Kumbhoj Temple, Jain Pilgrimage in India
Shri Bahubali Bramhcharya and Vidyapeeth located at Kumbhoj
Bahubaliin Maharashtra is a Jain pilgrimage centre. It is an Atishaya
Kshetra i.e. place of miracles. The temple is dedicated to Lord
Bahubali.
According to history Kumbhoj is an ancient city. An ascetic
saint Shri Bahubali Maharaj lived here almost 250 years ago. He was a
renowned scholar of the science of spells. It was because of his
presence that no wild animals caused any harm to the pilgrims visiting
the holy place. The name of the place has been kept has Khambhoj
Bahubali in memory of the great saint. After the death of the saint
many other notable people visited the place. In 1851 A.D. Muni Shri
Prabhachandraji visited the kshetra. Later in 1958 Muni Shri
Kamlakarji came to this holy place. In the 20th century another great
saint Acharya, Shri 108 Shanti Sagarji came here. Thus this place
became a holy place by the foot prints of these great sages. In 1937
Chaturmas Vaktavya i.e. the Four Monthly Statement was delivered from
here. As per history it is said that the first holy pilgrimage to the
sacred place Shri Sammed Shikharji also began from here.
Bahubali Atishaya kshetra known by the Idol of Lord Bahubali
(Jain tirth place) in standing posture is situated on about 50 steps
up and 28 feet in hight; sthapana/installed in 1963. The idol is
installed close to the feet of the hill and can be seen from kms away
from the hill.This place is comes under kumbhoj village.
From the Top until the bottom of the hill there are fourteen
models of Siddha Khetras and Tirthankar Nirwaan locations. Models In
the back side of this idol there are six other you can see the models
of Gajpantha, Taranga, Mangitungi,Sonagiri and Pavagiri sidha
kshetra.On the right you can see a big Kailash Parvat models where
seventy two temples models made in cement and stone. After that you
have Girnarji depicting Prince Neminath 'Viaragya' event in front.
This is also must to have look .
On the left you see a model of Sammeed Shikharji with all the
'tonks' Below this you have eight more smaller models that depict the
other Siddha Khetra's. After coming down on the right side you have
Mahaveer Digmabar Jain 'Jal Mandir' temple. On the left you have
'Ratnatrya' Digambar Jain temple. Further down you can see more Digambar
Jain Temples with 'Samavshran Temple', '' and 'Bahubali
Temples',Sahastrakut Temple, 'Manastambha', and Acharya Shantisagar and
Acharya Samatbhadra Memorials. Temples on the hill 380 steps: Lord
Bahubali (six feet in hight) was installed in Vikram Samvat 2418. The
food supplied in Dharmshala is of good test.
On the top of this temple there is a small room were Lord
Adinath (1.10 feet) is (sthapna)installed.In front of Lord Adinath
temple a small Column of Dignity is also here. Uper side of
'Sahastrakut' Jain Temple there is another 'Gandhakuti' temple. In
this temple eight idols are installed. In 'Swayambhu Jain Temple' Lord
Adinath "3.2 feet in hight" is sthapana/installed in sitting posture.
Hill's Digambar Jain Temples: (a) Lord Bahubali Digambar Jain Temple.
(b) Lord Shantinath Digambar Jain Temple. (c) Lord Chandaprabhu
Digambar Jain Temple. (d) Lord Adinath Digambar Jain Temple. (e)
Column of Dignity. Swadhyay Bhavan, where shivirs and classes happen
all the year round is also present at the bottom of the place. More
than one thousand Students study in the Gurukul under Bahubali
University. There is heavy rush of Pilgrims all the year round. The
area with all the temples, Gurukul, Hill area, etc. is very well
maintained under and run by Digambar Jain Trusts.
