SHRI PAVAPURI TIRTH

PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :

Sri Bhagwan Mahavir by his Foot-Prints in black color and of length about 18 Cms (Lake-Temple) in a shrine in the middle of a lake outside the village of Pavapuri (Shve).

ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :

Pavapuri was a city in ancient times forming a part of Magadh territory. Sometime the city was known as Pava and Apapapuri. Where Bhagwan Mahavir was alive, Ajatashatru, son of his contemporary great devotee the king of Magadh desh Sri Shrenik, had already succeeded the latter as the king. Then i.e at least 2500 years ago during the reign of Ajathashatru, Hastipal was the king of this city. Probably he was a tributary of the king of Magadh Desh. At that time Bhagwan Mahavir walking from Champapuri had arrived here and was spending his “Chaturmas” at the Rajjugashala of king Hastipal.

During the Chaturmas many kings and wealthy families who were Bhagwan’s devotees often use to come here to pay their obeisance to him.

In the morning of Karthik Krishna 14,the final sermon of Lord Mahavir commenced in the presence of nine kings of Malla dynasty, nine kings of Lichchhavi dynasty and many other devotees. Bhagwan had directed his first and chief disciple Sri Gautam Swami to sermonize to a Brahmin named Dev Sharma residing in a neighboring village. Everybody was listening intently and with devotion to Bhagwans exposition and Bhagwan continued the preaching without interruption knowing full well in advance that he was nearing the end of his mortal existence. In this way after speaking for 16 “prahars “ (portion of time equaling 1.5 hrs) explaining “Uttaradhyayan Sutra” Bhagwan finally attained Moksha during Swati Constellation in the last moments of the last “Prahar” of the Amavasya night. God led by Indra celebrated this occasion of beneficence as “Nirvan kalnayak”. The kings and other devotees who were present then, also celebrated the occasion by lighting bright jewel lamps on that dark night, the bright lamp of knowledge having been extinguished due to the passing away of Bhagwan. This illuminated profusely the dark night and since then Diwali, the festival of lights has commenced according to Jains. Even at the present day, the whole city is scintillating with thousand of lamps during Diwali in commemoration of that event.

The news of Bhagwan’s salvation spread immediately far and wide. Millions of beings both human and divine rushed to the spot for the final view of the body of Sri Bhagwan Mahavir. Later, Gods led by Indra amd the multitude of devotees performed the last rites with full rituals. Dev, Devis and countless devotees took the ash and carried some to preserve it in their home sanctums, when ash was exhausted, they took away the soil which had become holy due to its being mixed with the ash forming in the result a large pit on the spot.

Bhagwan’s elder brother Sri Nandivardhan there after caused some appropriate structures and platforms to be built on the spots where final sermon was preached and Bhagwans body was consumed by flames. On a suitable slab Bhagwans Foot-Prints were then enshrined. These spots are today believed to be city temple and Lake-temple respectively.

No inscription is found so far on the slab of Foot-prints in the Lake-temple which has been renovated from time to time. Earlier near this slab and the Foot-Prints, there was a metal idol of Lord Mahavir sanctified at the hands of Acharya Sri Abhayadevsurishvarji on Jeth Sukla 2 in Vikram year 1260. Now this idol is installed in the city temple which is believed to be the Rajjugashala of king Hastipal and the final sermon spot of Bhagwan.

At first, Diwali fairs used to be held here. This city temple was renovated time to time. On the present slab Foot-Prints in this temple there is an inscription dated Vaishakh Sukla 3 of Vikramyear 1645. It is possible that at the time of renovation, new Foot-Prints may have been installed.

Countless saints, Acharyas, and householder devotees have come here for obeisance and offering prayers. Enumeration is just not possible. From the beginning at the time of Diwali, Nirvana festival is being held here. At first this festival used to be for 5 days’ duration. Sri Jinaprabhasuriji in his “Vividh Tirthkalpa” has stated that when people of all the four castes celebrate the festival of pilgrimage here, the central main lamp by some divine miracle continues during the whole night to shed light and burn without oil and even by augmenting the same with water brought from a nearby well.

According to Digamber Jains’ tradition, Sri Bhagwan attained Moksha in the last moments of the last “prahar” on Karthik Krishna 14 and therefore they celebrate this 14th day as the day of Moksha and in obeisance offer Laddos in the Lake-temple. The Swetamber followers celebrate the 15th day by holding a festival and on that night in the last moments of the last “prahar” offer Laddus.

Each particle of dust of this is considered holy and fit for worship as it happens to be the spot of salvation of the son of Trishala. Lord of the three worlds, the last and the Final Tirthankar Sri Bhagwan Mahavir. The last words were uttered here by the Lord and therefore the whole atmosphere is still alive to bring peace to the afflicted as well as the happy. The Diwali celebration commenced here with the Moksha of Sri Mahavir Swami.

A new temple of Bhagwan’s Samosaran is now constructed here, where the first sermon of Bhagwan is said to have taken place. It is also believed that the Bhagwan first met Sri Indrabhuti Gautam Swami on this spot who was both enlightened and impressed and events are described in “Kalpa Sutra”. (According to Digambers, the first sermon of Sri Mahavir and his first meeting with Sri Indrabhuti Gautam had taken place at Rajgrihi)

Besides city temple and lake-temple of Swetambers, there are at present old Samosaran temple, Mahatab Bibi’s temple, and new Samosaran temple. Besides these temples there is a large Digamber Jain temple near the lake-temple.

The architecture of the lake-temple is par excellence. In the middle of the lake brimming with lilies of all shapes and colors and sizes seeing the temple standing majestically one instantaneously is reminded of Bhagwan Sri Mahavir and on entering the temple doors, one forgets everything one is carrying from outside and immerses oneself in the pure and sanctifying intense vibrations so profusely flowing and surcharging the atmosphere inside.

In Swetamber and Digamber temples, one is also able to see ancient and artful sculpted idols of Tirthankars. New Samosaran temples is yet great! Total designing and proposal of this was of P.P. Gachchhadhipati Acharya Bhagwant Srimad Vijairamchandrasuriji. Parthiba was also performed in his gracious presence.

APPROACH – ROUTE :

Railway Station Pavapuri road is 10kms away, that of Bakhtiarpur is 44Kms away and Navada 23 Kms. Taxis and Buses are available. Nearby is the large city of Biharshrif which is 15Kms away. From here Biharshrif-Ranchi national highway road is only 1Km far. Cars, buses, taxis can ply right upto the Dharamshala and all temples.

AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :

In the city and the new Samosaran temple of Swetamber accommodations is available with all facilities. In the city temple there is a Bhojanshala for meals. Near Digamber temple there is also a Digamber dharamshala with all facilities and a Bhojanshala too.