Jal Mandir, which is also known as Apapuri, is a Jain religious monument in Bihar. It is the temple without sins. Pawapuri means the same.

Location of Jal Mandir
Jal Mandir is a temple located in the Indian state of Bihar, in Pawapuri region. It is a place of Lord Mahavira.

History of Jal Mandir
According to ancient history of India, after Mahavira died at Pawapuri he was cremated 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 Mahavira, and thus created a huge pit which got filled up with water and became a tank. To commemorate the place of his cremation a temple was built within the tank. Mahavira was a prince of the Magadha Kingdom then known as "Madyama Pawa" or "Apawapuri", Like Gautama Buddha, he also became sanyasi 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 Hindu calendar month June to July and ending in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/ November), 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.

Dedication to Jal Mandir
Jal Mandir is a highly revered temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira, the 24th Thirthankara (religious preacher of Jainism) and founder of Jain religion, which marks the place of his cremation. Mahavira attained Nirvana (salvation) in Pawapuri in 528 BC.

Architecture of Jal Mandir
Jal Mandir has been built within a tank filled with red coloured lotus flowers. It is said that the temple was built by King Nandivardhan, Mahavira`s elder brother. It is one of the five main temples in Pawpuri, where the "Charan Paduka" or foot impression of Mahavira is deified. The temple, a famous pilgrimage centre of Jainism, is located in the holy city of Pawapuri in the Nalanda district in the Ganga River. Jal Mandir means a "temple in water". It 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 elegant temple has the form of a "Vimana" or chariot and has the footprint of Mahavira for worship. A 600 feet long 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 fishes which are fed by the priests and devotees.

Visiting information
Jal Mandir is 108 kilometres away from Patna, the capital city of Bihar which is the nearest airport also. It can easily be accessed from all parts of the nation. Rajgir the nearest railway station is 38 kilometres (24 mi) away and 8 miles (13 km) from Bihar Sharif in the subdivision of the same name. It is at the end of a 1 mile (1.6 km) Long Branch road from the Patna-Ranchi road.