The Jambudweep complex spread over an area of 30 acres has been developed under the guidance of Her Holiness 105 Sri Gyanamathi Mathaji. The entire activity of maintaining and managing the Jambudweep complex has been undertaken by Digambar Jain Trilok Sansthan.
Jambudweep & Gyanamathi Mathaji
Her Holiness 105 Sri Gyanamathi Mathaji during her chaturmas (monsoon sojourn) in 1965 at Shravanabelagola had visualised the structural arrangements of Madhyalok (Middle universe), Terahdweep (13 islands) and Pindasth Dhyan (meditation). She gave a deep thought into this and decided to create the Jambudweep arrangement in some part of India and finally decided to have it at Hastinapur.
Jambudweep & Jainism
The structure of Jamboodweep, depicting Jain geography, is the model of our grand universe. Centrally located sumeru mountain is considered as its central point. Keeping Sumeru as the reference the Jamboodweep structure is divided into four distinct regions as East, West, North and South. The East region is known as East Videh Kshetra and the West region as west Videh Kshetra. In the South direction, with the prominence of Bharat Kshetra, Himuan etc mountains, Ganga-Sindhu, Haimurat rivers etc. Kshetras, Bhogbhumis (lands of enjoyment) with Kalpa-Vrikshas (wish fulfilling trees), Chaityalayas (Temples), palaces of deities, ponds, gardens etc; have been shown while same structures have been built with different names in the North direction, having the prominence of Airavat Kshetra. Near the Sumeru mountain, Jamboo Vriksha (tree) and Shalmali Vriksha have been shown to its North and south respectively. Both of these metal trees have one temple each.
According to Jain literature, the Sumeru mountain is considered to be the most sacred and the highest mountain of all times. It is further stated that the birth-anointment (Janmabhishek) of all the Jain Tirthankars have been done here. The actual size of natural or Akritrim Sumeru Mountain is of 1 Lac 40 Yojan i.e. 40 crore miles (60 crore Kms). This has been constructed for the first time at Hastinapur in the form of 101ft. high model.
The details of the entire structure of Jambudweep has been given in some of the the Jaina works such as Tiloypannatti, Triloksar, Tatvasrtha Sutra etc. Accordingly the present world (all the six continents) is situated in the South of the Bharat Kshetra and the rest of the universe is unavailable to us in the present times.
Jambudweep at Hastinapur
The structure of Jambudweep as detailed above has been constructed at Hastinapur with the radius of the entire structure being 250 feet. Different rivers, gardens, continents, mountains, temples and other structures have been replicated with in the structure on the ground floor. On proceeding further to the centre is found the 101 feet Sumeru Mountain. There are 136 steps that are radially constructed within its structure and lead us to its top. On our way up we can have a Darshan of the 16 idols of Jinendra bhagawan that have been consecrated in four different floors (ground, first, second and third floor) in four different directions. At the extreme top of the Sumeru Mountain is found the Pandukashila which is place of birth-anointment (Janmabhishek) of all the Jain Tirthankars.
Library
The Jambudweep Pustakalaya was constructed in August 2007 as a part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Aryika 105 Sri Gyan mathi Mataji’s Diksha. This has a huge collection of more than 15,000 books related to Jainism.
Ratnatraya Nilaya (Tyagi Bhavan)
This is the place of stay of all the Digambar Jain ascetics i.e. Aryika 105 Sri Gyanamathi Mathaji and others.
Kamal Mandir (Lotus Temple)
Moving further ahead of the Ratnatraya Nilaya is the Kamal Mandir. This temple has a structure similar to a Lotus flower. Each an every petal like structure has been shaped out very carefully so as to add to the beauty of the temple. The temple has a white coloured 6 feet high marble idol of Lord Mahavir (consecrated in 1975) installed on a lotus pedestal in the Kayotsarga. The ceilings of the temple have been decorated attractively with colourful paintings related to Jainism. The temple is decorated externally through illuminated Colourful lights fixed to each of the petals.
Teen Murthy Mandir
On proceeding further ahead of the Kamal Mandir is the Teen Murthy Mandir. A 5 feet high white coloured marble idol of Lord Adinath in Kayotsarga is consecrated in the main vedhi, this idol is flanked by the idols of Bharat and Bahubali on its right and left respectively. Around 5 feet high black coloured idols of Lord Neminath and Parshwanath in padmasana are installed on the right and left vedhis flanking the main vedhi. Idols of Dharanendra Yaksha and Padmavathi Yakshi; Gomukha Yaksha and Chakreshwari Yakshi, Kshetrapala; Acharya Adisagarji and Acharya Shanthisagarji can also be found at this temple. Models of Mangitungi Hillock in Maharashtra; Nandyavarta Mahal at Kundalpur (Nalanda, Bihar) and Trilok are also found here.
Om Mandir
On moving further ahead of Teen Murthy Mandir is found the Om Mandir. This temple has three sanctum sanctorum with the three feet high white coloured marble idol of Lord Adinath in Kayotsarga in the central vedhi; around three feet high red granite structure of Om (with the images of Pancha Parameshtis installed on it) in the right and a 30 inches high white coloured marble idol of Shanthinatha and other Tirthankara’s in Kayotsarga on the left vedhi. A small structure of a lotus with 8 metal Tirthankara idols representing eight directions installed in the Om mandir is very attractive.
Aryika Ratnamathi Mathaji Kirthi Stambha
In between the Om Mandir and the Terahdweep Mandir is installed the Aryika Ratnamathi Kirtistambh. This has been installed on the spot of funeral of Aryika 105 Sri Ratnamathi Mataji. Aryika Ratnamathaji called as Mohini devi in her family life was the mother of Aryika Sri Gyanamathi Mataji, she accepted the life of being a Jain ascetic in 1971 and attained Samadhi marana (holy death) on 15th January 1985 by practicing Sallekhana (a holy way of ending ones life through fasting unto death).
