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{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| image = File:2 La grotte Jain Indra Sabha Ellora Caves, India.jpg
| caption = ''Indra Sabha'', [[Ellora Caves]]
| group = Marathi Jain
| native_name = Marathi Jain
| native_name_lang = Marathi
| regions = {{IND}}<br /> [[Maharashtra]]
| languages = [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and [[Kannada language|Kannada]]
| religions = [[Jainism]]
| Sect =
}}
{{Jainism}}

[[Jainism]] has been present in [[Maharashtra]] since ancient times.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Starr |first=Kelsey Jo |date=2021-08-17 |title=6 facts about Jains in India |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/08/17/6-facts-about-jains-in-india/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref> The famous [[Ellora Caves]] demonstrate that Jainism was part of a thriving religious culture in Maharashtra in premodern times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bot Verification |url=https://jainavenue.org/development-of-jain-architecture-from-caves-to-temple-architecture-in-maharashtra/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=jainavenue.org}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Foot bahubali2.jpg|left|thumb|981 A.D. Marathi inscription at the foot of [[Bahubali|Bahubali statue]] at Jain temple in [[Shravanabelagola]] is one of the earliest known Marathi inscription found. It was derived from Jain-Prakrit language.]]
Jainism in Maharashtra has a long history.
The oldest inscription in Maharashtra is a 2nd-century BC Jain inscription in a cave near Pale village in the [[Pune District]]. It was written in the [[Jain Prakrit]] and includes the [[Navkar Mantra]].
The first Marathi inscription known is at [[Shravanabelagola]], [[Karnataka]] near the left foot of the statue of [[Bahubali]], dated 981 CE.

[[Jainism]] in Maharashtra was patronised by many rulers such kings from the [[Shilahara]]s and [[Rashtrakuta]]. Many of forts were built by kings from these dynasties and thus [[derasar|Jain temples]] or their remains are found in them. Texts such as the ''Shankardigvijaya'' and ''Shivlilamruta'' suggest that a large number of [[Marathi people]] followed Jainism in the ancient period.

== Jain communities in present day Maharashtra==
[[File:BahubaliKumbhoj.JPG|[[Kumbhoj Jain temple]] |thumb]]
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}
There are many native Jain communities in present day Maharashtra. The communities tend to be endogamous, and generally do not intermarry with the Jains who have arrived from [[North India]]. They belong to the [[Digambar]] sect. The four largest communities by numbers are:

* [[Saitwal]], originally Tailors and Cloth Merchants
* [[Chaturtha]], originally agriculturists, now engaged in various professions
* Panchama, various professions{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}
* Kasar, traditionally coppersmiths
Each of the above communities are affiliated to their own [[Matha]] and led by the Matha leader called [[Bhattaraka]].
In addition to the above four, there are several smaller native Maharashtrian Jain communities.

* [[Upajjhaya]]
* [[Kumbhoj|Kamboja]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsBEgVa804IC&q=Kambhoja&pg=PA910 |title=People of India: Maharashtra - Kumar Suresh Singh, Anthropological Survey of India - Google Boeken |isbn=9788179911013 |access-date=2012-04-24|last1=Bhanu |first1=B. V. |year=2004 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lYSd-3yL9h0C&q=Kambhoja+desh+features&pg=PA265 |title=The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions - Syed Siraj Ul Hassan - Google Boeken |isbn=9788120604889 |access-date=2012-04-24|last1=Hassan |first1=Syed Siraj ul |year=1989 |language=en}}</ref>
* Harada
*Jabade, Jain community in Maharashtra
* [[Dhakad]] A small Jain community found primarily in Western Vidarbha districts of Akola, Yavatmal, Washim and Amravati.

==Religious organizations==
{{main|Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha}}
The [[Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha]], Veer Seva Dal are religious and social service organization of the [[Jainism|Jain]]s of South India. The organization is headquartered at [[Kolhapur]], Maharashtra, India.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OmBjoAFMfjoC&q=dakshina+bharat+jain+sabha&pg=PA368 |title=People of India: Maharashtra - Kumar Suresh Singh - Google Books |isbn=9788179911006 |access-date=2013-01-30|last1=Bhanu |first1=B. V. |year=2004 }}</ref> The association is credited with being one of the first Jain associations to start reform movements among the Jains in modern India.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LW8czr_HzzwC&q=South+Indian+Jain+Association&pg=PA235 |title=The Assembly of Listeners: Jains in Society - Google Books |date= 4 April 1991|isbn=9780521365055 |access-date=2013-01-30|last1=Carrithers |first1=Michael |last2=Humphrey |first2=Caroline |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JdNNz1jcN9cC&q=South+Indian+Jain+Association&pg=PA72 |title=A World Religions Reader - Google Books |date= 26 May 2009|isbn=9781405171090 |access-date=2013-01-30|last1=Markham |first1=Ian S. |last2=Sapp |first2=Christy Lohr |language=en}}</ref> The organization mainly seeks to represent the interests of the native Jains of Maharashtra ([[Marathi Jains]]) and Karnataka ([[Kannada Jains]]).

