Jain Yatra
Mahavira was born here, renounced here and died here
What it is
The twenty-fourth Tirthankara's whole life is inside Bihar. Born at Kundalpur near Vaishali, he gave up everything in his thirties, spent twelve years in silence and wandering, taught for thirty more, and attained nirvana at Pawapuri. The lake temple there stands where he was cremated.
Why it matters
For Jains these are not monuments, they are kalyanak sites -- the five auspicious events of a Tirthankara's life, each with a place. Two of Mahavira's five are in Bihar, and so is Vasupujya's nirvana at Champapuri and Parshvanatha's ground at Rajgir.
You will understand
- What a kalyanak is, and why the site matters more than the building
- Why the Jal Mandir stands in the middle of a lake
- The difference between the Digambara and Shvetambara temples you will pass
- Best season
- Oct - Mar
- Days for the whole yatra
- 3
The stops
- Pavapuri (Jal Mandir): The Jal Mandir, in a lotus lake, where Mahavira was cremated. The centre of the circuit.
- Samosharan Temple, Pawapuri: The hall shaped like the assembly he is said to have preached from.
- Gaon Mandir, Pawapuri: The village temple marking where he gave his last sermon.
- Jain temples, Kundalpur: His birthplace by the Digambara account, a short drive from Nalanda.
- Kshatriyakund: His birthplace by the Shvetambara account, on a hill above Lachhuar. A climb.
- Lachhuar Jain Temple: The base temple below Kshatriyakund, and the older of the two.
- Bhagwan Mahavir Janma Bhoomi, Basokund: Basokund, near Vaishali, the third claim on his birth.
- Jain temples on the five hills of Rajgir: Twenty-six temples across Rajgir's five hills. A full day on foot.
- Veerayatan: A modern Jain campus at Rajgir with a museum of the Tirthankaras' lives.
- Son Bhandar Caves: Two rock-cut chambers below Vaibhara, Jain in origin, with a Brahmi inscription.
- Champapuri: Where Vasupujya, the twelfth Tirthankara, attained nirvana. Bhagalpur.
- Vasupujya Jain Temple, Mandar Hill: Mandar Hill, which both Jains and Hindus hold sacred, for different reasons.
- Kamaldah Jain Temple: Patna's oldest Jain temple, in a garden most of the city has never visited.
- Shri Gunawan Ji Tirth: Gonawan, where Gautam Swami is said to have reached omniscience.
- Shvetambara Jain temple, Nalanda: Beside the ruins, marking Mahavira's rainy seasons at Nalanda.
Experiences on this yatra
- Diwali at Pawapuri: For Jains, Diwali is the night Mahavira attained nirvana — here
Know before you go
- Leather is not carried into most of these temples
- Pawapuri, Kundalpur and Rajgir are one comfortable day from Nalanda
- Champapuri is at Bhagalpur, a separate leg east
Questions pilgrims ask
How many days does the Jain Yatra take?
3 days is right for most families. It can be done in 1, or stretched to 6.
When is the best time for the Jain Yatra?
Oct - Mar.
Which places are on the Jain Yatra?
Pavapuri (Jal Mandir), Samosharan Temple, Gaon Mandir, Jain temples, Kshatriyakund, Lachhuar Jain Temple, Bhagwan Mahavir Janma Bhoomi, Jain temples on the five hills of Rajgir, Veerayatan, Son Bhandar Caves, Champapuri, Vasupujya Jain Temple, Kamaldah Jain Temple, Shri Gunawan Ji Tirth, Shvetambara Jain temple.
What should I know before the Jain Yatra?
Leather is not carried into most of these temples. Pawapuri, Kundalpur and Rajgir are one comfortable day from Nalanda. Champapuri is at Bhagalpur, a separate leg east.
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