Champapuri

Shri Champapuri Tirth
Champapuri Mural at Krishnabai temple, Shri Mahavirji
Location within Bihar
Basic information
Location Bhagalpur district, Bihar
Geographic coordinates 25°14′14.7″N 86°56′30.1″E / 25.237417°N 86.941694°E / 25.237417; 86.941694Coordinates: 25°14′14.7″N 86°56′30.1″E / 25.237417°N 86.941694°E / 25.237417; 86.941694
Affiliation Jainism
Deity Vasupujya
Festivals Mahamastakabhisheka, Mahavir Jayanti
Temple(s) 12

Champapuri is a village in Bhagalpur district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the site of the ancient city of Champa, the capital of the Anga mahajanapada.

Significance

Champapuri was the capital of the king Lomapada of the Anga Kingdom of the epic Ramayana. According to the Mahabharata, Karna was mentioned as the ruler of the Anga Kingdom from Champapuri. Apart from Champa, Karna also ruled a city called Malini when was a gift to him by Jarasandha of the Magadha Kingdom.[1]

Champapuri is also believed to be birthplace of Vasupujya, the twelfth tirthankara.[2][3][4] This place is a significant location in Jainism, as it was the only place where all the five kalyanas - garbha, janma, diksha, kevalagnana and moksha kalyana - of Bhagawan Vasupujya took place. It is said that Bhagawan Adinatha, Bhagwan Parshwanatha and Bhagawan Mahavira had their monsoon stays at this place. Bhagawan Mahavira had his third and twelfth monsoon stay at this place.

Many Jain ascetics, like Muni Dharmaghosh, Muni Padmarath, Ashok and Anchal, attained salvation there, as it was a Siddhakshetra An ancient temple of Champanala is seen at this place.[5]

Archaeology

The ancient city had an occupation of the Northern Black Polished Ware culture (700-200 BCE), with a surrounding fortification and moat.[6] It was a notable centre of trade and commerce.[7]

Statue Of Vasupujya

In 2014, the tallest statue of Bhagawan Vasupujya was built and donated by Smt Sona Devi Sethi Charitable Trust based at Dimapur, Nagaland. The statue is 31 feet in height and the stone for the statue was brought all the way for Karnataka.[8][9] The Panch Kalyanak Pratishtha Mahotsav of the statue was done from 27 February 2014 to 3 March 2014. Hundreds of thousands of Jain devotees from all across the world come and visit Champapur throughout the year. This majestic addition to the Champapur Digambar Jain Temple is attracting visitors from other beliefs as well.

References

Citation

  1. ↑ Kapoor 2002, p. 200.
  2. ↑ Burgess 1874, p. 136.
  3. ↑ Dalal 2010, p. 369.
  4. ↑ Jain 2009, p. 81.
  5. ↑ http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/index.php/jainism-in-india/bihar/214-champapuri
  6. ↑ Singh 2008, pp. 384.
  7. ↑ Singh 2008, p. 262.
  8. ↑ Sarkar, Gautam (7 January 2014). "Deity gift from Nagaland". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "भगवान वासुपूज्य की पूजा कर भक्तों ने की विश्व शांति की कामना", Hindustan, 13 July 2017

Source

  • Singh, Upinder (2009). A history of ancient and early medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson Longman. ISBN 9788131716779.
  • Kapoor, Subodh (2002), Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography, 1, Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd, ISBN 9788177552980
  • Burgess, Jas (1874), Indian Antiquary, 2, Popular Prakashan
  • Dalal, Roshen (2010), The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths, Penguin Books India, ISBN 9780143415176
  • Jain, Arun Kumar (2009), Faith & Philosophy of Jainism, Gyan Publishing House, ISBN 9788178357232, retrieved 2017-10-08
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