Bāmanwāda is one of the most exquisite Jain temples with an immense historical significance. King Samprati had taken a vow to vist 5 Jain tirths every year and Bāmanwāda is one of them.
It is where the herdsman pierced nails into Lord Māhāveer’s ears. This was due to past karmas he committed during the life of Triprishtha. There is a murti of Lord Māhāveer in standing kayotsarga posture with footprints beneath it indicating the exact location where this occurred. Next to this spot you can witness a crack in the wall due to the scream of agony when the nails were removed from Lord Māhāveer’s ears.
Inside the temple there is a Chomukhi murti of Lord Māhāveer (four idols facing the four cardinal directions) and also radiant murtis of Tirthankars made out of rare gemstones associated to the Nav Grahas as follows:
- Munisuvrat Swami’s murti made of kasauṭi stone (Shani graha)
- Suvidhi Swami’s murti made of crystal (Shukra graha)
- Padmaprabhu Swami’s murti made of moonga stone (Surya graha)
- Vasupujya Swami’s murti made of moonga stone (Mangal graha)
- Chandraprabhu Swami’s murti made of crystal (Candra graha)
- Parsvanath Bhagwan’s murti made of emerald [panna] (Ketu graha)
- Neminath Bhagwan’s murti made of kasauṭi stone [kasauṭī (कसौटी)— a touchstone] (Rahu graha)
- Shantinath Bhagwan’s murti made of emerald with an overlay of gold (Buddha graha)
- Chomukhi Adinath Bhagwan’s murti made of panch dhatu (Guru graha)
The main gates, the idols of elephants and the paintings of the 27 worldly lives (bhavas) of Bhagawan Mahavir are scintillatingly carved of marble.
References:
1. Internet
2. Photos from World Org Website
3. Brief historical background of King Samprati
