Shri Digambar Jain Siddhakshetra, Nainagiri

Natural beauty and center of spiritual practice

Nainagiri: The Jain Pilgrimage Center at a Glance

Nainagiri (Reshandgiri) It is one of the oldest pilgrimage of Bundelkhand mentioned in Nirvankand. During the time of Lord Neminath, Acharya Shri Vardatta and five other Munivar ascetic saints attained salvation from the Siddha Shila located on this pilgrimage. Three thousand years ago on this pilgrimage  Lord Parshvanath's Samavasaran came once.

This area is situated on a hill, not so high, there are 38 huge temples on the mountain, 16 in the foothills and 2 in Mahavir Sarovar. Jal Mandir and Manstambh and Samvasaran Mandir are very beautiful and attractive. A thousand years ago, in 1050, the prestigious ancient idol is sitting on the mountain. The majestic idol of Lord Parshvanath sitting in the Chaubisi temple is very attractive and engrossing. There is a huge temple at the foothills.

2 km ahead of the area a temple in the forest appears to be very old. The eleventh temple of this area is so ancient that it is believed to have emerged from the earth about 100 years ago. According to an inscription in the temple, the year of completion was Vikram Samvat 1107. The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Parshvanath, whose height is 4 feet 7 inches. It was established in Vikram Samvat 2015. There are also 13 ancient idols installed here (11th-12th century). The first temple (11 feet high) on the hill of Bhagwan Parshvanath 'Bade Baba's Temple' Or known as Chaubisi Temple. The idols of 5 ascetic saints (Guru Dutt and others) in standing posture made of white stone are installed on one of the shrines of this temple. The second is the temple of Lord Mahavira, very beautiful, situated in the middle of a pond. The idol of the presiding deity of this temple, Lord Mahavir, is 2 feet high.

Major darshan: Bhagwan Parshwanath sitting in the Chaubisi temple, the oldest Mahavir temple,  Five ancient temples of Munisuvratnath, Shishu Parshwanath with Mother Vamadevi, Lord Parshwanath and Yuva Parshwanath and other than this the major places of interest are Siddhashila and Tapobhoomi of Acharya Varadatta, Varadatta Cave (Big), Varadatta Cave (Small), Gajraj Bajraghosh, Airavat Elephant, Sangam, hot and cold water springs, Adi Sagar (a huge lake built by the government), Acharya Varadatta Tapovan (behind the mountain), Tirthankar Van (behind Dharamshala).

Nainagiri: Shrine veneration

Here 38 Jinalayas are on top of the hill and 16 Jinalayas are near the lake in the ground. Thus the number of Jinalayas here is 56. A temple similar to Pawapuri is built in the middle of the lake. This is called Jal-Mandir. The foothill temples are built inside a rampart. This area with its natural beauty has been the center of spiritual practice. Attracted by this natural splendour, Varadatta etc. Munishwars in this lonely deserted place made it their place of meditation and after getting freedom from here gave it the pride of being Siddhakshetra.