Madhya Pradesh is the heart of the country and is greatly developed as well as rich in history and no wonder you hear the names of a lot of famous Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh.
Bundelkhand is the ancient centre of Jainism in modern Madhya Pradesh as many Jain pilgrimages, specifically, Digambar Jain is located in this area.
Famous Jain Temples of Madhya Pradesh:
| 1 | Atishaya Kshetra Maksi Parshwanath | Maksi | Madhya Pradesh |
| 2 | Shri Mohankheda Jain Tirth | Dhar | Madhya Pradesh |
| 3 | Suparshvanath Sw. Jain Mandir | Mandavgarh | Madhya Pradesh |
| 4 | Hinkargiri & Gomatgiri Temple | Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| 5 | Adinatha temple | Khajuraho | Madhya Pradesh |
| 6 | Aharji | Tikamgarh | Madhya Pradesh |
| 7 | Aharji Jain Teerth | Ahar | Madhya Pradesh |
| 8 | Bade Baba Temple | Kundalpur | Madhya Pradesh |
| 9 | Bajramath temple | Gyaraspur | Madhya Pradesh |
| 10 | Bandhaji | Tikamgarh | Madhya Pradesh |
| 11 | Bawangaja | Barwani | Madhya Pradesh |
| 12 | Ghantai temple | Khajuraho | Madhya Pradesh |
| 13 | Gopachal rock-cut Jain monuments | Gwalior fort | Madhya Pradesh |
| 14 | Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir | Jabalpur | Madhya Pradesh |
| 15 | Jain temples of Khajuraho | Khajuraho | Madhya Pradesh |
| 16 | Jain temples | Vidisha | Madhya Pradesh |
| 17 | Kanch Mandir | Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| 18 | Maladevi temple | Gyaraspur | Madhya Pradesh |
| 19 | Mohankheda | Rajgarh | Madhya Pradesh |
| 20 | Muktagiri | Jabalpur | Madhya Pradesh |
| 21 | Nainagiri | Nabai village | Madhya Pradesh |
| 22 | Navagarh Tirth | Nabai village | Madhya Pradesh |
| 23 | Paporaji | Tikamgarh | Madhya Pradesh |
| 24 | Parshvanatha temple | Khajuraho | Madhya Pradesh |
| 25 | Pateriaji | Garhakota | Madhya Pradesh |
| 26 | Pisanhari Ki Marhia | Jabalpur | Madhya Pradesh |
| 27 | Shantinatha temple | Khajuraho | Madhya Pradesh |
| 28 | Siddhachal Caves | Gwalior Fort | Madhya Pradesh |
| 29 | Sonagiri | Datia | Madhya Pradesh |
While every Jain Temple has its own importance, let us know more about some of the most famous Jain temples of Madhya Pradesh. These temples are in the vicinity of bigger cities and are commonly visited by Jain people.
Shri Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra, Maksi Parshwanath, Madhya Pradesh
Shri Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra is the ancient pilgrimage worshipped by both Digambar and Shwetambar people.
Many devotees come every year for the fulfilment of their desire.
There is also a tradition of giving up hair for the first time in childhood.
There are many rumours about the miracles of this place as it is considered most divine for the people.
There are 2 temples, a big temple and a small temple, timings for the big temple for Digambar is 6 am to 9 am after this whole day Shwetambars are allowed.
The small temple is only for Digamber Jains.
Location of Shri Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra Temple – Makshi, District-Shajapur (M.P.) PIN 465106, PHONE 9425941126, 9893030218
Other places for pilgrimage– PushpGiri 86 km, Gommat Giri 80 km, Baneria 110 km, Sidhhaverkoot 150km, Bawangaja 150 km, Nemawar 225 km.
Nearby Places– Dewas-35 km, Ujjain 40 km, Indore 70 Km.
Adinatha Temple, Khajurao
Adinatha temple is located at Khajuraho Group of monuments in Madhya Pradesh. It is an ancient shrine and it is dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar Adinath, who is the founder of Jainism.
The temple is known for its remarkable structures. It is also imprinted on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a group of temples and one of the most visited temples in Madhya Pradesh.
The external walls have 3 bands of sculptures that comprise graceful surasundaris, flying vidyadhara couples, vyalas, and a dancer with musicians. Some walls also feature Hindu deities.
Adinath Jain temple is similar to the Vamana temple but it was constructed slightly later than the Vamana temple. They represent the architecture of central India.
Location of Adinatha temple– Jain Mandir Rd, Eastern Group of Temples, Sevagram, Bijawar Khajuraho, District-Chhatarpur(M.P.)PIN 471606
Timings of Adinatha temple: Morning: 5:30 AM – 11:30 AM, Evening: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Places near Adinatha temple– Shantinath temple, Parsvanath temple, Vaman temple, Light and sound show Khajuraho, Laxmi temple.
Aharji Jain Teerth
Aharji Jain temple is famous for its beautiful monument of Lord Shatinath from the Chandella period in standing posture which is 18th feet in height, a very beautiful colossus of Lord Shantinath.
Aharji is a place that is covered with all-natural and attractive beauty. This is the major Jain temple from the Chandella period.
The inscriptions inside the temple give the name of 32 Jain communities that have to build these temples. The inscription states that the name of king Madanvarmdeo’s old name of this place was Madansagarpur and a pond named Madansagar still exists here.
Location of Aharji Jain Temple – The famous Aharji Jain Tirth is located in Taluka – Baldeogarh, District – Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, about 25 km from Tikamgarh, PIN 472001
Places Near Aharji Jain Teerth – Baldevgarh- 10 km, Mauranipur-62kms, Lalitpur- 83 km, Jhansi- 120 km
Nearby Cities– Tikamgarh and Chhatarpur
Kanch Mandir, Indore
The Kanch Mandir is one of the most famous Jain Temples in Indore. It was built by Sir Seth Hukumchand Jain in 1903.
He was an outstanding trader and India’s industrial colonizer. Kaanch Mandir, also known as Shish Mahal was built by him at Itwaria Bazar, both were built using white stones.
The interior is made of glass and patchwork which includes the floor, walls, and ceiling. Seth hired artisans from Jaipur and Iran too to work on this Jain temple.
This Jain temple had innovatively used multicoloured glass and mirrors rest of the work was done in medieval Jain style.
The main Garbhagriha and the idols of the Tirthankaras have mirrors on both sides, therefore, are seen infinite times.
Location of Kanch Mandir – Itwaria Bazaar, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 452002
Timings of the temple– 10 AM to 5 PM
Places near Kanch mandir– Sarafa Bazar, Rajwada, Bada Ganpati, Chhatri bagh.
Bade Baba Temple, Kundalpur
Bade baba Kundalpur is a pilgrimage town for Jains. It is formally known as Shri Digamber Jain Siddha Kshetra Kundalpur.
The construction was done under the enlightenment of Acharya Vidyasagar and was built in Nagara style.
The temple has a world-class structure is also popularly known as “Vishava ka Sabse Bada Mandir”
The oldest temple of Kundalpur has a statue of idol 1008 Shri Shri Adinath Bhagwan in a sitting posture and is 15 feet in height.
Recently in 2022 Panch Kalyanaka Mahotsav and Mahamastakabhisheka (refers to the abhiṣeka) of the idol of Rishabhanatha was organized.
Location of Bade Baba Temple – Kundalpur, Damoh district (Madhya Pradesh) PIN 470772
Places near Bade Baba Temple– Damoh 35 km, Bhopal 300 km.
