Travel Bengal: Jain Temples in historic Murshidabad

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By JYOTI KOTHARI

Tirthankar Idols at Rambagh, Azimganj

Tirthankar Parswanath in White marble.
See all 21 photos
Tirthankar Parswanath in White marble.
24 Tirthankaras. Six in each side.
24 Tirthankaras. Six in each side.

Jain temples in Azimganj and Jiaganj

Large numbers of tourists visit Murshidabad, a historical district in West Bengal province in India.They travel long way from different parts in the world to see beautiful Jain temples along with the historical palaces, tombs and other ruins of Nawabs of Murshidabad.

Nawab Mursheed coolie Khan established the city of Murshidabad in the seventeenth century. Jagat Seth Manikchand Gelda of Jain community came along with Nawab Mursheed coolie Khan to live in. Many Jains follow him and started residing near Murshidabad. Murshidabad is a district nowadays and Azimganj and Jiaganj are the main Jain cities. Kathgola is another famous Jain temple situated near Nashipur.

There are fourteen Jain temples in these twin cities situated both sides of river Bhagirathi (The Ganges).

There are temples of Tirthankar Neminath, Shantinath, Chintamani Parsvanath, Sumatinath, Padmaprabhu, Sambhavanath, Gaudi Parshvanath and Sanwalia Parsvanath (popularly known as Rambagh) along with a Dadabadi at Rambagh in Azimganj city.

Jiaganj has temples of Lord Parsvanath, Sambhavanath, Vimalnath and Adinath besides a Dadabadi at Kiratbagh. There is a temple of Adinath shree Rshabhadeva and a Dadabadi in Kathgola near Nashipur.

Most of the temples in Azimganj and Jiaganj are very big in size with large courtyards. These have beautiful idols of Tirthankaras and other gods and goddesses. One can see Tirthankar idols of Gemstones at Chintamani parsvanath Temple in Azimganj. These historical temples are beautifully decorated and well designed. These temples are monuments of British India. The temples are depicting Jain styles amulgumated with Muslim and European architecture.

Idols in Kirat Bagh

Parswanath and Vasupujya Swami Idols in Kasauti (Gold Taster)stone.
Parswanath and Vasupujya Swami Idols in Kasauti (Gold Taster)stone.

Sambhavanath Temple, Jiaganj

Mulagambhara: Mulanayak Shree Sambhavanath and two other idols
Mulagambhara: Mulanayak Shree Sambhavanath and two other idols
Foot prints of 11 Ganadharas (Principle disciples) of Lord Mahavira
Foot prints of 11 Ganadharas (Principle disciples) of Lord Mahavira
Sambhavanath Temple
Sambhavanath Temple
Sambhavanath Temple front view
Sambhavanath Temple front view

Katgola Jain Temple, Nasipur, Murshidabad

Main gate Katgola Jain Temple
Main gate Katgola Jain Temple
Main gate Katgola Jain Temple (Inside view)
Main gate Katgola Jain Temple (Inside view)
Passage to Katgola temple
Passage to Katgola temple
Horse rider Statue in the garden
Horse rider Statue in the garden
Marble elephant out side Torandwar
Marble elephant out side Torandwar
Torandwar, Katgola temple
Torandwar, Katgola temple
Decorative statue outside Katgola temple
Decorative statue outside Katgola temple
Katgola temple Shikhar
Katgola temple Shikhar
Shatrunjay Teerth (Palitana) Marble Patta in side temple
Shatrunjay Teerth (Palitana) Marble Patta in side temple
Yakshini inside Katgola temple
Yakshini inside Katgola temple
Gomukha Yaksha inside Katgola temple
Gomukha Yaksha inside Katgola temple

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Katgola Pond
Katgola Pond

Other images at Rambagh, Azimganj

Dadaguru Foot prints in Rock crystal at Rambagh Dadabadi
Dadaguru Foot prints in Rock crystal at Rambagh Dadabadi
Bhairav Ji outside Rambagh Temple
Bhairav Ji outside Rambagh Temple

Who built these temples?

Mahnot family built Sri Vasupujya Swami Temple in Azimganj. It was the oldest jain temple in Azimganj. The temple was merged in Sri Neminath temple later on. Harakh Chand Golechha built Chhoti Shantinath temple with Gemstones idols of all 24 Tirthankaras as home temple. Later on it was merged into Sri Chintamani Parswanath temple. Mahasingh Meghraj Kothari was the main contributor in building Sri Neminath temple at Azimganj. Gulabdevi estate built Sri Shantinath temple at Baraduari, Azimganj. Rai Dhanpat Singh Dugar built Sri Sambhavanath Jain temple and Gauri Parasnath home temple in Azimganj. Shrimal family of Azimganj built the Padmaprabhu temple. Rambagh Sanwalia Parshwanath temple alongwith a Dadabadi was built by some Yati name unknownand the nahar family built the Sumatinath temple at Azimganj.

