bhagwaan.
- 4. Mulnayak Neminath Bhagwaan.
- 5. Antariksha parwanath which rests on a single point.
- 6. 4.5 feet Nandishwar. However if considered as a Manastambha for for Mulnayak Neminath bhagwaan it is 16.5 feet high.
- 7. Bahubali bhagwan’s 4.45 feet idol.
- All the idols are at least 1000 years old.
Complete kshetra is in the control of the trust and many new development schemes are coming up. A full fledged dharamshala with 21 rooms and 5 halls has been completed recently. Muni nivas and Muni aahar buildings have also been completed.
Also a ‘goshahla’ has been started from the year 2000. 2011-2012 marks completion of 400 years and a grand festival is being planned by the Digambar Jain Samaj of Jintur.