Mansurpur Chota Jain Mandir
It is about June 13, 2023, when the priest saw a pair of Nag-Nagin (male and female snake) in a dream.
Despite there being no Jain community in the area, the temple is run smoothly by the temple committee. The members of the temple committee are as follows :
Introduction
Shri 1008 Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra, also known as Chota Mandir Ji, is located 15 kilometers away from district Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) in the village Mansurpur. The temple is approximately 600 years old. Here, the Moolnayak Pratima (main deity’s idol) is of Shri 1008 Parshvanath Bhagwan, which is nearly 1200 years old, along with the idol of Shri Neminath Bhagwan, which is likely more than 400 years old. It is a truly remarkable site. The temple is constructed in a beautiful and captivating manner. As soon as you arrive at the temple, the grandeur of the main entrance and the craftsmanship will give you a sense of spiritual experience. Not only that, the entire courtyard of the temple is constructed with a combination of white and red colors, presenting an unique blend. At the top of the temple, there is a tall Shikhar (spire), which is of immense size. In front of the Shikhar, above the main entrance of the temple, there are two yellow-colored lions, symbolizing the glory and magnificence of "Ahimsa Paramo Dharma" (Non-violence is the highest virtue).
On the outer walls of the temple, you'll observe beautiful craftsmanship along with an ancient and popular wooden overhang, traditionally made of wood, which adds to the ancient and beautiful appearance of the temple. Nowadays, such wooden overhangs are rarely seen. As you enter the temple and climb the stairs barefoot, you'll notice the beams on the temple's roof, giving you an idea of its antiquity. Upon further ascent, you'll enter the Garbh Grah (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple. Here, there is a raised Vedi (altar) with three main idols of Shri 1008 Parshvanath Bhagwan. One of these idols, made of Ashtadhatu (eight metals), is approximately 1200 years old, while the other two idols are made of stone. Additionally, there are idols of Shri 1008 Shitalnath Bhagwan, Shri 1008 Shantinath Bhagwan, Shri 1008 Shreyansnath Bhagwan, Shri 1008 Neminath Bhagwan, Shri 1008 Vasupujya Bhagwan, and the Chaubisi Pratima. Nearby the idols, there is a Bhamandal, which is believed to be around 600 to 700 years old.
Atishay Katha
The people of the Mansurpur Jain community believe that if you visit here once and have darshan, then all your desires will be fulfilled just by darshan. The temple’s priest, Jinendar Kumar Shastri, has given several examples of people who, just by having darshan, became doctors or engineers. The priest shared from his experience that his son was not doing well in studies at all. However, since his son came here for darshan, there has been a change in his life. He started showing interest in studies and began studying with great dedication. The priest's son took the B.Tech exam and topped it. The priest believes that all of this is the fruit of service. Not only this, but the priest recently shared an extraordinary incident with him.
“It is about June 13, 2023, when the priest saw a pair of Nag-Nagin (male and female snake) in a dream.”
The pair of Nag-Nagin told the priest that they had been stuck on the Shikhar (spire) of the temple for the last 4 months. The pair asked the priest to get them out from there and also said not to look back after getting them out. The priest reached the spot in the morning and found a real pair of Nag-Nagin stuck there. The length of the Nag was about 7 feet, and the length of the Nagin was about 5 feet. As soon as the priest attempted to remove them, they shrank in size and then came down. This is a very extraordinary incident. Since this incident, the priest's devotion and dedication to the temple have increased.
Dharamshala
It is believed that at one time, there used to be a Jain community with 364 families in this area. However, today there is not a single Jain household remaining here. Over time, with the increasing Muslim population in the area and the rapidly growing incidents of theft and robbery, as well as concerns for the future of their children, gradually the faces of all Jain families turned towards the cities. However, during specific worship festivals, all Jain families gather together in the temple. There is a large hall in the courtyard of the temple. There are four rooms for staying in the temple, with a joint bathroom. There is also a provision for a dining hall in the temple. If you are coming to the temple only for darshan and want to eat pure food, arrangements for that will also be made here. There is a large hall in the temple that is available for religious ceremonies, weddings, etc. This hall is given to Jain families, and not only that, but also major programs of discourse by saints are held in this hall. A short distance from the temple is the Shri 1008 Digambar Jain Bada Mandir, whose benefits you can also avail yourself of.
History
The area of Muzaffarnagar is 4049 square kilometers. Muzaffarnagar is located approximately 116 kilometers away from Delhi in the western part of Uttar Pradesh, bordering Haryana and Rajasthan. It is situated between Saharanpur and Meerut districts in the doab of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers under Saharanpur division, near National Highway 58. This region is significant for various religious sites. Several pilgrimage places are located in this region, such as Shukartaal, Tanda, Amba Bara, Bhithauda, and Mandira Ghat, among others. The festivals and fairs here are also important cultural events. The district boasts several ancient palaces and royal residences, which hold historical significance and are quite popular among tourists. Hindi and Urdu are the primary languages spoken here, but other languages like Haryanvi and Rajasthani are also used.
Muzaffarnagar is an important industrial city known for its sugar, steel, paper, and handloom industries, particularly renowned for women's suits made from silk and hand embroidery. Along with sugarcane, grains are the major agricultural produce of this area. The majority of the population here is engaged in agriculture, constituting more than 70% of the district's total population. Muzaffarnagar's jaggery market is the largest in Asia. Muzaffarnagar produces the highest amount of sugarcane in India, and it also has the highest number of sugar mills.
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Despite there being no Jain community in the area, the temple is run smoothly by the temple committee. The members of the temple committee are as follows :