Harleen singh at 21:21, 15 April 2026

2026-04-15T21:21:15Z

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{{short description|Jain temple in Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox religious building
| religious_affiliation = [[Jainism]]
| sect = [[Digambara]] and [[Śvētāmbara]]
| image = File:Shri Ahichchhatra Parshvanath Atishaya Kshetra Digamber Jain Mandir (3).jpg
| alt = Ahichchhatra Jain temples
| caption = Shri Ahichchhatra Parshvanath Atishaya Kshetra Digamber Jain Mandir
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| map_type = Uttar Pradesh
| map_alt =
| map_size = 200
| map_caption = Location within Uttar Pradesh
| coordinates = {{coord|28|22|23|N|79|07|06|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Ahichchhatra]], [[Bareilly district|Bareilly]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| festivals = [[Mahavir Jayanti]], Ahichhatra Jain Mela
| deity = [[Parshvanatha]]
| established =
| creator = King Vasupal
| governing_body =
| temple_quantity = 7
| architecture_style =
}}

The '''Ahichchhatra Jain temples''' is a group of [[Jain]] [[Jain temple|temples]] in [[Ahichchhatra]] village in [[Aonla, Uttar Pradesh|Aonla tehsil]] of [[Bareilly district]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[North India]]. Ahichchhatra is believed to be the place where [[Parshvanatha]], the 23rd [[Tirthankar]] of [[Jainism]], attained [[Kevala Jnana]].

== Jain tradition ==
[[File:Ahichchhatra excavation - Parshvanatha idol - 7th century BCE.jpg|thumb|left|Parshvanatha sculpture excavated from Ahichchhatra, 7th century BCE]]

The history of Ahichchhatra traditionally starts from the period of [[Rishabhanatha]], the first tirthankara. According to Digambara belief, it was visited by all 24 Tirthankaras. Ahichchhatra is believed to be the place where [[Parshvanatha]], the 23rd [[Tirthankar]] of Jainism, attained ''[[Kevala gyana]]'' (omniscience).{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=2}} According to Jain texts, it was visited by [[Parshvanatha]] during ''vihara''; in an attempt to obstruct Parshvanatha from achieving ''Kevala Jnana'', Kamath, his elder brother, caused continuous rain. Parshvanatha was immersed in water up to his neck but was protected by the serpent God [[Dharanendra]], who held a canopy of a thousand hoods over his head, and the Goddess [[Padmavati (Jainism)|Padmavati]] who coiled herself around his body. Following this event, the place was renamed to Ahichchhatra ({{translation|Serpent umbrella}}).{{sfn|Law|1942|p=15}}{{sfn|Kapoor|2002|p=17}}{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=2}}

== History ==
Ahichchhatra was one of the sixteen [[Mahajanapadas]].{{sfn|Malik|2016|p=76}} It was considered an important town when [[Hiuen Tsang]] visited India in the 7th century CE.{{sfn|Kapoor|2002|p=16}} Several ancient Jain [[ayagapata|āyāgapaṭa]] were excavated from this site, including the famous ''Nāṃdighoṣa āyāgapaṭa'' dated early {{circa|15 CE}}.{{sfn|Smith|1901|p=48}}{{sfn|Quintanilla|2007|p=24}}{{sfn|Quintanilla|2000|p=126}} 27 Jain inscriptions discovered here bear dates prior to 100 CE.{{sfn|Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|1903|pp=5-6}}

[[Alois Anton Führer]] excavated a Jain temple constructed during the reign of [[Indo-Scythians]] dynasty, enhrining idols from 96—152 CE.{{sfn|Murray|1893|p=118}} A number of Jain temples were discovered by [[Alexander Cunningham]] during excavation.{{sfn|Cunningham|1885|p=104}} Many idols, stupas and pillars from the [[Kushan Empire|Kushan]] and [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]] periods have been discovered in Ahichchhatra.{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=3}}

[[Vividha Tirtha Kalpa]], composed by Śvetāmbara Acharya Jinaprabha Suri in the 14th century CE, mentions Samkhyāvatǐ as the earlier name of Ahichchhatra and describes two Jain temples dedicated to Parshvanatha in the area.{{sfn|Law|1942|p=21}} According to ''Ahicchatra-nagri-kalpa'', this place was visited by Goddess [[Ambika (Jainism)|Ambika]].{{sfn|Tiwari|1989|pp=26-27}} ''Kaivalyamala'', written by Śvetāmbara [[Jain acharya]] Udyotansuri in {{circa|778}} CE,{{sfn|Paniker|1997|p=453}}{{sfn|Mahapatra|1989|p=350}} mentions that Harigupta of the [[Gupta Empire]] took [[diksha]] here.{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=3}}{{sfn|Shah|1987|p=277}}