Sripat Singh Dugar constructed Sri Vimalnath Swami temple at Jiaganj and Sri Sambhavnath temple at Jiaganj was built by the Srisangh.

Rai Bahadur Laxmipat Singh Dugar built Kathgola Jain temple and Dadabadi.

Dieties from Cossimbazar and Jangipur were shifted to Azimganj Sanwalia Parasnath temple (Rambagh).

Murshidabad: Azimganj and Jiaganj

  • Charitable dispensary by Murshidabad Sangh at Kolkata Dadabadi

    Murshidabad Sangh will be opening a charitable dispensary at Kolkata Dadabadi , 29, Badridas temple street, soon. Murshidabad Sangh is an organization (situated in Kolkata) of Shaharwali society. Presently the organization has 1650 members in its role. It is an old organization and most of the people from Shaharwali society are members of the said Sangh. Murshidabad Sangh has been running a charitable Homeopathic dispensary at Azimganj since last 35 years. It will be another charitable Homeopathic dispensary run by the Sangh. Mr. Bikas Chhejed, Secretary, informed me that they are planning to involve few Alopathy doctors, orthopedic surgeons too in this dispensary. Our best wishes for the same. Dadabadi administration has agreed to provide space for this noble work, informed Mr. Chhajed. With regards,  Jyoti Kothari (N.B. Jyoti Kothari is proprietor of Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur, representing Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is a Non-resident Azimganjite.)

  • Shaharwali blog will complete its four years of journey on 26th June

     Shaharwali blog will complete its four years of journey on 26th June, 2012, and start its fifth year on June 27. Azimganj-Jiaganj-Murshidabad blog started its journey on June 27, 2008. More than one hundred (122) posts has been written since the covering almost all aspects of Shaharwali community. Thousands of visitors have visited the blog since then from all over the world and received large numbers of comments.. It is becoming a reference site for Sheharwali community. Thanks to the readers, commentors and those who supplies useful materials. we are also thankful to them who helped spreading message and propagate the blog. We seek worldwide representatives for the blog. Representatives for Shaharwali blog With regards,  Jyoti Kothari (N.B. Jyoti Kothari is proprietor of Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur, representing Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is a Non-resident Azimganjite.)

  • Representatives for Shaharwali blog

    Dear Readers,  It is high time now that we have "Representatives" from different geographical regions who can send news reports and  propagate Shaharwali blog. The representatives will greatly help to unite Shaharwali community and keep them updated with latest activities. They will also help keep our rich culture alive among community members. As you know this blog has completed 46 months of its journey. The blog is very popukar among Shaharwali society and people interested about Shaharwali Jain Samaj. The blog Azimganj-Jiaganj-Murshidabad contents large numbers of topics and issues related to Shaharwali. We have written about history, art & culture, temples, religion, rituals, language, food, persons, festivals, heritage, geography, migrations, social relationship and many other related topics. We have also included news, events and achievements. I request interested and enthusiastic Shaharwali community members to join us as representatives. Their names will be displayed with their geographical location in "Representatives" page. Name of the representative will be published in the post he or she has contributed. Please mail me jyoti_kothari@yahoo.com seeking representation. With regards,  Jyoti Kothari (N.B. Jyoti Kothari is proprietor of Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur, representing Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is a Non-resident Azimganjite.)

  • Varshi Tap parna of Rashmi at Hastinapur

    Congratulations!! Congratulations!! Rashmi Rakhecha performed Varshi Tap at an early age. Her Parna happened in Hastinapur today on the eve of Akha Teej. She is a religious minded young female. Her maternal house is in Azimganj. Rashmi, Bangaluru is daughter of Sri Abhaychand and Smt. Prabha Bothra, Kolkata. Mrs Prabha Bothra is daughter of late Sri Abhaychand Kothari at Azimganj and sister of Sri Nirbhaychand, Shitalchand and Premchand Kothari. She performed Ekantar Upavas for more than two years required to complete Varshi tap. Her austerity and penance is admirable.We wish all the best to her. With regards, Jyoti Kothari (N.B. Jyoti Kothari is proprietor of Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur, representing Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is a Non-resident Azimganjite.)

