Moolnayak: Bhagwan Mahavir Swami Ji
Kalyanak: Nirvan (salvation) / Moksh (Liberation) Of Lord Mahavir Swami Ji
Introduction / Overview
The Jal Mandir is also known as ‘Apapuri’or ‘Apapapuri’, which means “a town without sins” situated in the Nalanda district of Bihar, India (approx. 19 kilometers from Rajgir and 101 kilometers from Patna).
Details
This is the place where Lord Mahavir, the 24 th tirthankar of Jainism attained Nirvan (salvation). In 527 BC, he attained nirvan on the day of Kartik Vadi Amavasya at the age of 72. The followers of Jainism celebrate this day with complete devotion in the form of festival of Diwali.
Lord Mahavir was born in a Kshatriya family, and his childhood name was Prince Vardhman. His father’s name was King Siddharth and mother’s name was queen Trishala. At the age of 30, he abandoned his royal pleasures and went to the forest to perform penance to attain salvation through self-purification. After 12 years of rigorous penance and spiritual practices, he conquered his soul and victory over the self and attained omniscience (Keval Gyan) at the age of 42 and he was then named as ‘Mahavir (great conqueror)’. To get freedom from sorrows, Mahavir showed the path of “Satya (truthfulness), Ahimsa (non-violence), Achaurya (non-stealing), Brahamacharya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) to common people.
In 527 BC, this shrine was first constructed by the king Nandivardhan, who was the elder brother of Lord Mahavir. Over the period of time, it has been renovated by various religious dignitaries and organizations.
The Jal Mandir (water temple) is made up of white marble which is located in the middle of a lotus pond. On the temple’s north facing side, there is a majestic curved gateway that is crafted from sandstone that leads to the temple.
In the sacred area of the temple, the tirthankar - Lord Mahavir’s footprints have been engraved, along with his first Gandhar (disciple) Indrabhuti Gautam Swami’s footprints which are on the left- hand side and his fifth Gandhar (disciple) Sudharma Swami’s footprints which are on the right- hand side.
Presently, the structure of temple is situated at the original place where Mahavir’s mortal body was cremated. It is believed that at the time of funeral pyre of Lord Mahavira, devotees took out his ashes from this soil and carried along with them and this created a huge pit here.
This place is also known as ‘Aapapapuri’ and by worshipping here, devotees destroy/loose all their sins. Lord Mahavira taught the lesson of non-violence to the entire world and by following his path of non-violence; Mahatma Gandhi was also highly influenced by his teachings and followed them throughout his life.
Divine message of Lord Mahavira / “The Enlightened Words/Sayings of Lord Mahavir”
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