Jainism in Bihar

The famous Jain temple located at Pawapuri, Bihar

Jainism in Bihar trace a long history since the times of twenty-fourth Tirthankara Mahavira, who was born in Vaishali (near Patna).

An ancient black statue of Lord Mahavira weighing around 250 kg was recently stolen from Jamui, Bihar. The statue was later recovered by the Police.^[1]

History

Vasupujya, the 12th Jain Tirthankara was born in Champapur, Bhagalpur. He attained all his Pancha Kalyanaka (Garbha, Janma, Tapa, Kevala Jnana and Moksha) from Champapur. Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism, was born in Vaishali around sixth century B.C.^[2]

Pilgrimage

Jain pilgrimages in Bihar are as follows:

• Rajgir
• Kamaldah Jain Temple in Pataliputra
• Jain Mandir Lachhuar,Lachhuar, Jamui district : more than 2,600 years old temple.
• Champapur : more than 2,500 years old temple.
• Pawapuri : more than 2,500 years old temple.
• Arrah
• Vikramashila

• 
  31 feet statue of Lord Vasupujya, Champapur, Bhagalpur
• 
  Pawapuri
• 
  Pawapuri
• 
  Rajgir
• 
  Lachhuar Jain Mandir

Notes

1. Stolen idol of Lord Mahavir recovered, The Times of India, 6 December 2015
2. Pathak Prabhu Nath,Society and Culture in Early Bihar, Commonwealth Publishers, 1988, pp. 140