== Temples ==
[[File:Shri Ahichchhatra Parshvanath Atishaya Kshetra Digamber Jain Mandir - Main Vedi (3).jpg|thumb|Parshvanath idol commonly known as ''Tikhal wale Baba'']]
[[File:Ahichchhatra Shwethambar Tirth (5).jpg|thumb|Shwetambar Jain temple]]

The temples in Ahichchhatra were built to commemorate [[Parshvanatha]] attaining [[Panch Kalyanaka|Kēvalajñāna kalyāṇaka]].{{sfn|Law|1942|p=22}}{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=2}}{{sfn|UP tourism|Uttar Pradesh: A to Z|p=32}}

; Digambara Jain temple
The Digambara Jain temple was initially constructed during the reign of King Vasupal. The temple was later reconstructed in 1975. The temple contains 7 vedis, one of which has a {{convert|6|ft|m|adj=on}} idol of [[Mahavira]] while others house idols of Parshvanatha in different postures. The main idol of the temple dates back to the 10th century and is popularly known as ''Tikhal wale Baba''.{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=3}}

This temple, dedicated to Parshvanatha, is a major Jain pilgrimage center.{{sfn|Jain|2008|p=64}}{{sfn|UP tourism|Uttar Pradesh: A to Z|p=31}} According to [[Uttar Pradesh Tourism]], over {{lakh|4.36}} people visited Ahichchhatra Jain Temple in 2019.{{sfn|UP tourism|Year-wise Tourist Statistics}}

; Tis Chaubisi temple
The Tis Chaubisi temple was constructed in 2002 CE. The temple houses 720 idols of the 24 Tirthankaras. The mulnayak of this temple is a {{convert|13.5|ft|m|adj=on}} idol of Parshvanatha.{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=3}}

; Bhagwan Parshvanath-Padmavati temple
The Bhagwan Parshvanath-Padmavati temple was constructed in 2007 CE. The temple houses an idol of Parshvanatha in the centre with idols of [[Dharanendra]] and [[Padmavati (Jainism)|Padmavati]] on either side.{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=3}}

; Chaubisi temple
The Chaubisi temple is built beside the old Digambara Jain temple in an area spanning {{convert|17500|m2}}.{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=3}}

; Shwetambar Jain temple
The Shwetambar temple is a beautiful structure known for its unique architecture. The temple is made of buff sandstone and houses a thousand images of the Jain pantheon.{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=3}}

Both Digambara and Shwetambar Jain temple also have a [[Dharamshala (type of building)|dharamshala]] equipped with all modern facilities and [[bhojnalaya]].{{sfn|UP tourism|Ahicchatra|p=3}}

== Fair ==
Ahichchhatra Jain Mela is the primary festival of this temple and is organized annually in March.{{sfn|UP tourism|Uttar Pradesh: A to Z|p=31}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Ahichchhatra Padmavati Mandir (cropped).jpg|Bhagwan Parshvanath-Padmavati temple
File:Ahichchhatra Chaubisi Mandir.jpg|Tis Chaubisi temple
File:Ahichchhatra Prachin Gaon Mandir (1).jpg|Ahichchhatra ancient village temple
File:Ahichchhatra Digambar Lal Mandir.jpg|Ahichchhatra Digambar Lal temple
File:Shri Ahichchhatra Parshvanath Atishaya Kshetra Digamber Jain Mandir - Murals.jpg|Digamabar Jain temple murals
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Bijolia Parshvanath temple]]
* [[Kampilya]]
* [[Sarnath Jain Tirth]]
* [[Digamber Jain Bada Mandir Hastinapur]]

