Shri Mahavirji
Shri Dig. Jain Atishaya Kshetra Mahaveerji Place & Post – Mahaveerji, Taluka – Karauli, Dist. – Karauli (Raj.) Pin – 322220 Phone 07469-224323, 224410, 224960 Fax 07469-224960 E-mail – ShriMahaveerji@redifmail.com, ShriMahaveerji@hotmail.com
Shri Mahaveerji Atishaya Kshetra is famous all over the world for Bhagwan Mahaveer’s miraculous idol discovered from the earth 400 years ago. This Kshetra is situated at Chandangaon near river Gambheer in district Karauli of Rajasthan, the biggest state of India. About the appearance of this miraculous idol of Bhagwan Mahaveer, it is said that about 400 years ago, a leather Man’s cow returned to home after giving up her milk on the top of a hillock.
This was continued for several days. So one day the leather man followed the cow and saw this miracle by his own eyes. Then he decided to dig the place to know the secret of hillock. As he started digging, he heard a voice “dig carefully”. So he became more careful in digging and thus this magnificent coral colored idol of Bhagwan Mahaveer came out of the earth.
The idol is made of sand stone in Padmasana posture. As soon as the news of this event spread, large number of devotees started coming here from every where. The desires of pilgrims were materialized after visiting & worship of Bhagwan Mahaveer’s miraculous idol. Thus the Kshetra Mahaveerji became famous even up to distant places.
Now a days Shri Mahaveerji Atishaya Kshetra is one of the most popular Kshetras of Jains. Getting impressed by this miraculous Bhagwan Mahaveer’s idol, Shri Amar Chand Bilala of Baswa (Jaipur) constructed a vast & magnificent temple here. When the time came to install this idol in temple, idol became immovable.
So many efforts were made but all in vain. In the last, the leather man was called to install the idol, as the leather man touched idol, this became movable and thus this was installed in the temple properly. Now a days also thousands of devotees come here getting attracted by the miracles of Bhagwan Mahaveer’s idol, irrespective of cast, faith & religion and get satisfied with their desires materialized.
Main Temple & Idol : The main temple of Shri Mahaverji Atishaya Kshetra is vast & magnificent ornamented with so many pinnacles. This temple is surrounded by Dharmashalas (Guesthouses). The premises of Dharmashalas surrounding the temple is called Katla. In the center of Katla, main temple is situated. The entrance gate of Katla is very attractive and magnificent.
The temple is decorated with three sky high pinnacles. As one enters the main gate, there comes a rectangular ground and then there are seven beautiful gates to enter the Mahamandapa. After entering the temple we found a big shrine before us. An idol of Bhagwan Mahaveer resembling to the miraculous principal deity and two other idols are installed here.
In Garbh Griha (Central Room of Temple), on the main shrine, the miraculous idol of Bhagwan Mahaveer in Padmasana posture, coral colored made of sand stone is installed with Bhagwan Pushp Danta in right side and Bhagwan Adinath’s idol in left side. There are so many agreeable ancient idols of other Teerthankaras, installed in this temple.
Exterior & interior walls of the temple are richly decorated with beautiful carvings and golden paintings to improve the attraction, impression and glory of temple. 16 mythological scenes are carved beautifully on the outer walls of temple. The sculpture of temple shows an exquisite beauty of execution and a high degree of skill.
In the front of main gate of temple a 52 feet high Manstambha (Column of dignity) is standing, this is very beautiful and attractive. Four Teerthankar idols are installed at the top of Manstambha in all directions.
Nearby places:
Rail- Mahaveerji is Railway Station on Dehli Mumbai Railway line. Station is 7 KM ahead from kshetra. Nearest Airport- Delhi, Jaipur, Agra. Nearby Places : Jaipur 140 KM, Agra (Taj Mahal) 165 KM, Tijara 205 KM, Mathura (Chaurasee) 145 KM.