Pawapuri Jal Mandir is a beautiful Jain temple located close to Nalanda. It literally means a temple standing in the water.
Niravan Sthali of Bhagwan Mahavir
Bhagwan Mahavir was the 24th Jain Teerthankar who lived 5-6 centuries before the common era. He was born in Vaishali, also in Bihar. At Pawapuri, he attained Nirvana on Kartik Amavasya that we also celebrate as Deepawali. This makes Pawapuri one of the holiest places for Jain community. No wonder that it attracts pilgrims from around the country.
Bhagwan Mahavir was born to Kshatriya parents Siddhartha and Trishla as Vardhman. At the age of 30 he left the world to meditate and at 42, he attained enlightenment. After this he came to be known as Mahavir and started guiding followers on the path of Ahimsa or non-violence among other virtues.
Pawapuri is also known a Apapapuri or the place where there are no sins or Papas. Another interpretation is that those who pray here get rid of all their sins – something that we associate with Tirtha Sthalas or sacred spaces.
Visiting Pawapuri Jal Mandir
We drove to Pawapuri from ancient Nalanda Ruins on our way to the New Nalanda University. We first saw the lovely lake with lovely balustrades surrounding it. Slowly the temple appeared before us, as if emerging out of the water. In pristine white, it looked as if it has just taken a fresh bath.
We skirted the lake to reach the entrance arch of the temple. Bang opposite the arch a new Jain temple is being built in the quintessential white marble.
We passed by the arch in red sandstone that has a small board saying just – Jal Mandir. This led us to the long pathway connecting the gateway to the Jal Mandir. It looks narrow but is broad enough for few people to walk side by side. This pathway is also made in red sandstone with lovely latticed panels on either side.
As you walk, your eyes see the temple in white at the end of it. Surrounding you in the water are birds that keep flying around. Many visitors offer them food and they do all the acrobats for that food.
Jal Mandir
Inside the temple, there are three pairs of padukas or footprints. The middle one belongs to Bhagwan Mahavir. The one on the left belong to his first disciple Indrabhuti Gautam. The right footprints belong to his fifth disciple Sudharma Swami.
This temple marks the exact spot where Bhagwan Mahavir was cremated.
Making of the Lake
The priest at the Pawapuri Jal Mandir told me that this lake was created by the devotees of Bhagwan Mahavir. I assumed they dug it to create the lovely temple surrounded by water full of lovely lotuses and inhabited by many birds. True, but not how I imagined it.
When Bhagwan Mahavir attained Nirvana and was cremated, devotees wanted to take his ashes as his relics. Remember even in the Buddhist stupas preserve the relics of Buddha or Buddhist spiritual leaders. But, only a few devotees could get them. Rest of them started collecting the soil after his last rites were performed. As they kept collecting a deep pit was created around the area.
As it rained, it filled up and became a beautiful lake.
Original temple was built by Nandivardhan, the elder brother of Bhagwan Mahavir in 572 BCE. He built the temple by putting the padukas of Bhagwan Mahavir and building a temple around it. Since the, Jain community has preserved and enhanced the temple.
In 572 BCE, Mahavir ji was here in Pawapuri for Chaumasa or Chaturmasa – the four monsoon months when the monks stay at one place. The period ends 11 days after Deepawali on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, but he attained Nirvana just before that. He was 72 years old then.
Temple Architecture
Main temple stands on a raised square platform. You have to climb a few white marble steps to reach the temple. Walking on the black and white floor, you see the square temple surrounded by a pillared corridor all around it. There are golden spires adorn the small domes above this pavilion.
On the base platform as you walk around for the parikrama of the temple, you can see the marble arches on all four sides. They have marble fountains, that were not working when I visited. However, one can imagine how beautiful they would look, when they do.
On the two corners, there are two smaller temples. They also house the padukas of different Jain Munis or saints.
The lake covers an area of 16.8 Acres and the bridge connecting the temple is about 600 feet long.
Festivals
On the day of Deepawali, the day Bhagwan Mahavir attained Nirvana, a Nirvana Laddoo is offered here.
Travel Tips
Patna or Bodh Gaya are the closest airports. Rajgir is the closest railway station. There is ample road connectivity from Patna.
You can stay either at Nalanda or Rajgir to visit Pawapuri Jal Mandir.
You can spend about an hour at the temple. It is a good place to just sit and meditate, though you would see people creating content all around as the place is extremely scenic.
Be courteous and do not engage in any of the activities that the boards outsides tells you not to engage in.
There are many Jain temples around this area that you can visit apart from popular places like Nalanda, Rajgir, Gaya, Bodh Gaya, Barabar Caves etc.
Khaja of Silao is a popular sweet in this region that you can taste.
