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{{Infobox religious building
| name = Kumbhoj
| religious_affiliation = [[Jainism]]
| image = BahubaliKumbhoj.JPG
| image_size = 300px
| alt = Kumbhoj Bahubali
| caption = 28 feet Bahubali statue, Kumbhoj
| map_type = India Maharashtra
| map_alt = Kumbhoj
| map_size =
| coordinates = {{coord|16|49|17.9|N|74|26|41.5|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| deity = [[Parshvanatha]]
| festivals = [[Urus,Biradev Yatra]], [[Mahavir Janma Kalyanak]]
| temple_quantity = 14
| creator =
| established = 1156 AD
| governing_body = Shri Bahubali Bramhacharyasham and Vidhyapeeth Atishay Kshetra, Babubali
| website = {{url|http://www.bahubali.org/}}
}}
{{Jainism}}
'''Kumbhoj''' (pronounced as ''kam'bho'j'') is the name of an ancient town located in [[Kolhapur district]] in [[Maharashtra]]. The town is about eight kilometers from [[Hatkanangale]], about twenty seven kilometers from [[Kolhapur]] and currently, also is the Taluka or Tehsil Headquarters{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}. The famous [[Jain]] [[Tirtha (Jainism)|Tirtha]] (pilgrim place) known as ''Bahubali'', is just two kilometers away from the Kumbhoj city.

As the name itself suggests, Kumbhoj seems to be connected with well-known ancient term [[Kambojas|Kamboja]] of [[Sanskrit]]/[[Pāli|Pali]] literature.

Alternative name of Kumbhoj is ''Kumboj'' (=[[Kamboj]]). The former name is apparently free from [[Iran]]ian or ''Paisaci'' influence since [[Maharashtra]] location was far removed from the north-west division of ancient India. Kamboj is the standard name found in numerous ancient [[Sanskrit]] and [[Pali]] texts.

Padma Vibhushan [[Bhaurao Patil|Dr. Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil]], a renowned social worker and philanthropist was born at Kumbhoj.

[[Bahubali]] at Kumbhoj is identical to the Bahubali of [[Shravanabelagola]] known as Gomateshwar to the south in Karnataka.

==History==
During the second century BCE, a section of [[Kambojas]] from Central India had joined the great tribal movement to [[Central Asia]]. One section of those Kambojas appears to have given their name to this coastal town of southwest [[India]]. There is said to be a microscopic [[Jain]] [[community]], predominantly agrarian, called [[Kambhoj]] living near Nanded in Maharashtra.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}

Kumbhoj was very ancient village where Devi Shakambari has visited. There is a temple of Devi Shakambari which has close relation from Banashankari near Badami. This village was mainly ruled by Brahmins whose surname was "Kulkarni" (now they are migrated from this village and changed their names to "Kumbhojkar") who were integral part of Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj' team for consulting them and providing suggestions over critical and political issues.

There is a reference to sage [[Sage Kambhoja|Kumbhoja]] (q.v.) who finds reference in southern Indian recensions of [[Ramayana]]. He seems to have lived somewhere on the banks of river Godavari, in southwest India during Ramayana times. Seems like sage Kambhoja originally belonged to northwest and had migrated to south of [[Vindhya]] on river Godawri.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}

The Shakambari Madir needs cultivation through Archaeological Survey of India.

Kumbhoj is nowadays famous for the agriculture land where sugar cane farming is popular.

==Jain Temple==
[[File:Main Entrance of Bahubali.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Main Entrance of the Temple]]
In 1156 AD, a 6 feet tall idol of lord [[Bahubali]] was installed here.<ref>http://jain.org.in/tirth-Kumboj%20Bahubali, Maharashtra.html</ref> Many Jain saints have visited this place including Shri Bahubali Maharaj, Shri Prabhachandraji, Shri Kamlakarji, Shri 108 Shanti Sagarji.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kolhapurtravels.com/kolhapur-kumbhoj-bahubali-jahaj-mandir.php|title = Kumbhoj Bahubali, Jain Shwetambar Temple, Jahaj Mandir}}</ref> The temple also has a dharamshala equipped with all modern facilities <ref>https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/treasures/temple/bahubali-teerthakhstra-kumbhoj</ref> This Tirth has small scale replicas of [[Gajpantha]], [[Taranga Jain temple|Taranga]], [[Mangi-Tungi]], [[Sonagiri]] and [[Pavagadh Hill#Jain Temple|Pavagiri]] on left and [[Kailash Parvat]], [[Shikharji]] and [[Girnar Jain temples|Girnarji]] on right side. Jal Mandir, Ratnatraya temple, Shantinath Temple, Chandaprabhu Temple, Adinath Temple and Samavsharan Mandir are also built near main temple.<ref>http://www.shribahubali.org/</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jaindata.com/jain_temple/bahubali-kumbhoj-bramhcharya-and-vidyapeeth-atishaya-kshetra___7f551be4-fa5b-47a1-b5a5-9cb887859f4e/Details.aspx|title = Bahubali Kumbhoj Bramhcharya and Vidyapeeth Atishaya Kshetra}}</ref>

