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Development & Impact of Jainism in India & Abroad
BANARAS (VARANASI)
Among ancient most big cities of (India) Bharat "Varanasi" is very famous. It is also known as "Kashi". Being located in between river "Varna" and "Ashi" It was named as Varanashi. This exists on the bank of Holy River "GANGAS" (GANGA). The 23rd Tirthankaras of Jain Tradition Lord Parshwanath was born in this city. Therefore, this famous Tirth is also popularly known as Jain Pilgrimage place.
On this holy land of birth place of Lord Parshwanath a Digambar Jain temple is also there in "Bhelupur".
At a distance of one K.M. a place called 'Sarnath' is also located where 11th Tirthankaras of Jain tradition "Lord Shreyansnath" was born and hence it is known as his birth place. A famous Jain Acharya Shri. Samantbhadra and well known event of this life is associated with a center of a place popularly known as "Phate Mahadev" a temple named as such, took place in 2nd century. A.D.)
Parswanath Vidyapith is eminent Jain Research Institute at Banaras.
PRABHAS TIRTH (PABHOSA)
The Prabhas Tirth is located at a distance of 8 km from a village name Pali under Manganpur Tehsil (sub district) of Allahabad or Prayag which is a famous pilgrimage place known as Sangam Tirth in Uttar Pradesh. In local language it is known as 'PABHOSA'. This holy place is considered to be a place of renunciation as also place of attaining "Kewal Jnan" of 6th Tirthankaras Padmaprabhu of Jain Tradition. It is also said that the cousin of Lord Shri Neminath the 22nd Tirthankaras, Narayan Shri Krishna whose death took place in this Prabhosa forest being killed through an arrow during hunting by his younger brother Jaratkumar who had erroneously mistaker to be a beast instead of his elder brother. Therefore this place is also known as the place of death of Shri Krishna. Writings are also found indicating that in ancient times 32 prince headed by Lalitkumar became Jain monks through avowed process undertook penance and got liberated by religious process of Santhara or 'Anasana' ending their lives. peacefully through mediation. This was a very renowned holy place of Jainas and many Jain temples were existed here which were destroyed in course of time related process. This is evident from the fact that several Jain idols were found underground while cultivating agricultural fields by the formers. Here one engraved stone with image of "Panchbalyati" was found, where there is a write up on the base stone indicating period of 14th century of Vikrama Samvata (56 years ahead of Christian exa) was marked. There are two ancient caves also where there are two inscribed stones. A famous scholar "Furor" an.
On the basis of various indication, on this stone, the period/age of 1st or 2nd century B.C. has been presumed. Besides this, several inscribed stones were found in pabhosa indicating "Shung period". According to them it is clear that there was also reign of Mitra Dynasty kings a branch of Shung Dynasty. During their rule maximum spreading of Jain tradition took place. A small inn of Jains (Jain Dharmashala) is located here nearby a hillock is there earlier there were three (Jain) temples and one Piller called "Manadanda" duly constructed, which were destroyed
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