Tijara Jain Temple is dedicated to Lord Chandraprabha, the 8th Jain Tirthankara. The temple is located in the hill town Tijara, in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Situated 55 kilometers (34 mi) from Alwar and 110 kilometers (68 mi) from Delhi, it is an Atishaya Kshetra (Place of Salvation). Tijara Jain Temple was established in the year 1956.
History of Tijara Jain Temple
The principal deity of Tijara Atishaya Kshetra, Bhagavan Chandra Prabhu was discovered on August 16, 1956.the idol was dug out from under the earth. According to history Saraswati Devi, wife of Vaidya Shri Bihari Lal of Tijara kept fast of three days. On the third night of her fast Saraswati Devi saw a dream in which she saw the place where the idol was kept. According to her dream the next morning the place was unearthed. Miraculously the idol of Lord Chandraprabhu was discovered under the earth.
During the time of discovery of the idol of the Lord, the rain started. Thus the consecration of the idol took place naturally. Another similar incident took place after few years. On March 29, 1972 another idol of Lord Chandraprabhu was discovered. The idol was found after digging under the gate of a room situated in south of the temple premises, under the guidance of Pujya Acharya Nirmal Sagarji Maharaj.
Architecture of Tijara Jain Temple
The architecture of Tijara Jain Temple is an exquisite piece of art. The temple has been tastefully decorated with intricate designs. It has been adorned with beautiful sculptures, elaborate carvings and ancient paintings. Located in the north-east of the state capital, Jaipur the temple is famous among the visitors and devotees not only for its religious matter but also for its architectural splendor. The temple serves as one of the most popular religious places in Rajasthan.
The Jain Temple is rectangular and occupies a vast place. The temple is decorated with magnificent pillars and arches. It is surrounded by a huge tower that surges high up. The temple has a richly decorated temple hall that can accommodate 200 people at a time. The interiors of the temple have been decorated with paintings, glass work and carvings. Trijara temple has three elevated surfaces where the stone idols are placed. The idol of Lord Chandraprabhu is made of white stone and is 15 inches in height. According to the inscription on the idol, this was installed on the 3rd day of Vishakha Shukla. The second idol is black in colour and is 8 inch in height. The idol is seated in a Padmasana Posture.
Apart from the two idols of Lord Chandra Prabhu there are two other idols of Lord Parshvanatha and Lord Mahavira in the Jain Temple of Tijara.
The Tijara Jain Temple is visited by devotees all round the year but the festive days of Falguni Vadi Saptami and Shravan Shukla Dasami attracts many people.