The Jal Mandir meaning Water Temple, also known as Apapuri, in Pawapuri, meaning a town without sins, in the Indian state of Bihar, is a highly revered temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira, the 24thThirthankara, which marks the place of his cremation. Mahavira attained Nirvana in Pawapuri in 527 BC. The temple has been built within a tank filled with red coloured lotus flowers. It is one of the five main temples in Pawpuri, where the "Charan Paduka" or foot impression of Mahavira is deified.
Location
The temple, a famous and sacred pilgrimage centre of Jainism, is located in the holy city of Pawapuri in the Nalanda district in the Ganga Basin. It is away from Patna, the capital city of Bihar which is the nearest airport. Rajgir the nearest convenient railway station is away, and from Biharsharif city in the subdivision of the same name. It is at the end of a branch road from the Patna-Ranchi road or NH 20.
Legend
According to a local legend after Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana at Pavapuri in the village. The place of his cremation became a pilgrimage centre when a large number of pilgrims took out a very large amount of soil from the site, which was considered as sacred ashes of Lord Mahavira, and thus created a huge pit which got filled up with water and became a tank. To commemorate the place of his nirvana a temple was built within the tank.
History
Mahavira was a prince of the Magadha Kingdom then known as "Madyama Pawa” or “Apawapuri", and became an ascetic at the age of 30. During one of the religious observances, called the chaturmas observed by Jains for four months during the rainy season starting from the beginning of the month of Āṣārh and ending in the month of Kartik, the Jain monks and nuns remain at one holy place and preach the religious teachings of Jainism to the local people. Mahavira also observed this practice and during this period his one such stay was at Pawapuri. On the Dipawali night on the 15th day of the month of Kartik he breathed his last when he was 72 years old. While the place of his Nirvana is commemorated by a temple called the "Gaon Mandir" meaning "village temple", the location where he attained NIrvana, the temple built within a tank is known as the Jal Mandir. There is also another temple here dedicated to Mahavira called "Samosharan" where a statue of Mahavira delivering his last sermon is deified; the temple is circular in shape with beehive shape design.
Features
Jal Mandir, meaning a "temple in water", is built in white marble within the water tank; the tank measures 84 bigha. The water surface of the lake is covered with lotuses. This architecturally elegant temple in the form of a "Vimana" or chariot has the footprint of Mahavira for worship. A bridge built in stone connects the temple with the bank of the water tank. The temple shines bright and sublime during a moonlit night. The pond has many species of fish which are fed by the priests and devotees.
