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Among the holiest of Jain shrines is the temple of Sri
Mahavirji near Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. Situated in the village of Chandanpur, on the
bank of the Gambhir river, Sri Mahavirji attracts thousands of devotees every year. People
come, from across India- and even abroad- to worship, to offer prayers and to seek
blessings. The legend behind the construction of this temple is rather quaint; it is
believed that a local milkman observed that his cow, after a long day’s grazing,
would return in the evening with her udders empty. Obviously puzzled, the man followed the
cow, and discovered that the creature would stand atop a nearby hillock and allow all her
milk to flow away on it. |
A little bit of digging by the milkman revealed an idol of Mahavirji
buried in the hillock. A temple was built to mark the spot and it is still, centuries
later, an important center of pilgrimage for devout Jains.
The temple, which
is dedicated to the 24th Tirthankar, Sri Digamber Jain Mahavirji, is made from
white marble and red sandstone. It consists of a large complex of small temples, the main
temple being decorated with a series of
pillared niches containing idols of the Jain saints. Within the complex is a towering 32
ft high statue of the saint Shantinath. The bustle and fervour at Sri
Mahavirji reaches its peak during March and April, when an annual fair is held at the
temple. The fair includes a ritual immersion of the sacred idol in the Gambhir river, as
well as other festivities and ceremonies.
When to go
The
period between Chaitra (March-April) and Vaishakh (April-May) is when the Sri Mahavirji
annual fair is held. It’s an occasion for great rejoicing, and definitely the best
time to visit the shrine. If you can’t make it during Chaitra or Vaishakh, try and
time your visit for the winter. Summers can be unbearably hot in Rajasthan, and it’s
really not advisable, no matter how devout you may be, to go travelling at this time.
Getting There
The nearest
railway station is that of Mahavirji (Chandanpur), 7 km from the temple. The station,
which is 175 km from the state capital at Jaipur, lies on the main Delhi-Mumbai line.
There are frequent trains from both metro cities. From the Mahavirji station, buses (free
of charge for all pilgrims) go to the temple and back.
Regular
buses connect Mahavirji to Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Jaipur, Delhi, Gwalior, Meerut and other
major cities in north India. Alternately, private cars and taxis can be hired from Jaipur,
Delhi or Agra.
Accommodation
Accommodation at Sri Mahavirji is provided by the temple trust. It’s very basic
accommodation, but clean and comfortable. Rooms cost between Rs 10 and Rs 100 a night;
food is also relatively inexpensive. Sawai Madhopur (which is 110 km from the temple) and
Jaipur (175 km away) offer a much wider range of accommodation facilities, and are close
enough for you to make a day trip to Sri Mahavirji from either of these cities.
Further information on
Sri Mahavirji can be obtained from the Sri Digamber Jain Atishaya Kshetra, Sri Mahavirji
(Chandanpur), Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.
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