Bawangaja

Bawangaja
Hike to Bawangaja Tirtha
Location within Madhya Pradesh
Basic information
Location Barwani, Madhya Pradesh
Geographic coordinates 21°59′46″N 74°51′43″E / 21.996°N 74.862°E / 21.996; 74.862Coordinates: 21°59′46″N 74°51′43″E / 21.996°N 74.862°E / 21.996; 74.862
Affiliation Jainism
Deity Rishabhadeva
Festivals Mahamastakabhisheka, Mahavir Jayanti
Website www.bawangaja.com
Date established 12th century
Elevation 1,219.4 m (4,001 ft)

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 largest megalithic statue (carved out of mountain) of Lord Rishabhadeva, the first Jain Tirthankara.[2] The statue is 84 feet (26 m) high.[3] It was created early in the 12th century. 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 center is located in the Satpura Range and is about 8 km from a Barwani town.

Village

Bawangaja is a medium size village, 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.[5][6] The idol stands on base of mountain just like the Gommateshwara statue of Lord Bahubali at Shravanabelagola.

Iconography

The idol of Lord Rishabhadeva is made in brown stone in Kayotsarga posture. The hands of idol are not joined with legs but are made separate. The structural art & style of this idol is unique and it is in perfect proportion. The various parts of idol are quite symmetrical. There is balanced image of all emotions like joy, mercy & separation on the face of this idol. On the left side huge idol of Bawangaja Lord Rishabhadeva the 4 armed ‘Gomukh Yaksha’ & on the right side the very artistic idol of 16 armed ‘Yakshi Chakreshvary’ is established.

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'

Chulgiri

The Chulgiri temple, also situated on the hilltop, contains two inscription 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. 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).

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Bhattacharyya 1977, p. 269.
  2. 1 2 Barwani, Madhya Pradesh, National Portal, Government of India
  3. ↑ Bawangaja Official Website, Shri Digamber Jain Siddha Kshetra Choolgiri Bawangaja Trust, Bawangajaji
  4. ↑ Bawangaja Population - Barwani, Madhya Pradesh
  5. ↑ Sharma, Bhika, "जैन सिद्ध क्षेत्र बावनगजा", Webdunia
  6. ↑ Katariya, Adesh, Ancient History of Central Asia, p. 347

References

  • Bhattacharyya, Pranab Kumar (1977), Historical geography of Madhya Pradesh from early records, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 0-8426-9091-3
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