Terahadweep (13 Islands) Temple
This temple has a huge collection of beautiful Jain idols made of precious stones organised in the Terahadweep structure as described in the Jain siddantha. The pinnacle of the temple is very attractive. Due to security reasons photography is strictly prohibited in this temple. However, one can obtain a VCD that is available in the office.
Sri Vidyamana Bees Tirthankar Mandir
This temple has 3 sanctum sanctorum with the central vedhi having a huge marble structure of Sahasrakoota (1008) Tirthankara. The right vedhi has a collection of 20 Vidyamana Tirthanakras with each Tirthankara idol being installed in a lotus pedestal with stalk. The left vedhi has a 2 feet high ashtadatu idol of Lord Adinath in padmasana flanked by 18 inches high metal idols.
Dhyana Mandir
This temple has a very impressive structure with the temple being well covered by a layer of well developed lawn and a shikar. As the name signifies the temple is meant for meditation (Dhyana) and has a very serene atmosphere with absolute silence. A structure of the Letter ‘Hrim’ made of ashtadathu (8 metals) has been installed over here. Images of 24 Tirthankaras as specified in the Jaina Siddantha have been installed on different portions of the letter. According to Jaina Siddantha the chanting of the letter Hrim is considered to be equivalent to recalling the names of all the 24 Tirthankaras.
Akhanda Gyana Jyothi
On 4th of June 1982 a holy chariot called as the ‘Jambudweep Gyan Jyothi’ was inaugurated by the then prime minister of India Smt Indira Gandhi. The chariot conceptualized by Her Holiness Ganani Aryika Sri Gnanamathi Mathaji preached the principles of Jain geography, non-violence, moral-upliftment and other Jain principles. After traveling all over India it reached Hastinapur on 28th April 1985. This Gyan Jyothi was installed in front of the Sumeru Parvat by the former Prime Minister of India Sri P.V.Narasimha Rao (the then defense minister of India).
Jina Bimba Pratishtapana Panchakalyana Mahotsava – On the occasion of installing the Akhanda Gyan Jyothi a grand function, called as ‘Jina Bimba Pratishtapana Panchakalyana Mahotsava’ (Jain idols installation ceremony) – was organised at Hastinapur from 28th April to 2nd May 1985 under the guidance of Her Holiness 105 Sri Gyanamathi Mathaji. During the ceremony the Jain idols were offered the masthakabhisheka by placing them on the Sumeru Parvat. Huge and attractive scaffolding with assistance from Uttar Pradesh government was built surrounding the Sumeru Parvat structure to facilitate the devotees to proceed to the top of Sumeru Parvat. Devotees who had supported the project were allowed to perform the abhisheka to the Jain idols at Sumeru Parvat. On the occasion an international seminar on ‘Jain Mathematics and Cosmology’ was organised by Digambar Jain Trilok Sansthan in coordination with Meerut University.
Jambudweep Express
This is a cement structure that is found in the complex that is constructed in a form similar to a railway train. Models depicting the lives of Jain Trithankaras are sketched over here in the individual compartments. This has been mainly built to educate the kids about Jainism.
Ashtapada Mandir
This encloses an attractively built structure of ‘Ashtapada’ – where Jainism’s first Tirthankar Adinath is believed to have attained enlightenment and salvation. This was inaugurated by the then prime minister of India Sri Atal Bihari Vajapayee in 2002 on the occasion of the 2600th Mahavir Janma Kalyana (2600th birth year) in front of Red Fort, New Delhi. Later on this was shifted over here and embedded and protected inside a covered structure.
Shwetambar Temples
We can find two Jain temples managed by the Swethambar Jain Samaj at Hastinapur, namely: Sri Shanthinath Shwethambar Jain temple and the Ashtapada Mandir. In addition to these, as mentioned earlier the Adinath Nishiyaji is also maintained by the Shwethambar Jain samaj.
Sri Shanthinath Shwetambar Jain Temple
This temple is found opposite to Bada Mandir complex and next to Kailash Parvat Mandir. This temple has a three feet high marble idol of Lord Shanthinath in Padmasana as the main deity. This is flanked by the idols of Lord Kunthunatha and Lord Aranatha on the right and left of the idol respectively. We can also find the many other Jain idols here.
A huge open hall kind of structure that can accommodate more than 8000 people has been constructed just besides the temple. This hall is meant to be used only on the Akshayatritiya day. On this day thousands of litres of sugarcane juice is extracted and distributed to pilgrims over here. It can be recalled here that on the day of Akshyatritiya Lord Adinath was offered sugarcane juice, sugarcane juice is offered to commemorate this event.
Ashtapada Mandir
This is a 151 feet tall temple that is under construction at Hastinapur. This is being constructed to represent ‘Ashtapada’ – where Jainism’s first Tirthankar Adinath is believed to have attained enlightenment and salvation. The entire structure built over eight floors (ground + seven) is very huge and is under construction since the past fifteen years and might need another five years for its completion. On the outer walls of the second, third and fourth floors many small mantap kind of areas have be made all through out. It has been planned to install the idols of all the Shwethambar Jain achayas in these mantapas. On the seventh floor can be found a temple dedicated to Lord Adinath. The technology used for constructing this temple is worth noting – a mixture of different pulses and jaggery has been used as the binding agent instead of cement. This has been used so as to improve the longevity of the structure. Experts are of the opinion that the of this technology will help the building last for atleast 1,000 years.
The Panchakalyana Pratishta Mahotsava of this temple was conducted from 2-8 December 2009.
