Sonagiri

Sonagiri Jain Tirth
  • सोनागिरी (Hindi)
  • Shri Digamber Jain Siddha Shetra Sonagiri
Sonagiri Jain Tirth
Basic information
Location Datia, Datia district, Madhya Pradesh
Affiliation Jainism
Deity Chandraprabhu
Festivals Mahavir Jayanti
Governing body Shri Dig. Jain Siddha Shetra Sonagiri Samrakshini Committee
Date established 9th century
Temple(s) 103

Sonagiri (Hindi: सोनागिरी) about 60 km from Gwalior, has scores of Jain temples of the 9th and 10th century. It is located in the Datia district of Madhya Pradesh, India. This location is popular among devotees and ascetic saints to practice self-discipline, austerity and to attain Moksha (salvation or liberation).

Etymology

In Hindi, Sonagiri means a mountain ('giri') of gold ('sona').[1][2]

Significance

Image of Chandraprabhu Bhagwan at Sonagiri.

According to Jain texts, since the time of Chandraprabhu (the 8th Teerthankar), five and half crores of ascetic saints have achieved moksha (liberation) here. The place is considered sacred by devotees. There is a rock cut image of Chandraprabhu dating back to 5th to 6th century.[3] The Samavsharan of Bhagwan Chandraprabhu came here seventeen times. Nang, Anang, Chintagati, Poornachand, Ashoksen, Shridatta, Swarnbhadra and many other saints achieved salvation here. This is a unique place known as Laghu Sammed Shikhar covering the area of 132 acres of two hills. There are 77 Jain temples with high spires, Temple number 57 is the main temple among them. Acharya Shubh Chandra and Bhartrihari lived and worked here for spiritual achievements.

Main Temple and Idol

Temple Number 57 is the main temple. This is vast in size and possess an attractive artistic spire. In this temple the principal deity is Lord Chandraprabha, 11 feet in height and two other idols of Lord Sheetalnath and Parsvanatha are installed. There is a column of dignity (Manstambh) near the temple at 43 feet in height and a model of Samavsharan.

Location

Sonagiri can be accessed via Dabra-Datia Road. This also lies on Gwalior-Jhansi Road. Sonagiri Railway Station lies on Agra-Jhansi rail line.

See also

Reference

  1. ↑ Abhithakuchalambal (2016-01-05). Tales Told to the Tooth Goddess. Partridge Publishing. p. 374. ISBN 9781482819656.
  2. ↑ "On a spiritual quest". Deccan Herald. 2015-03-28. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  3. ↑ Titze, Kurt; Bruhn, Klaus (1998). Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-violence. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 128. ISBN 9788120815346.

Continued Reading

  • Titze, Kurt; Bruhn, Klaus (1998). Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence (2 ed.). Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 81-208-1534-3.
  • kuchalambal, Abhitha (2016), Tales Told to the Tooth Goddess, Partridge Publishing, ISBN 9781482819656
  • Mallick, Anurag; Ganapathy, Priya (2015), On a spiritual quest, Deccan Herald


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