Bawangaja

Bawangaja
Hike to Bawangaja Tirtha
Religion
AffiliationJainism
DeityRishabhadeva
FestivalsMahamastakabhisheka, Mahavir Jayanti
Location
LocationBarwani, Madhya Pradesh
Bawangaja is located in Madhya Pradesh
Bawangaja
Location within Madhya Pradesh
Geographic coordinates21°59′46″N 74°51′43″E / 21.996°N 74.862°E / 21.996; 74.862
Architecture
Date established12th century
Specifications
Temple(s)11
Elevation1,219.4 m (4,001 ft)
Website
www.bawangaja.in
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Bawangaja (meaning 52 yards)[1] is a famous Jain pilgrim center in the Barwani district of southwestern Madhya Pradesh in India. Located about 6 kilometers south of River Narmada, its main attraction is the world's second largest megalithic statue (carved out of the mountain) of Lord Rishabhadeva (largest being the Statue of Ahimsa), the first Jain Tirthankara.[2] The statue is 84 feet (26 m) high.[3] The center is located in the Satpura Range and is about 8 km from a Barwani town.

Village

Bawangaja is a small town, situated in the middle of Satpura range, five miles from the town of Barwani, Madhya Pradesh.[1] As per the 2011 Census of India, the Bawangaja village accommodates 94 families having a total population of 494 of which 242 are males while 252 are females.[4]

Statue

The 84 ft (26 m) tall megalithic statue (carved out of a single rock) of Lord Rishabhadeva (the first Tirthankara and founder of Jainism) is situated at a height of 1,219.4 m (4,001 ft), in the middle of the Satpura range.[3][5] It was created early in the 12th century.[6][7][8] The statue is supported from the back unlike the Gommateshwara statue of Lord Bahubali at Shravanabelagola, Karnataka. Along with the statue, the area has a complex of eleven temples.[2]

The idol stands on the base of the mountain just like the Gommateshwara statue of Lord Bahubali at Shravanabelagola.[citation needed] In 2020, the Mahamastakabhisheka statue will be organized with an estimate of 1.5 million devotees.[9] The repairs of the idol were carried out by Bhattaraka as per the inscription dated back to 1503 CE. The idol was again repaired in 1989/90, followed by a consecrating ceremony organized in January 1991.[10][11]

Iconography

Rishabhadeva Idol

The idol of Lord Rishabhadeva is made in brown stone in Kayotsarga posture. The hands of the idol are not joined with the legs. The structural art & style of this idol is unique and it is in perfect proportion. The various parts of the idol are quite symmetrical. There is a balanced image of all emotions like joy, mercy & separation on the face of this idol. To the left of the huge idol of Bawangaja Lord Rishabhadeva is the 4 armed Gomukha. To the right is the very artistic idol of 16 armed Chakreshvari.[citation needed]

MEASUREMENT OF THE IDOL (Details of the idol)
Total height. 84 feet.
Expansion between two hands 26 feet.
Length of hand. 46'-6 "
Length between waist and heel 47'
Circumference of head. 26'
Length of foot. 13'-09 ”
Length of nose. 03'-03 ”
Length of eye. 03'-03 ”
Length of ear. O9'-08 ”
Distance between the two ear. 17'-06 ”
Width of foot. 05'

Transport

The nearest airport is Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport in Indore.

Chulgiri

Chulgiri Jain temple, a Siddha-Kṣetra,[12][13][2] is also situated on the hilltop, contains two inscriptions dated 1166 and 1459 AD.[1] The Indrajit, Kumbhakarna & various other scholars attained emancipation through the self-meditation. The 3 ancient foot images of Indrajit, Kumbhakarna & the other are present in this temple.[10] Except foot images, the two idols of Lord Māllīnātha & Chandraprabha are installed in the main altar. Moreover, the several idols are installed on both sides in the main assembly hall (Mahamandap).[citation needed] Bawangaja Yatra, an annual fair, is organized every year on full Moon day of Hindu calendar month Pausha.[14] In 2016, Bawanga Trust had carried out several development works including restoration of the temple complex and building of a 3-story dharmshala with 108 rooms having all modern amenities.[15]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bawangaja.

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Bhattacharyya 1977, p. 269.
  2. ^ a b c Government Of India.
  3. ^ a b Shukla & Kulshreshtha 2019, p. 104.
  4. ^ census commission.
  5. ^ Katariya 2007, p. 347.
  6. ^ Bond & Wright 2006, p. 507.
  7. ^ Jain 2021.
  8. ^ Arihant Experts 2019, p. 268.
  9. ^ Arora 2019.
  10. ^ a b Titze & Bruhn 1998, p. 130.
  11. ^ Kooij 2018, p. 160.
  12. ^ Seshan 1998, p. 455.
  13. ^ Cohen 2008, p. 327.
  14. ^ Hunter 1885, p. 181.
  15. ^ Jain 2018.

Sources

Book

  • Bond, J. W.; Wright, Arnold (2006) [1922]. Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 9788120619654.
  • Bhattacharyya, Pranab Kumar (1977). Historical geography of Madhya Pradesh from early records. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 0-8426-9091-3.
  • Cohen, Saul Bernard (2008). The Columbia Gazetteer of the World: A to G. The Columbia Gazetteer of the World. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231145541.
  • Hunter, Sir William Wilson (1885). The Imperial Gazetteer of India. The Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). Trübner & Company.
  • Katariya, Adesh (25 November 2007). Ancient History of Central Asia.
  • Kooij, Karen R. Van (2018). Abia South & Southeast Asian Art. Studies from the International Institute for Asian Studies. Vol. 1. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-7103-0625-8.
  • Shukla, U. N.; Kulshreshtha, Sharad Kumar (2019). Emerging Trends in Indian Tourism and Hospitality: Transformation and Innovation. Copal Publishing Group. ISBN 9789383419760.
  • Titze, Kurt; Bruhn, Klaus (1998). Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence (2 ed.). Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 81-208-1534-3.
  • Arihant Experts (2019). Know Your State - Madhya Pradesh. Arihant Publications India limited. ISBN 9789313193265.

Web

External links

  • bawangaja.com
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