Jain Digest 2015 06

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 32

JAIN DIGEST
Jainism In Nepal
HILE
Nepal is the only Hindu nation in the world. Bharat
Chakravarty, the son of Lord Adinath, worshipped at the bank of the river Gandaki nearby Mansarovar lake. Bhadrabahu, the last Jain ascetic to have complete knowledge of Jain scriptures, was in Nepal for a 12-year penitential vow when the Pataliputra conference took place in 300 BCE to put together the Jain canon anew philosophy.
Out of the 24 Tirthankars, the 19th Tirthankar was Malinath, a female, who is believed to be born in Mithalapuri (Jankapur) in Nepal. The twenty-first Tirthankar, Naminath, was also said to be born in the same place.
321 MAY-JUN 2015
In Kathmandu, a 2 1⁄2 ft high stone image of Chandra Prabhu, the eighth Tirhankar has been recently (1993) found on the bank of Bagmati in Sankhmul (river). It was lying under sand. It is a standing image. There is an emblem of lotus on the chest. However, in Nepal archeological studies for tracing Jain monuments have not been scientifically carried out. Scholars and Jain Munis believe that the famous
Adinath Temple of Chobar in kathmandu was a Jain temple during the Lichhavi period.
An estimate is that there are 3500 to 5000 Jains live in Nepal. There is a Jain Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Jainism became quite popular at the time of Shree Parsh- Jain society inaugurated the Lord Mahavir Jain Niketan in vanatha. The 24th Tirthankar Mahavir Swami, was the 1979. The Pratistha for the Jain temple was performed in contemporary of Lord Buddha. It is an acknowledged fact 1996. There are local Jain associations in the districts of that Jain religion became more prevalent in Nepal even Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa Saptari, Parsa Kathmandu. There after Mahavir Swami. In the second century, after nirvana are also Jain centres in Biratnagar and Kathmandu. In (salvation) of Mahavir Swami Jainism was on decline. At Naxal there is Mahavir Jain Niketan, which has a conferthat time thousands of Jain saints (Munis) died from fam- ence hall a guest house and a temple. The temple has two ine which spread in northern India At that time the famous floors, one for Digambar panth and other for Shwetamber saints known as Chadah, Purvadhari Bhadrabahu was panth. a symbol of unit At the right side is Jain bhavan, performing Maha Prana Dhyana (meditation) in a cave in which has a wedding hall in addition to the several rooms Nepal. When this fact became known to the Jain saints for pilgrims. The temple complex is situated near Kama(munis), a group of 500 saints (Sangh) under the leader- Ipokhari (near City mall), Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City, ship of Sthuli Bhadra was sent to Muni Bhadrabahu to learn Kathmandu.In the village of Chobar is the Adinath Lokeshall-round knowledge from him. It is mentioned in Jain war Temple, originally built in the 15th century. It's a handliterature that even at that time Jainism was prevalent in some three-tiered Newari temple and its roof struts, walls Nepal. and courtyard are adorned with hundreds of metal plates, cups, dishes, knives, ladles and ceremonial vessels, nailed there by newlyweds to ensure a happy married life. The temple is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, and in front is an octagonal stone shikhara temple fronted by a gilded dorje symbol. A tangle of lanes leads off the square in front of the temple to the main part of the village and a small Tibetan Buddhist monastery.