AmiePesina at 23:04, 10 August 2025

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{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Karanja
| other_name = Karanja lad
| nickname = Karanja
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Karanja Guru Mandir.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Small Railway Station in Karanja on Achalpur-Murtijapur-Yeotmal narrow gauge railway line.
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Maharashtra, India
| coordinates = {{coord|20.4833|N|77.4833|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
[[Region]]
[[Division (country subdivision)|Division]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Washim district|Washim]]
[[Vidarbha]]
[[Amravati]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Municipal Council]]
| governing_body = Karanja(Lad) Municipal Council
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank = 1st
| area_total_km2 = 13.55
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 400
| population_total = 100,947
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = karanjakar
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Language
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 444105
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 91-7256
| registration_plate = MH37 ([[Washim District]])
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Karanja Lad''', or '''Karanja''', is a city of a [[Municipal council]] in [[Washim district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Maharashtra]]. The town is named after '''Saint Karanj.'''{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} Karanja is a holy place for [[Hindus]], [[Jainism|Jains]], and [[Muslims]]. It is the birthplace of Shri [[Narasimha Saraswati]] Swami Maharaj,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sri Narasimha Saraswati|url=http://www.shreeswami.org/dattavtars/sri-narasimha-saraswati/|access-date=2020-07-19|website=ShreeSwami.org|language=en-US}}</ref> believed to be the second incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.

==Demographics==
As of the [[2011 Census of India|2011 Indian census]], Karanja had a population of 100,947. Males made up 52% of the population and females 48%. Karanja has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy rate is 78%, and female literacy is 67%.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archivedate=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|accessdate=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref>

Islam is the dominant religion with 49.80% being Muslims, while Hinduism forms 39.46% of the population.<ref name="auto" />

==Karanja City==
Karanja City is known for being an important religious center as well as its historical significance. The city is home to a number of ancient temples and ancient Mosques, including the Jain Temples (''Shri Mulsangh Chandranatha swami''), Guru Mandir ''(Shri Nrusimha Saraswati Gurumaharaj'') Jama Masjid, Nagina Masjid, Bibi Saheb dargah and Nawab Subhan Khan Masjid, which are dedicated to the ''Nawab Subhan Khan'', the ruler of the [[Mughal Empire]].Lad Name is kept based on the Majority of the community was from Jains in past.

In addition to its religious significance, Karanja is also known for its scenic beauty, with lush green hills, fertile fields, and winding rivers. The city is located in the midst of fertile agricultural land, and is surrounded by lush green forests.

{{bar box
|title=Religions in Karanja
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Muslims]]|green|49.80}}
{{bar percent|[[Hindus]]|orange|39.46}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhists]]|red|6.34}}
{{bar percent|[[Jainism|Jains]]|pink|4.00}}
{{bar percent|[[Christians]]|blue|0.09}}
{{bar percent|Others†|black|0.30}}
|caption=Distribution of religions<br />
†<small>Includes [[Sikh]]s (0.13%), [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (<0.20%).</small>
}}

==Geography==
Karanja is located at {{Coord|20|48|33|N|77|48|33|E|}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Karanja2.html|title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Karanja, India|website=www.fallingrain.com}}</ref> It has an average elevation of 422 metres (1387 feet). The [[Adan River]] flows near Karanja city. It is an important source of domestic water supply to the city. There are three lakes situated in the city, the Rishi Talaw, the Sarang Talaw, and the Chandra Talaw.

==Places of interest==
===Temples===
[[File: Datt Mandir.JPG|thumb|Shri Guru Mandir Entrance]]
Karanja is famous for its Nrusimha Saraswati Swami Maharaj temple. Shri Nrusimha Saraswati Gurumaharaj is the second avatar (incarnation) of Lord Dattatreya. Born in Karanja in 1378, he traveled far and wide in what is now known as the States of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He achieved Sainthood and performed several miracles. He imparted spiritual knowledge to his disciples, many of whom themselves attained Sainthood. The Gurumandir Temple conducts several major events to celebrate the various avatars of Lord Dattatreya. Over the past 100 years, Gurumandir has become a nucleus for religious and social welfare activities in Maharashtra's [[Vidarbha]] region.

Other old temples are Vitthal mandir, Chote Ram mandir and as well as famous "Kannao Ram mandir". Each year Ramnavami and other Hindu religious activities are performed in these temples.

===Jain temples and institutions===
{{Cleanup lang|article|date=December 2021}}
Karanja is the only place in India that had been the set of three Bhatarakas representing three Digambar Jain traditions: [[Balatkar Gana]], [[Sena Gana]] and [[Kastha Sangh]]. The [[Balatkar Gana]] seat had relocated from [[Manyakheta]].<ref>The Bhaṭṭārakas of Kārañjā (Lāḍa): Triveṇī Saṅgama at Jaina Kāśī, Tillo Detige, SANMATI:
Essays Felicitating Professor Hampa Nagarajaiah on the Occasion of his 80th Birthdaypp.143–176</ref>

