Pawapuri Jal Mandir of Bhagwan Mahavir Close to Nalanda

Pawapuri Jal Mandir is a stupendous Jain temple situated near Nalanda. It actually means a temple standing within the water.

Niravan Sthali of Bhagwan Mahavir

Bhagwan Mahavir was the 24^th Jain Teerthankar who lived 5-6 centuries earlier than the frequent period. He was born in Vaishali, additionally in Bihar. At Pawapuri, he attained Nirvana on Kartik Amavasya which we additionally have a good time as Deepawali. This makes Pawapuri one of many holiest locations for the Jain group. No surprise that it attracts pilgrims from across the nation.

Bhagwan Mahavir was born to Kshatriya mother and father Siddhartha and Trishla as Vardhman. On the age of 30, he left the world to meditate and at 42, he attained enlightenment. After this, he got here to be often called Mahavir and began guiding followers on the trail of Ahimsa or non-violence amongst different virtues.

Pawapuri can be identified a Apapapuri or the place the place there aren’t any sins or Papas. One other interpretation is that those that pray right here eliminate all their sins – one thing that we affiliate with Tirtha Sthalas or sacred areas.

Visiting Pawapuri Jal Mandir

We drove to Pawapuri from historical Nalanda Ruins on our option to the New Nalanda College.  We first noticed the beautiful lake with pretty balustrades surrounding it. Slowly the temple appeared earlier than us, as if rising out of the water. In pristine white, it regarded as if it has simply taken a recent bathtub.

We skirted the lake to succeed in the doorway arch of the temple. Bang reverse the arch a brand new Jain temple is being constructed within the quintessential white marble.

We handed by the arch in pink sandstone that had a small board saying simply – Jal Mandir. This led us to the lengthy pathway connecting the gateway to the Jal Mandir. It appears to be like slender however is broad sufficient for a number of folks to stroll facet by facet. This pathway can be made in pink sandstone with pretty latticed panels on both facet.

As you stroll, your eyes see the temple in white on the finish of it. Surrounding you within the water are birds that preserve flying round. Many guests provide them meals and so they do all of the acrobats for that meals.

Jal Mandir

Contained in the temple, there are three pairs of padukas or footprints. The center one belongs to Bhagwan Mahavir. The one on the left belongs to his first disciple Indrabhuti Gautam. The correct footprints belong to his fifth disciple Sudharma Swami.

This temple marks the precise spot the place Bhagwan Mahavir was cremated.

Making of the Lake

The priest on the Pawapuri Jal Mandir instructed me that this lake was created by the devotees of Bhagwan Mahavir. I assumed they dug it to create the beautiful temple surrounded by water filled with pretty lotuses and inhabited by many birds. True, however not how I imagined it.

When Bhagwan Mahavir attained Nirvana and was cremated, devotees needed to take his ashes as his relics. Keep in mind even within the Buddhist stupas protect the relics of Buddha or Buddhist religious leaders. However, just a few devotees may get them. Remainder of them began gathering the soil after his final rites have been carried out. As they stored gathering a deep pit was created across the space.

Because it rained, it crammed up and have become a stupendous lake.

Unique temple was constructed by Nandivardhan, the elder brother of Bhagwan Mahavir in 572 BCE.  He constructed the temple by placing the padukas of Bhagwan Mahavir and constructing a temple round it. Since then, the Jain group has preserved and enhanced the temple.

In 572 BCE, Mahavir ji was right here in Pawapuri for Chaumasa or Chaturmasa – the 4 monsoon months when the monks stayed in a single place. The interval ends 11 days after Deepawali on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, however he attained Nirvana simply earlier than that. He was 72 years previous then.

Temple Structure

Essential temple stands on a raised sq. platform. You must climb a number of white marble steps to succeed in the temple. Strolling on the black and white ground, you see the sq. temple surrounded by a pillared hall throughout it. There are golden spires adorn the small domes above this pavilion.

On the bottom platform, as you stroll round for the parikrama of the temple, you may see the marble arches on all 4 sides. They’ve marble fountains, that weren’t working after I visited. Nevertheless, one can think about how lovely they’d look after they do.

On the 2 corners, there are two smaller temples. Additionally they home the padukas of various Jain Munis or saints.

The lake covers an space of 16.8 Acres and the bridge connecting the temple is about 600 toes lengthy.

Festivals

On the day of Deepawali, the day Bhagwan Mahavir attained Nirvana, a Nirvana Laddoo is obtainable right here.

Journey Ideas

Patna or Bodh Gaya are the closest airports. Rajgir is the closest railway station. There may be ample street connectivity from Patna.

You possibly can keep both at Nalanda or Rajgir to go to Pawapuri Jal Mandir.

You possibly can spend about an hour on the temple. It’s a good place to only sit and meditate, although you’d see folks creating content material throughout because the place is extraordinarily scenic.

Be courteous and don’t have interaction in any of the actions that the boards outdoors inform you to not have interaction in.

There are a lot of Jain temples round this space that you could go to other than in style locations like Nalanda, Rajgir, Gaya, Bodh Gaya, Barabar Caves and many others.

Khaja of Silao is a well-liked candy on this area that you could style.