Karanja Tirth

 

Mulnayak: idols of Bhagwan Parsvanath and Bhagwan  Chanderprabh

How to reach: Karanja is 32 Kms from Murtijapur on Murtijapur-yeotmal line. It is 62 Kms from Amravati. The staying facilities are available in Shri Mahavir Brahmacharyashram.

Art and architecture:Balkatra temple

Historicity:  Karanja is an ancient jain center. Earlier there were 3 Bhattarak  Institutions ( gaddi) known as ‘Sengan- Kastha sangh- balatkatragan’. Three main temples of karanja are of these three maths. The first Jain temple belonging to Sengan is known as Shri Parsvanath Digamabar Jain sengan Mandir. The idol of Mulnayak Bhagwan Parsvanath is in garbhgrih. Besides there are 62 stone idols and 49 metal idols are installed in this temple. The samadhi of last sengan bhattarak  Veersen is also here. A 500 years old painting showing the Panchkalauyanak is preserved in this temple. This painting is a marvelous piece of art with gold work. There is a manastambh in front of the temple and charans (footprints) of the bhattarak are there. A rathyatra is taken out on the first day of dark part (krishn paksch) of Chaitra month.

          The temple of kastha Sangh is dedicated to Mulnayak Bhagwan Chandrprabhu ji sitting in Padmaasan. This temple is in Chevere line. There are 6 stone and 10 metal idols on the vedi. Besides, there are 29 metal and 31 stone idols are on the backside vedi. The invaluable idols are secured in the right side room and on the left, the miraculous idol of devi Padmavati is installed. This Idol of Padmavati devi is famous for its miracles. The yatra of devi is taken out on 15 day of bright moon of Chaitra month. The another special feature of this temple is  a mandap of 42 artistically decorated wood pillars. There are more idols in the underground celler.

          The temple of Balatakar Sangh is dedicated to Mulnayak Chandrnath ji. This temple is known as ‘Shri mulsangh Chandranath swami Balatakagan Digamabar Jain mandir’. Besides the idol of Mulnayak, there are 11 metal and 2 stone idols on the vedi. There are 27 stone and 27 metals idols more on the backside vedi. The idol of Bhagwan mahavir Swami in padamasan is also very attractive in the shikhar. There are 2 brass  sahastrakut Jinalaya-one with 1008 idols and other with 1728 idols. Here the charan-padukae of bhattarak Devenderkirti are preserved. There is an invaluable collection of handwritten scriptures. Out of 1981 books, 25 are on Tadpatra (leaves).

          Mahavir Brahamacharayashram was established due to initiative of kshulak ji shri Parsvasagar ( now Acharaya Samatbhadra ji). There is the mahavir temple and museum and art objects. The staying arrangements for the pilgrims are also provided here.