There are four major [[Digambar]] [[Jain temples]] in Karanja. The [[Kastha Sangh]] temple has extraordinary wooden carvings dating back to at least 14th century. The Sena Gana temple has a ''pat'' (scroll) painting depicting the [[Panchkalyanak]] ceremonies of [[Jain]] [[Tirthankars]]. This scroll is painted in the Rajasthani style and is around 800 years old. [[Balatkar Gana]] temple has a collection of rare manuscripts. In 1926, Prof. Hiralal Jain had discovered 12 unknown [[Apabhramsha]] manuscripts here. They were later edited and published, supported by local donors.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-the-school-of-oriental-and-african-studies/article/abs/jasaharacariu-of-puspadanta-edited-by-p-l-vaidya-karanja-jain-series-vol-i-6-x-9-pp-220-karanja-berar-karanja-jain-publication-society-1931-nayakumaracariu-of-puspadanta-edited-by-hiralal-jain-devendrakirti-jain-series-vol-i-6-x-9-pp-lxiv-210-karanja-berar-balatkara-gana-jain-publication-society-1934/59B7B70B6405EC499157CFFE1FA27885|title=Jasaharacariu of Puṣpadanta. Edited by P. L. Vaidya. Karanja Jain Series, Vol. I. 6½ X 9½. pp. 220. Karanja (Berar): Karanja Jain Publication Society, 1931. - ṆāYakumāracariu of Puṣpadanta. Edited by Hiralal Jain. Devendrakirti Jain Series, Vol. I. 6½ x 9½, pp. lxiv, 210. Karanja (Berar): Balatkara Gana Jain Publication Society, 1934.|date=12 June 1934|journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies|volume=7|issue=2|pages=392–393|via=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/S0041977X0008544X|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Karanja is known as the "Kashi" of Jainism. Also famous is the "Mahaveer Brahmacharyashram" or Gurukul. This place is the site of the first Gurukul founded by Acharya Shri 108 Samantabhadra in 1918 AD, it celebrated its ‘Shatakpurti Mahotsav’ in 2018. The Karanja institution was the first of 11 Gurukuls established by Acharya Samantabhadra. Gurukuls based this pattern was later started in Maharashtra (Bahubali, Ellora, Kunthalgiri), Khurai in Madhya Pradesh,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gurukulkhurai.org/index.php?page=history|title=Shri Parswnath Jain Brahmachary Ashram (Jain Gurukul)|website=gurukulkhurai.org}}</ref> and Karnataka (Stawawidhi, Karkal, Terdal, Bellad Bagewadi).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2018/4/15/A-century-old-Gurukul,-spreading-light-of-Jainism.aspx|title=A century-old Gurukul, spreading light of Jainism, The Hitavada, 15 Apr 2018}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The famous Berkeley scholar of Buddhism and Jainism [[Padmanabh Jaini]] was a student of the Karanja Gurukul.

===Mosques===
[[File:White Gumbad Jama Masjid Karanja.jpg|thumb|white gumbad jama masjid karanja lad made by mughals.]]
Karanja is also known as Karanja Bibi, referring to BiBi Saheba's [[Dargah]] in the Bibi Sahebapura. Karanja is also famous for its mosques (''masjids''). There are as many as 60 mosques in Karanja, most notably the [[Jama masjid|Jama Masjid]], which is a historical mosque built in 981 [[Islamic calendar|Hijri]] (1573/74 AD).

===Kannao Mansion===
Built in 1905, Kannao Mansion is famous for its use of French/Italian architecture. Kannao Mansion is more than a century-old replica of Shrilanka Queen Bungalow. It was also featured in the Marathi channel.

===Historical places===
[[File: Delhi Gate Karanja Lad.jpg|alt=Explore Karanja Lad|thumb|Delhi Gate Karanja Lad]]
The Kannao Bungalow has 307 doors. Nawab Subhan Khan constructed a wall and four doors around Karanja, namely the Delhi Gate, the Darwha Gate, the Mangrul Gate, and the Poha Gate.

===Karanja APMC===
Karanja Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) is first ever APMC in India built in year 1900 by Britishers to mainly purchase cotton from Vidarbha region farmers in low cost and send it to Manchester (UK) so the raw material is available to mills at low cost. Market has surplus income. The total arrival of agriculture produces every is nearly ₹700 crores.

==Politics==
Hindu, Muslim, and Jain communities are actively involved in the municipal politics of Karanja. All communities coexist peacefully and with respect for each other's religious sentiments.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} Prakash Dahake and Yusuf Punjani are considered the most powerful politicians from Karanja. Mr. Dahake was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from [[Karanja (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Karanja]]. After the 2014 state elections, [[Rajendra Patni]] was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Karanja defeating Yusuf Punjani by a very narrow margin.

==Fruit cultivation and market==
Karanja is famous for its fruit market.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} Karanja has a profitable market of papayas, and distributes the fruits across India, [[Nepal]], and [[Bhutan]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ssskrimv.org.in "S.S.S.K.R. Innani mahavidyalaya karanja lad"]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.gurumandir.org/karanja.html Gurumandir Karanja]
*[http://www.ssdmk.in "Smt. Shakuntalabai Dhabekar Mahavidyalaya Karanja Lad"]
*[https://www.jantaparishad.com "Weekly Janta Parishad Karanja Lad District Washim" "साप्ताहिक जनता परिषद कारंजा लाड जिल्हा वाशिम"]
*[https://www.jantaparishad.com "Newsportal - Janta Parishad Karanja lad & Washim District News blog" "न्यूज पोर्टल - जनता परिषद"]

{{Washim district topics}}
{{vidarbha}}
{{Maharashtra}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Washim district]]
[[Category:Talukas in Maharashtra]]

Karanja Lad - Revision history

AmiePesina at 23:04, 10 August 2025