==References==
===Citation===
{{Reflist|23em}}

===Sources===
===Book===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last=Cunningham |first=Alexander | author-link=Alexander Cunningham |title=Report of a Tour in Eastern Rajputana in 1882-83 | volume=20 | series=Archaeological Survey of India |url={{Google books|6M8OAAAAQAAJ|page=104|plainurl=yes}} |year=1885 |publisher=Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing }}
* {{cite book |last=Jain |first=Lakshmi |title=Dropout of Girl-child in Schools |url={{Google books|N8ZNPEflZzgC|page=64|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=Northern Book Centre | isbn=9788172112448 | year=2008 }}
* {{cite book |last=Kapoor |first=Subodh |title=Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography | volume=1 |url={{Google books|43Fzt-G_-XYC|page=17|plainurl=yes}} |edition=Second |year=2002 |publisher=Cosmo Publication |isbn=9788177552980 | location=New Delhi }}
* {{cite book | last=Law | first=Bimala Churn | title=Panchalas and their capital Ahichchhatra | volume=67 | series=Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India | publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]] | url=https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/22065.pdf | year=1942 | access-date=27 April 2022 }}
* {{cite book |last=Malik |first=Malti |title=Diamond Historical Atlas |url={{Google books|AeI-DAAAQBAJ|page=76|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=New Saraswati House India | isbn=9788173354991 | year=2016 | location=New Delhi}}
* {{cite book |last=Mahapatra |first=B. P. |title=Constitutional languages | volume=1 | series=The Written Languages of the World: A Survey of the Degree and Modes of Use |url={{Google books|yU8nq-C6wnoC|page=350|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=[[Université Laval]] | isbn=9782763771861 | year=1989 | location=Québec}}
* {{cite book |last=Murray |first=J. | author-link=John Murray III |title=The Academy | volume=44 |url={{Google books|sZd6rztMwS0C|page=118|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=[[John Murray (publishing house)]] | location=[[London]] | year=1893 }}
* {{cite book |last=Paniker |first=K. Ayyappa | author-link=Ayyappa Paniker |title=Constitutional languages | volume=1 | series=Medieval Indian Literature |url={{Google books|KYLpvaKJIMEC|page=453|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] | isbn=9788126003655 | year=1997 }}
* {{cite book |last=Quintanilla |first=Sonya Rhie |title=History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE |date=2007 |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |isbn=9789004155374 |url={{Google books|X7Cb8IkZVSMC|pg=PR24|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |language=en}}
* {{cite book | author=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland | author-link=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |url={{Google books|j-B_DPdTBMEC|page=5|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland | year=1903 }}
* {{cite book |last=Smith |first=Vincent Arthur | author-link=Vincent Arthur Smith |title=The Jain Stûpa and Other Antiquities of Mathurâ | volume=20 | series=New Imperial series |url={{Google books|iQo2AJ3-FnECC|pg=PP48|plainurl=yes}} |year=1901 |publisher=F. Luker, superintendent Government Press }}
* {{cite book |last=Shah | first=Umakant Premanand | author-link=Umakant Premanand Shah | title=Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography | url={{Google books|m_y_P4duSXsC|page=277|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | date=1987 | publisher=Abhinav Publications | location=[[Delhi]] | isbn=81-7017-208-X }}
* {{cite book | last=Tiwari | first=Dr. Maruti Nandan Prasad | url={{Google books|l0Tt04JDN0kC|page=26|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | title=Ambika in Jaina Art and Literature | publisher=[[Bharatiya Jnanpith]] | date=1989 }}
{{refend}}

===Web===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite journal | last=Quintanilla | first=Sonya Rhie | title=Āyāgapaṭas: Characteristics, Symbolism, and Chronology | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3249941 | journal=[[Artibus Asiae]] | volume=60 | issue=1 | year=2000 | pages=79–137 | doi=10.2307/3249941 | jstor=3249941 | access-date=20 April 2022| url-access=subscription }}
* [[Uttar Pradesh Tourism]]
** {{cite web | author=Uttar Pradesh Tourism | url=https://www.uptourism.gov.in/pdf/E-Brochure/UP-Book-opt.pdf | title=Uttar Pradesh: A to Z | publisher=[[Uttar Pradesh Tourism]] | ref={{sfnref|UP tourism|Uttar Pradesh: A to Z}} | access-date=20 April 2022 | archive-date=22 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122045228/https://www.uptourism.gov.in/pdf/E-Brochure/UP-Book-opt.pdf | url-status=dead }}
** {{cite web | author=Uttar Pradesh Tourism | url=https://www.uptourism.gov.in/en/article/year-wise-tourist-statistics | title=Year-wise Tourist Statistics | publisher=[[Uttar Pradesh Tourism]] | ref={{sfnref|UP tourism|Year-wise Tourist Statistics}} | access-date=20 April 2022 | archive-date=31 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531225103/https://www.uptourism.gov.in/en/article/year-wise-tourist-statistics | url-status=dead }}
** {{cite web | author=Uttar Pradesh Tourism | url=https://uptourism.gov.in/pdf/E-Brochure/ahicchatra_high.pdf | title=Ahicchatra | publisher=[[Uttar Pradesh Tourism]] | ref={{sfnref|UP tourism|Ahicchatra}} | access-date=20 April 2022 | archive-date=25 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525220525/https://uptourism.gov.in/pdf/E-Brochure/ahicchatra_high.pdf | url-status=dead }}
{{refend}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book | last=Tandon | first=O. P. | title=Jaina Shrines in India | publisher=Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting | year=1986 |isbn=9788123024547 }}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}

{{Jain temples}}
{{Jainism Topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Jain temples in Uttar Pradesh]]

Ahichchhatra Jain temples - Revision history

Harleen singh at 21:21, 15 April 2026