Navagraha Jain Temple

Navagraha Jain Temple or Navagraha Teertha or Navagraha Tirtha is situated at Varur near Hubli, Karnataka. Navagraha Teertha is one of the major pilgrim spots for the Jain community in India. The temple features a 61 feet (18.6 m) tall monolithic idol of the Shri 1008 Bhagavan Parshvanatha and the smaller statues of the other 8 Jain teerthankaras. The statue is the tallest statue of the Jain deity Parshvanatha in India and weighs 185 tons. The statue stands on a 48-foot (14.6-m) high pedestal(109 feet total).[1]

Navagraha Jain Temple
Religion
AffiliationJainism
DeityParshvanatha
FestivalsMahamastakabhisheka, Mahavir Jayanti
Location
LocationHubli, Karnataka, India
Location within Karnataka
Geographic coordinates15°12′56.46″N 75°8′31.68″E
Architecture
CreatorSri Gunadhar Nandi Maharaj
Date established2006
Temple(s)1
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Monolithic statue

The construction of Navagraha Teertha began in January 2005 and the carving of the monolithic statues were completed in one year. The work was supervised by Sri Gunadhar Nandi Maharaj and supported by Sri Dharmasena Bhattaraka swamiji and volunteers.[2]

Navagraha Teertha, which is located at Varur, a village just 29 km from Hubli-Dharwad city, has become an important place on the tourism map of the state, drawing huge crowds from all over the country. Navagraha Teertha, which is spread over 45 acres adjacent to the Pune-Bangalore Road, was set up by the Jain community with the help of people from other communities. It has been established largely through the efforts of Shri Gunadhar Nandi Maharaj. It houses the 61 feet (19 m), 185-tonne monolithic statue of Shri Parshvanatha Teerthankar in the Kayotsarga posture mounted on a 48 feet (15 m) pedestal making its total height 109 feet (33 m).

It is believed that the graha doshas of nine planets can be conciliate by worshiping following nine tirthankars :[3]

S. No.TirthankarPlanet
1 Padmaprabhu Sun
2 Chandraprabhu Moon
3 Māllīnātha Mercury
4 Pushpadanta Venus
5 Vasupujya Mars
6 Mahavira Jupiter
7 Munisuvrata Saturn
8 Neminatha Rahu
9 Parshvanath Ketu

The monolithic statue of lord Parshwanth is not only very attractive but also larger than the statue of Gommateshwara or Lord Bahubali in Shravanabelagola. The statues of the teerthankars in Navagraha Teertha can be seen even up to 4 km (2.5 miles) away on the national highway while exiting the tapovan flyover exit near Varur on the Pune-Bangalore Road. Being in the city limit of Hubli Dharwad it is easy to reach there from any point of the city.

Accommodation

With the heavy inflow of tourists, a Yatri Nivas is being constructed here at a cost of Rs 5 crore. There are also plans to set up a musical fountain and garden on the lines of the one in Brindavan. Lodging and boarding facility is available for visitors free of cost here. About 50 rooms have been built to accommodate tourists, who are also served breakfast and lunch every day. Bus services are available to this place from Hubli Old Bus Terminus. Long-distance buses also stop at Navagraha Teertha on request. Auto-rickshaws are also available from the city and charge Rs 150-200 for a trip.

See also

References
  1. Hubli gets magnificent ‘jinalaya’. The Hindu, 6 January 2009.
  2. All set for Mahamastakabhisheka of Parshwanath Teerthanka. The Hindu, 14 January 2007
  3. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Devotees-throng-Varur-for-Teertha/articleshow/1207309.cms
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