'''Bahubali monolith'''
A monolithic statue of Bahubali in [[kayotsarga]] posture was installed in 1963. The statue is situated on about 50 steps up and 8.5 m (28 feet) in high at Kumbhoj, Kolhapur, Maharashtra.
The famous Jain Tirtha (pilgrim place) known as Bahubali, is just two kilometers away from the Kumbhoj village. Bahubali at Kumbhoj is identical to the Bahubali of [[Shravanabelagola]] known as [[Gommateshwara Statue|Gomateshwar]] to the south in Karnataka<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kolhapurtravels.com/kolhapur-kumbhoj-bahubali-jahaj-mandir.php|title = Kumbhoj Bahubali, Jain Shwetambar Temple, Jahaj Mandir}}</ref>

'''Mahamastakabhishek'''
[[Mahamastakabhisheka]] (Maha-mastak-abhishek = Grand religious ablution from head) happens in every 12 years. This pious event runs for continuous 7 days with witnessing thousands of pilgrims across the country.

[[File:Bahubali Statue during Mahamastakabhishek.jpg|alt=Bahubali Statue during Mahamastakabhishek|none|thumb|Bahubali Statue during Mahamastakabhishek]]

==Transportation==
[[Sangli]] railway station is 27 km from Kumbhoj. Passengers coming to Kumbhoj prefer to get down at Sangli station and take darshan at various Jain temples in Sangli and then proceed to Kumbhoj for worship. Sangli to Kumbhoj is only 30 minutes travel. Rikshas, Cars and buses are available from Sangli to Kumbhoj.

[[Sangli]] railway station is connected to major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Surat, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Goa, Bangalore, Agra, Bhopal, Mysore, Hubli, Cochin, Mangalore, Gandhidham, Pondicherry, Nagpur, etc. by express trains.

[[Miraj]] railway junction is one of the busiest in western India with four railway lines connecting it. Miraj is connected to all major Indian cities by express and superfast trains which include Karnataka Sampark Kranti (KSK) express, Chandigarh Sampark Kranti express, Goa express, Mumbai Hubli express, Yeswantpur Miraj express, Pondhichery express, Tirunelveli express, Suvarnajayanti express, Chalukya express, Shravati express, Bangalore Jodhpur express, Bangalore Ajmer express, Bangalore Gandhidham express, Mahalaxmi express, Sahyadri express, Koyna express, Rani Chenamma express, Haripriya express, Miraj Hubli express, Kolhapur Hyderabad express, Kolhapur Solapur express, Maharashtra express, Deekshabhoomi express and many other passenger trains.

Miraj railway junction is 27 km from Kumbhoj. There are private cars from Miraj station that reach Kumbhoj in 30 minutes.

Hatkanangale station is 4 km from Kumbhoj. Few trains going towards Kolhapur stop at Hatkanangale. For trains running on the Pune-Miraj-Hubli mainline, one can travel from Miraj junction. Vegetarian Jain food is served at Miraj junction by Miraj Jain Temple for people travelling via Miraj junction.

From Mumbai or Bangalore you can reach by bus also and from Kolhapur to Kumbhoj from Kolhapur and Sangli you can reach this place by buses running Maharatra State Road transport (called as ST-Bus) or by car.

==Religious organizations==
{{main|Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha}}
The [[Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha]] is a 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|last2=Carrithers |first2=Michael |last3=Humphrey |first3=Caroline }}</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 }}</ref> The organization mainly seeks to represent the interests of the native Jains of [[Jainism in Maharashtra|Maharashtra]], [[Jainism in Karnataka|Karnataka]] and [[Jainism in Goa|Goa]].

==See also==

*[[Jainism in Maharashtra]]
* [[Jainism in Mumbai]]
* [[Jainism in North Karnataka]]
* [[Jainism in Karnataka]]
* [[Acharya Shantisagar]]
* [[Acharya Vidyasagar]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.shribahubali.org/ Official website of Kumbhoj Jain temple]
The information here is partly based on Jain Internet Religious websites: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060626004328/http://jainuniversity.org/html/ViewTirthPlace.asp?id=97], [http://jainsamaj.org/temples/kumbhojgiri_teerth.htm], [http://www.jainworld.com/jainbooks/Books/A%20HISTORY%20OF%20THE%20JAINS.htm],
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050205144310/http://punjabi.net/talk/messages/1/15317.html?1099616075], [http://www.shribahubali.org] etc

{{Jain temples}}
{{Jainism Topics}}

{{Kolhapur district topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Jain temples in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Kolhapur district]]
[[Category:Colossal Jain statues in India]]
[[Category:12th-century Jain temples]]

Kumbhoj - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 09:24, 14 August 2023