Shri Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra located in Karguvan in Uttar Pradesh is a Jain pilgrimage centre. It is an Atishaya Kshetra i.e. Place of Miracles. Shri Karguvanji Atishaya Kshetra is located only 5 km ahead from Jhansi city in the beautiful valley of Karguvan Village on Jhansi-Kanpur Road.
History of Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra
According to history Shri Karguvanji Atishaya Kshetra is almost 700 years old. During the time of Peshavas almost 200 years ago, Jhansi was known as Balvant Nagar. Few miracles have taken place here. One day a person was carrying few broken idols in his bullock cart. He was going to immerse them in the water. However, at a particular place the cart stopped and refused to move further. The person tried hard to move the cart but his efforts proved to be ineffective. On the same night another person of Balvant Nager, Shri Singhai Nanheju saw a dream where he came to know about the location of cart and many several idols that lay beneath the earth. The next morning Shri Nanheju informed the king about his last night`s dream. Upon hearing it the king instructed to dig the place. After digging the earth many ancient idols were discovered under the basement. The King donated almost 9 acres of land for the construction of the temple. The idols were later installed in the temple after its construction. A beautiful garden was also developed here.
Temple of Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra
The temple of Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra houses six idols of Jain Tirthankaras. These idols are built of black stone and have been installed in a basement. The temple is built on a land of 9 acres and is bordered by a rampart. The idols date back to V.S. 1345. Shri Nanheju with organizing Panch Kalyanaka Pratishtha Mahotsava installed big idol of Lord Mahavira. The biggest idol of Lord Parshvanatha along with five others in Kargavan is very attractive and has been magnificently carved. These idols are worth seeing. A huge idol of Lord Mahavira was also installed in the temple in V.S. 1851 by Shri Nanheju. Apart from these there are other idols of Bhagwan Rishabh Dev, Lord Shantinath, Lord Neminath and Lord Bahubali. The two other magnificent temples in the vicinity are Shri Bhagwan Adinath Mandir and Shri Bhagwan Bahubali Mandir.
The temple of Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra is surrounded by scenic beauty that mesmerises the pilgrims. There are 1000 trees of a variety of fruits enhances the beauty of Kshetra. The temple organises annual festival on Parshvanatha Jayanti. The festival of Diwali is also celebrated on Kartika Krishna. The temple has provisions for dharamshalas or rest houses for the pilgrims. Karguvan Kshetra Dharmshala is a famous rest house located here. Mess facility is also available here.
The temple of Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra is well connected to road and rail. Busses and Taxies are available from Jhansi city on a regular basis. The nearest railway station is located in Jhansi at a distance of 8 km.