Jainism a prominent religion on india flourished in Bihar. This is a sacred destination as the birth place of the 12th Tirthankara Vasupuriya and 24th Tirthankara Mahavira spent most of his time around this region and attained Mahaparinirvana at pawapuri which has become the most holy site for any devotee. Champapur is also a very revered placed as it is the birth place of the 12th Tithankara Vasupujya Swami.
KAMALDAH, PATNA
In the area called kamaldah (Gulzabagh, patna) is a high mound of brick ruins on which two Jain temples stand. There is mausoleum of jain saint Sthoolhbhadra and the temple of Sundarshan Swami.
KUND GRAM, MUZAFFARPUR
As per Jain scriptures, Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthnkar, was born at Kundagrama and his residence was at Vaniyarama. Both the place were either part of or near Vaishali. The modern village of Bania is at the site of ancient Vaniagrama and kund Gram is indetified with the modern village of vosakund about 2km northeast of the gadh mound.
KUNDALPUR, NALANDA
A beautiful Jaisalmer stone temple is situated close to the ruins of ancient Nalanda University at Kundalpur. This houses statues of Lord Mahavira, Adinath Swami and Gautam Gandharva, this place is believed to be the birthplace of Gautam Gandharava, the first disciple of Lord Mahavira, An ancient Jain temple is also here.
JALMANDIR, PAWAPURI
Also known as Apapauri , the sinless town, is very sacred Jain pilgrimage centre. As per Jain Mythology and bellef. Lord Mahavira, the greatest propunder of Jainism, attained Nirvan at Pawapuri. Hundereds of thousands of his disciplces and devotees took away the ashes after his cremation here. The rush was so
Great that even the soils of the were away and it became a tank Later on, a beautiful temple known as Jaimandir with while marble was constructed in the tank to commemorate the Lord’s Nirvana.
OTHER IMPORTANT PLACES SAMOSARAN
This beautiful temple honours the pleces where lord Mahavira sat to teach his disciples, The temple is constructed with white marble, rising by low steps into several concentric terraces of Lord Mahavira.
MANIYAR MATH
This monument is situated on the way to the Son Bhandar Caves, almost in the center of the ancient inner city enclosure. Legend is that Srenika or Bimbisara had 32 wives to whom he daily gave new ornaments and threw the old ones into a well , which is still there, at this place there is a modern small Jain temple.
SONE BHANDAR
There are two rock-cut caves, adjacent to each other, excavated on the southern face of the Vaibhara hill facing the excated on the southern face of the Viabhara hill, facing the western portion of the valley of these , the western one is locally called as within his space is an ancient wedge blocking the passage to the treasury and its front part has fallen. Inside the southern wall of the cave there are six small figures of Jain. Tirthnakas carved in relief and representing Padmaprabha, Parshvanatha and Mahavira.
GONAVA JEE NAWADA
Gonava village is situated at around one kilometer north of Nawada on Patna-Rachi road. This is pilgrimage site for the Jains of both section The Digambar Jain temple is just by the side of main road while the Shwetabar jain temple is behind it. The temple is famous and known as a place on Nirvana of Lord Mahavira first disciple, Gautam Gandharva.
LACHHUAR, JUMUI
Situated village is situated at around one kilometer north of Nawada on patna-Rachi road. This pilgrimage site for the Jains of both sections. The is a pilgrimage site for the Jains of both sections. The Shwetambar Jain temple is behind it The temple is famous and known as a place of Nirvana of Lord Mahavira’s disciple, Gautam Gandharva.
LACHHUAR JAMUI
Situated at about 8km west of Simaria and 7km south of Sikandra, this pilgrimafe site has a large number of jain temples and dharamshala built in 1874 by Rai dhanpat Singh Bahadur of Murshidabad, for the adjacent hills. The nearest are about 5kms of Lachhuar and are marked Muth Boodhroop and Muth Purusnath in the small situated in the valley between two parallel ranges of hills there are small statues of Mahavira dating back to Samvat 1505m where as the other statues are older than this some Jains hold lachhuar to be the birthplace of Mahavir Swami
BISRAM, BHOJPUR
This place in the town called Arrah houses 45 jain temples lord Mahavira the 25th Jain Tirthankara, took rest here for some time during this wanderings and hence this place is called Bisram (rest) Jains from every part of the country visit Bisram throughout the year where a Jain temple with an idol of Lord Mahavira exists.
MASADH, BHOJPUR
This village is located at around 6kms southwest of arrah town. An ancient Jain temple dedicated to Parshwanth with eight images dating back to 1396 A.D. as per archeological records is situated here. The temple was complete in the year 1819 A.D.
MANDAR HILL BANKA
Situated around 48km south of the Bhagalpur town the mandar hill is about 700ft high that consists of a huge mass of granite overgrown near the summit with low jungle The skand purana associates Mandar of Sumeru with the old story of Amrita- Manthana or churning of the ocean. The story goes that the Gods and the Demons (Devas and asuras) with a view to secure amrita (the divine liquor), consuming of which is believed to confer immortality used this Mandra or Sumeru Mountain as the churings stick or rod The great mythical serpent Vasuki was used as the rope. Due to this mythical association the hill has assumed considerable religious significance on the summit of the hill where the jain pilgrims worship lord vasupujyanatha.
CHAMPANAGAR, BHAHALPUR
A western suburb of the Bhagalpur town Champanagar is mentioned as one of the places, where the last Tirthnakara Mahavira stayed for three rainy ssesones in the course of his religious wanderings according to jain tradition it is believed that jain tirthnkara vasupujya was born at Champanagar or champapuri. There are two jain family of jagat seth, a devotee. At the footprints or padukas (footwear) of the 24 jain Tirthankaras with an inscription V.S. 1694 or 1637 A.D.
KUNDGHAT
It is around 6km Lachhaur where the temple of Kundeshwari Devi is situated and which is considered is considered sacred by the Jains.
