Mohankheda is a Jain pilgrimage centre. It is a Swetambara Jain teertha that is situated in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh in India. In the year 1884 it was established by Acharya Rajendrasuri. Mohankheda is situated 105 kilometres from Indore and 47 km from Dhar on the Indore Ahmedabad Highway. Presently the pilgrimage centre serves as a significant Gyana kshetra or Jain centre of learning. People from different places visit this place.
History of Mohankheda
The history of Mohankheda dates back to the time when Acharya Rajendrasuri had visited this place in the year 1884. The Jain reformer wandered around this place and was highly impressed by its natural and tranquil atmosphere. The scenic beauty of the place appealed him. The Acharya thus predicted that this land would become famous and rise in holiness. It would be a great pilgrimage centre. According to his prediction a holy teertha came into existence.
In 1884 CE Rajendrasuri established Jina bimbas including Bhagwan Rishbh Dev after anjan shalaka. It was done on the day of Margshirsha Shukla. The Acharya had declared that this place would become a holy pilgrimage centre. The place from then on came to be known as "Mohankheda". Acharya Rajendrasuri died in the year 1906. His disciples constructed a memorial samadhi temple for him.
Temple of Mohankheda
Mohankheda Teertha is almost 108 years old. It houses an idol of the first tirthankara, Bhagwan Rishabh Dev. The idol is white in colour and is 16-foot-tall. It is seated in a lotus position. It also has a Samadhi of the Jain Acharyas like Rajendrasuri, Yatindrasuri and Vidhyachandrasuri.
In the Vikram year 1940 the shrine of Sri Mohankheda was ceremonially consecrated on Magsar Sukla by Acharya Rajendrasuri. In the year 1957 the old temple was renovated. The idol of the temple was re-established by the chief disciple of Yatindrasuri and Chandrasuri. The new temple built by Rajendrasuri houses idols of Jain Tirthankaras like Rishbh Dev, Parshvanatha and many others. A small temple has been built in memory of Rajendrasuri. Another temple was constructed in memory of Dhanchandrasuri. The second temple also includes statues of Shrimad Bupendra Surishwarji and Mohan Vijayji. There are other temples also that have been built in memory of chief disciples of Yatindrasuri.
As predicted by Rajendrasuri, today Mohankheda has developed as a great pilgrimage centre. Many pilgrims from different places keep visiting this shrine and the holy place throughout the year. Rest houses or Dharamshalas have been constructed for the comfort of the pilgrims. The pilgrims staying here are well looked after and offered food also in the Bhojnalayas. Adinath Jain Gurukul is being run that imparts training of Jain culture and religion. An academic school has also been started from class first to eighth and many students have also enrolled themselves in it.
A fair is held here every year on the fifteenth day of the bright half of the month of Kartika, the month of Chaitra, and the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Pausha.