  • शहरवाली शब्दों का वाक्य प्रयोग: मुर्शिदाबाद की भाषा भाग 5

    शहरवाली शब्दों का वाक्य प्रयोग: मुर्शिदाबाद की भाषा भाग ५ १. आज एकदम छुचा पानी दूध आया है.  २. परसु जीमन में पंतुआ बनेगा.  ३. नन्ही फुच्ची भुआमा भागलपुर गईं.  ४. आम को झांपी से ढांक दीजो नई तो मक्खी बैठेगी.   ५. आजकल गंगाजली गउं कहाँ आवे? ६. दाई नौकर लोग के लिए उष्णा चावल बनता था. ७. जैनी लोग अरुआ चावल खाए. ८. गोयेंठे के आंच में बाटी बढ़िया सिकेगा.  शहरवाली बोली के कुछ और उदहारण: मुर्शिदाबाद की भाषा भाग ४शहरवाली शब्दों का वाक्यों में प्रयोग: मुर्शिदाबाद की बोली भाग ३शहरवाली शब्दों का वाक्य प्रयोग: मुर्शिदाबाद की बोली भाग २शहरवाली शब्दों का वाक्य प्रयोग: मुर्शिदाबाद की बोली भाग १   शहरवाली शब्दकोश (शब्दावली) Murshidabad dictionary With regards, Jyoti Kothari (N.B. Jyoti Kothari is proprietor of Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur, representing Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is a Non-resident Azimganjite.)

  • News of Shaharwali society

     Dear readers, This blog is meant for Shaharwali society living in and outside Murshidabad. As all of you know that I am presently living in Jaipur so I don't get news from Murshidabad. I request all of you living in Azimganj- Jiaganj, Kolkata or somewhere else to send latest news about our society. I will try to post it in the blog so that Shaharwali people worldwide will know that. With regards, Jyoti Kothari (N.B. Jyoti Kothari is proprietor of Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur, representing Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is a Non-resident Azimganjite.)

Comments

JYOTI KOTHARI profile image

JYOTI KOTHARI Hub Author 3 months ago

There are Dharamshala in both Azimganj and Jiaganj. It is very near to Railway station at Azimganj city namely Azimganj Kothi. There is a Amil khata in Jiaganj Mahajanpatti. It is about 2 to 3 KM from Jiaganj railway station.

Suresh Raj Mehta 3 months ago

good intoduction,pl. incorporate details of Dharmshalla at Ajimganj with distance from Rly station.

JYOTI KOTHARI profile image

JYOTI KOTHARI Hub Author 3 months ago

Rabindraji,

Thanks for commenting. I am also a proud Shaharwali.

Rabindra Singh Bothra 3 months ago

Thanks Jyoti Babu for updating us about our birthplace. It reminds how best is our motherland. It gives us inspiraion and proud to be a Shaharwali.

JYOTI KOTHARI profile image

JYOTI KOTHARI Hub Author 4 months ago

Thanks for your comment. I hope you are from Azimganj. Is it? f yes, please inform about you.

PARESH BOTHRA 4 months ago

I ADMIRE IT A LOT.FANTASTIC EFFORT TO PUT AZIMGANJ MURSHIDABAD IN LIMELIGHT.

DIPAK CHAND KHOWASH 14 months ago

JYOTI UNCLE,

I M ALSO FROM AZIMGANJ.

ITS REALLY NICE TO PROGRATE JAIN RELIGION.

The facial expression in idols at former temple is very fine.

WITH REGARDS,

DIPAK CH KHOWASH

S/O SRI GOPAL CH KHOWASH.

AZIMGANJ, JAINPATTY.

kaushik 22 months ago

jai jinendra

please our web site we have create 15 web site please ragister u r self

kausha 23 months ago

jain temple is very nice.

thank you

NIROJ JAIN 2 years ago

I MAM SO GLAD OF MY PARENTS

Deven Jain 2 years ago

Jyoti,

You are doing well to propagate Jain religion. We can darshan Jain temples of various parts in India in your articles. I have never visited Murshidabad but heard name many times. Nice photo gallery of Murshidabad Jain temples.

I loved it and Parasnath photo gallery of glass temple Kolkata very much.

Thanks.

Thumb up.

Deven Jain

James A Watkins profile image

James A Watkins Level 8 Commenter 2 years ago

Gorgeous photography and interesting story, well presented. Thank you very much for an enjoyable journey.

H P Roychoudhury profile image

H P Roychoudhury 2 years ago

It is a very informative hub full of historic importance. Who knows such a rich Jain culture in Murshidabad, the capital of Muslim Rulers?

prasadjain profile image

prasadjain Level 4 Commenter 2 years ago

This article gives good introduction to these temples. The facial expression in idols at former temple is very fine.

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