Ahichchhatra Jain temples
The Ahichchhatra Jain temples is a group of Jain temples in Ahichchhatra village in Aonla tehsil of Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh. Ahichchhatra is believed to be the place where Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankar of Jainism, attained Kevala Jnana.
Ahichchhatra Jain temples | |
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![]() Shri Ahichchhatra Parshvanath Atishaya Kshetra Digamber Jain Mandir | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Jainism |
Sect | Digambara and Śvētāmbara |
Deity | Parshvanatha |
Festivals | Mahavir Jayanti, Ahichhatra Jain Mela |
Location | |
Location | Ahichchhatra, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh |
![]() ![]() Location within Uttar Pradesh | |
Geographic coordinates | 28°22′23″N 79°07′06″E |
Architecture | |
Creator | King Vasupal |
Temple(s) | 7 |
Jain tradition

The history of Ahichchhatra starts from the period of Rishabhanatha, the first tirthankara. According to Digambara belief, this place was visited by all 24 Tirthankaras. Ahichchhatra is believed to be the place where Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankar of Jainism, attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience).[1] According to the Jain texts, This places was visited by Parshvanatha during vihara and Kamath in an attempt to obstruct Parshvanatha from achieving Kevala Jnana caused continuous rain. Parshvanatha was immersed in water up to his neck and to protect him the serpent God Dharanendra held a canopy of thousand hoods over his head and the Goddess Padmavati coiled herself around his body. Following this event, the place was renamed to Ahichchhatra (transl. Serpent umbrella).[2][3][1]
Vividha Tirtha Kalpa, composed by Jinaprabha Suri in the 14th century CE, mentions Samkhyāvatǐ as earlier name of Ahichchhatra and gives description of two Jain temples dedicated to Parshvanatha in the area.[4] According to Ahicchatra-nagri-kalpa, this place was visited by Goddess Ambika.[5] Kaivalyamala, written by Jain acharya Udyotansuri in c. 778 CE,[6][7] mentions that Harigupta of the Gupta empire took diksha here.[8][9]
History
Ahichchhatra is one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas empire.[10] Ahichchhatra was considered as an important town during the visit by Hiuen Tsang in the 7th century.[11] A number of ancient Jain ayagapata was excavated from this site including the famous Namdighosa ayagapata dated early 1st century CE.[12][13] A total of 27 Jain inscriptions discovered here bears dates below c. 100 CE.[14] A number of Jain temple were discovered by Alexander Cunningham during excavation.[15]
Many idols, stupas and pillars from Kushan and Gupta period have been discovered from this place.[8]
Temples
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The temples in Ahichchhatra are built to commemorate Parshvanatha attaining Kēvalajñāna kalyāṇaka.[16][1][17]
- Digambara Jain temple
The Digambara Jain temple was initially constructed during the reign of King Vasupal. The temple was later reconstructed in 1975. The temple contains 7 vedis, one has a 6-foot (1.8 m) idol of Mahavira while others houses idols of Parshvanatha in different postures. The main idol of the temple dates back to the 10th century and is popularly known as Tikhal wale Baba.[8]
This temple is dedicated to Parshvanatha and is major Jain pilgrimage center.[18][19] According to Uttar Pradesh Tourism, Ahichhatra Jain Temple witnessed over 436,000 visitors in 2019.[20]
- Tis Chaubisi temple
The Tis Chaubisi temple was constructed in 2002 CE. The temple houses 720 idols of the 24 Tirthankaras. The mulnayak of this temple is a 13.5-foot (4.1 m) idol of Parshvanatha.[8]
- Bhagwan Parshvanath-Padmavati temple
The Bhagwan Parshvanath-Padmavati temple was constructed in 2007 CE. The temple houses an idol of Parshavantha in the centre with idols of Dharanendra and Padmavati on either side.[8]
- Chaubisi temple
The Chaubisi temple is build near the old Digambara Jain temple in area of 17,500 square metres (188,000 sq ft).[8]
- Shwetambar Jain temple
The Shwetambar temple is a beautiful structure known for its unique architecture. The temple is made of buff sandstone and houses a thousand images of the Jain pantheon.[8]
Both Digambara and Shwetambar Jain temple also has a dharamshala equipped with all modern facilities and bhojnalaya.[8]
Fair
Ahichhatra Jain Mela is the primary festival of this temple and is organized annually in March.[19]
Gallery
- Bhagwan Parshvanath-Padmavati temple
- Tis Chaubisi temple
- Ahichchhatra ancient village temple
- Ahichchhatra Digambar Lal temple
- Digamabar Jain temple murals
References
Citation
- UP tourism & Ahicchatra, p. 2.
- Law 1942, p. 15.
- Kapoor 2002, p. 17.
- Law 1942, p. 21.
- Tiwari 1989, pp. 26–27.
- Paniker 1997, p. 453.
- Mahapatra 1989, p. 350.
- UP tourism & Ahicchatra, p. 3.
- Shah 1987, p. 277.
- Malik 2016, p. 76.
- Kapoor 2002, p. 16.
- Smith 1901, p. 48.
- Quintanilla 2000, p. 126.
- Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1903, pp. 5–6.
- Cunningham 1885, p. 104.
- Law 1942, p. 22.
- UP tourism & Uttar Pradesh: A to Z, p. 32.
- Jain 2008, p. 64.
- UP tourism & Uttar Pradesh: A to Z, p. 31.
- UP tourism & Year-wise Tourist Statistics.
Sources
- Cunningham, Alexander (1885). Report of a Tour in Eastern Rajputana in 1882-83. Archaeological Survey of India. Vol. 20. Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing.
- Jain, Lakshmi (2008). Dropout of Girl-child in Schools. Northern Book Centre. ISBN 9788172112448.
- Kapoor, Subodh (2002). Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography. Vol. 1 (Second ed.). New Delhi: Cosmo Publication. ISBN 9788177552980.
- Law, Bimala Churn (1942). Panchalas and their capital Ahichchhatra (PDF). Memories of the Archaeological Survey of India. Vol. 67. Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- Malik, Malti (2016). Diamond Historical Atlas. New Delhi: New Saraswati House India. ISBN 9788173354991.
- Mahapatra, B. P. (1989). Constitutional languages. The Written Languages of the World: A Survey of the Degree and Modes of Use. Vol. 1. Québec: Université Laval. ISBN 9782763771861.
- Paniker, K. Ayyappa (1997). Constitutional languages. Medieval Indian Literature. Vol. 1. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 9788126003655.
- Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2000). "Āyāgapaṭas: Characteristics, Symbolism, and Chronology". Artibus Asiae. 60 (1). doi:10.2307/3249941. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1903). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
- Smith, Vincent Arthur (1901). The Jain Stûpa and Other Antiquities of Mathurâ. New Imperial series. Vol. 20. F. Luker, superintendent Government Press.
- Shah, Umakant Premanand (1987). Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography. Delhi: Abhinav Publications. ISBN 81-7017-208-X.
- Tiwari, Dr. Maruti Nandan Prasad (1989). Ambika in Jaina Art and Literature. Bharatiya Jnanpith.
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism. "Uttar Pradesh: A to Z" (PDF). Uttar Pradesh Tourism.
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism. "Year-wise Tourist Statistics". Uttar Pradesh Tourism.
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism. "Ahicchatra" (PDF). Uttar Pradesh Tourism.
Bibliography
- Tandon, O. P. (1986). Jaina Shrines in India. Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. ISBN 9788123024547.
External links
Media related to Ahichchhatra Jain temples at Wikimedia Commons