{{main|Jainism in Mumbai}}

==Jain Tirthas and Temples==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = 4 Painting Jain Ellora Caves.jpg
| width1 = 150
| alt1 =
| caption1 = Painting inside ''Indra Sabha'' cave at [[Ellora Caves]]
| image2 =
| width2 = 200
| alt2 =
| caption2 = ''[[Statue of Ahimsa]]'' - Largest Jain statue
| footer =
}}

; Cave temple
* [[Ellora Caves#The Jain caves|Ellora Jain Caves]]
* [[Nasik Caves]]
* [[Manmodi Caves]]
* [[Mangi-Tungi]]

; Main temple
* [[Shantinath Jain Teerth]]
* [[Gajpanth]]
* [[Kumbhoj]]
* [[Shantinath Jain Teerth]]
* [[Ramtek Jain temple|Shantinath temple]], [[Ramtek]]
* [[Jahaj Mandir]], [[Mandwala]]<ref>[http://shribahubali.org/bahubali_Jahajmandir.htm Jahaj mandir] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913032230/http://www.shribahubali.org/bahubali_Jahajmandir.htm |date=13 September 2014 }}</ref>
* [[Jintur]]
* [[Godiji|Godiji Parshwanath Temple]], [[Mumbai]]
* [[Nemgiri]] in [[Parbhani district]]
* [[Katraj#Katraj Jain Temple|Katraj Tirth]]
* [[Walkeshwar#Places of interest|Babu Amichand Panalal Adishwarji Jain Temple]], [[Walkeshwar]]
* [[Antarikṣa Pārśvanātha Tīrtha|Antarikṣa Pārśvanātha Śvetāmbara Tīrtha]]
* [[Sakri#Shree Vimalnath Bhagwan Tirth.2C Balsana.2C Sakri.2C Dhule|Shree Vimalnath Bhagwan Tirth]], [[Sakri]]
* [[Shirpur#Other Jain Temples|Shirpurji teerth]], [[Dhule district]], [[Nashik]]
* [[Nijampur Dhule#Tourism|Pashvanath Jain Temple]], [[Nijampur Dhule]]
* Shri 1008 Mallinath Digamber Jain Atishaya Kshetra, [[Shirad Shahpur]]
* [[Bibwewadi#Jain Temple|Shri vimalnatha swami Jain shwetambar temple]] in Bibwewadi
* [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra#Tourist attractions|Kachner Jain temple]] in [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra]]
* [[Paithan#Paithan Jain Tirth|Paithan Jain Tirth]]
* [[Sanjay Gandhi National Park#Trimurti Temple|Trimurti Digambar Jain Mandir]] in [[Sanjay Gandhi National Park]], [[Borivali]]
* [[Pimpri-Chinchwad#Parks, Recreation and Tourism|Shree Mahavir Jain Temple]] in [[Pimpri-Chinchwad]] near Pune
* [[Osmanabad district#Tourism|Shri Digamber Jain Siddha Kshetra Kunthalgiri]], Dist. Osmanabad, Maharashtra
Shri Kalikund Parshwanatha Digambar Jain Kshetra, Kundal Sangli.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:Ellora-Jain-cave.jpg|Jain cave in [[Ellora]]
File:Shri 1008 Shantinath Jain Temple.JPG|[[Shantinath Jain Teerth]], [[Indapur]], [[Pune]]
File:0101821 Shantinath Jain Mandir, Ramtek, Maharashtra 079.jpg|[[Ramtek Jain temple|Shantinath temple]], [[Ramtek]]
File:23rd Tirthankara Parshva Parsvanath Parshvanatha Jainism India.jpg|Idol of Lord Shri Parshvanath at Kachner
File:Lord_Mahaveer_at_dharashiv_cave.jpg|Lord Mahaveer at [[Dharashiv Caves]]
</gallery>
Shri Kalikund Parshwanatha Digambar Jain Kshetra

==Notable Marathi Jains==
* [[V. Shantaram]]
* [[Walchand Hirachand]]
* [[Ajit Gulabchand]]
* [[Akshar Kothari]]
* [[Sandhya Shantaram]]
* [[Kiran Shantaram]]
* [[Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil]]
* [[Bal Patil]]
* [[Suresh Jain]]
* [[Raju Shetti]]
* [[Vidyadhar Johrapurkar]]
* [[Nirmalkumar]] [[Phadkule]]
* [[Vilas Adinath Sangave]]
* [[Dhulappa Bhaurao Navale]]
* [[Kallappa Awade|Kallapa Awade]]
*[[Rajendra Patil]]
*[[Justice Bhalchandra Vagyani]]
*[[Dhananjay Gunde]]
*'''Annasaheb Latthe'''

==See also==
{{Portal|Religion|India}}
* [[Jainism in Mumbai]]
* [[Acharya]] [[Shantisagar]]
* [[Acharya]] [[Vidyasagar (Jain monk)|Vidyasagar]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190101035847/http://jainconnect.org/ JainConnect.org - Newly evolving Online Portal/Directory for Jain Community]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170524040737/http://jainfriends.com/ A portal to connect jains and discuss about Jainism and other things]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060211220452/http://tirth.jinvani.com/tirthlist.php?id=15&page=0 Jain Tirthas in Maharashtra]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060321202300/http://www.jainteerth.com/teerth/ellora.asp Ellora]
* [http://marathas.tripod.com History Of Maharashtra]

{{Jain temples}}
{{Jainism topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jains In Maharashtra}}
[[Category:Jain communities]]
[[Category:Jainism in India]]
[[Category:Religion in Maharashtra]]

Jainism in Maharashtra - Revision history

CleanupBot at 06:16, 22 March 2026