Shri Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra located in Makshi in Madhya Pradesh is Jain pilgrimage centre. It is an Atishay Kshetra i.e. Place of Miracles. Maksi is a city and a municipality in Shajapur district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Lord Parshvanatha.
History of Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra
Shri Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra located in Maksi is an ancient place of pilgrimage. There are two temples located here. As per the archaeologists the first temple known as the Bara Mandir is approximately 1000 Years old. It has been constructed in the period of Parmars. There are many legends and miracles associated with the place. It is said that once an invader had come here to destroy the temple. He however, fell sick severely. At the end he had to bow down in front of the deity of the temple. The invader later got five pinnacles on the main gate of temple. Many thieves and robbers also attacked the place but according to legends they all became blind. An inscription can also be seen here that prohibits to any one for theft. The tradition of giving up the hair the first time in childhood here is practiced here.
Temple of Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra
The Temple of Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra is very ancient. It is almost 2500 years old. There are two temples located here. The first temple is known as Bara Mandir and houses the idol of Lord Parshvanatha. The idol is carved of black stone and is 3.5 feet in height. The second temple which is the small temple is located near the first one. It is dedicated to Suparshavnatha, the 7th Tirthankara. The idol was installed in V.S. 1899. The temple also houses 42 idols that have been installed by Jeevraj Papariwal in V.S. 1548. Both the temples are very beautiful and have been magnificently carved with intricate designs. Many pilgrims visit the temple from far off places for fulfillment of their desires.
The temple organizes annual functions on the days of Chaitra Krishna. The temple also has provisions for dharamshalas or rest houses for the pilgrims. Shri Digambara Jain Mandir Dharmshala and Shri Mahavira Bhawan are the dharamshalas located here. Mess facility is also provided to the pilgrims.
Temple of Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra is well connected to road, rail and air. Busses are available from Indore, Ujjain, Devas, Shajapur to Maksi. From Maksi Bus Stand, Tempo, Rickshaw or Tongas are also available to reach the Atishaya Kshetra. Maksi is railway station is the nearest station that is linked to Ratlam-Bhopal, Maksi-Guna and Maksi-Indore lines. The nearest airport is located in Indore that is 70 km from here.
