Sonagiri Jain Siddha Kshetra
The Jain temples of Sonagiri located in Datia are a sacred pilgrimage site for the Jain Digambar community.
Due to Sonagiri Sidha Kshetra significance in Jainism, it has become a central hub of people's faith. For the conservation of the area, the Shri Digambar Jain Siddha Kshetra Sonagiri Conservation Committee has been formed, whose members are as follows :
Introduction
Sonagiri is located 60 kilometers from Gwalior and 15 kilometers from Datia district in Madhya Pradesh. Sonagiri Sidha-Kshetra is an important Jain pilgrimage site. According to Jain scriptures, the Samavasaran of the eighth Tirthankar, Shri Chandraprabhu Bhagwan, has descended here seventeen times. Since the time of Shri Chandraprabhu Bhagwan, more than five crores of Saints have attained Moksha from this place. Various saints like Nang, Anang, Chintagati, Poornachand, Ashok Sain, Shridatt, Swarn Bhadra, and many others have attained Moksha in this region.
There are a total of 77 temples on the hills of Sonagiri. Among these, the 57th temple is the main Temple. Between the 5th and 6th centuries, there is a 3-meter high idol of Shri Chandra Prabhu Bhagwan Ji enshrined here. Beautiful idols of Shri Shitalnath Bhagwan and Shri Parshvanath Bhagwan ji are also enshrined in this temple. A huge hall has been constructed nearby. A manastambha has been erected near the temple, which is 43 feet high. Like Kundalpur, Girnar Jain Mandir, Dilwara Mandir and Shikhar Ji, Sonagiri Mandir is also known for its rich architecture. This place is considered sacred by devotees.
According to a legend, there were two brothers named Shubh Chandra and Bhratrihari. Shubhchandra became a Digambar Saint, while Bhratrihari became a practitioner of Vedic religion. Sadhu Bhratrihari acquired knowledge from his guru, which, when applied to a stone, would turn it into gold. Some time later, when Sadhu Bhratrihari learned about his brother Shubhchandra's Digambar state and saw his impoverished condition, he was deeply saddened. Sadhu Bhratrihari offered the knowledge to his brother Shubh Chandra to alleviate his poverty, but Shubhchandra refused to accept it. Angry, Sadhu Bhratrihari asked Shubhchandra what he had achieved in so many years. At that moment, observing his brother's ignorance, Sadhu Shubhchandra took a handful of soil, uttered the name of Shri Chandraprabhu Bhagwan and placed it on a stone, turning it into gold. From this incident, the mountain came to be known as Swarnagiri, which is now known as Sonagiri. Acharya Shubhchandra and Bhratrihari lived here for their spiritual pursuits. It was here in Sonagiri that Acharya Shubhchandra and Rishi Bhratrihari attained nirvana and composed many scriptures.
In the Sidha-Kshetra of Sonagiri, there are 16 Jain temples dedicated to the 22nd Tirthankar Shri Neminath Bhagwan, 14 temples dedicated to the 1st Tirthankar Shri Adinath Bhagwan, 13 temples dedicated to the 23rd Tirthankar Shri Parshvanath Bhagwan, 11 temples dedicated to Shri Chandra Prabhu Bhagwan Ji, and 7 temples dedicated to the 24th Tirthankar Shri Mahavir Bhagwan ji. All these temples are ancient. In 2005, under the inspiration of Acharya Shri Gyan Sagar Maharaj Ji, the construction of the Nandishwar Dweep Jain Mandir was undertaken in the Sonagiri Sidha-Kshetra. In the Nandishwar Dweep Jain temple, 52 temples dedicated to Shri Nandi and Panch Meru have been constructed. In the Sinawal village located at the foothills of the Sonagiri Parvat, there are also 27 Jain temples. There is an entrance gate to the Sidha-Kshetra in Sinawal village. Visitors enter through this gate and visit the temple complex, starting from 1st temple and reaching to the 57th temple dedicated to Shri Chandra Prabhu Bhagwan Ji and then return through the same gate after visiting the other temples on the way.
Dharamshala
In the Sinawal village situated at the foothills of the Sidha-Kshetra Sonagiri, there are also other Jain temples and Jain Dharmshala established. Every year, devotees keep arriving at the Siddha-Kshetra. For the convenience of pilgrims, 32 Dharamshala have been constructed. The area has 300 deluxe and 100 AC rooms available with services. Free food arrangements have also been made in the area. Additionally, a Jain pharmacy has been set up where medicines are provided free of cost. There is also a bus service available directly from the bus station to the Sonagiri Sidha-Kshetra for the convenience of pilgrims.
History
Datia city is located 16 miles away from Jhansi on the Jhansi-Gwalior road. It was founded in the 16th century by the valiant Bundela king Veer Singh Ju Dev of Bundelkhand. Situated near the border of Uttar Pradesh, close to Gwalior, Datia is a popular pilgrimage site in Madhya Pradesh. It is surrounded by Bhind and Jalaun in the north, Shivpuri and Jhansi in the south, Samthar and Jhansi in the east, and Gwalior in the west. The main rivers in the region are the Sindhu and Pahuj.
“The Jain temples of Sonagiri located in Datia are a sacred pilgrimage site for the Jain Digambar community.”
It was here that King Nanganag attained Moksha along with 5 crore followers. The temples here are very popular among devotees and saints. They come here to practice Moksha and self-discipline.
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Due to Sonagiri Sidha Kshetra significance in Jainism, it has become a central hub of people's faith. For the conservation of the area, the Shri Digambar Jain Siddha Kshetra Sonagiri Conservation Committee has been formed, whose members are as follows :