Shantinatha Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Shantinatha Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Shantinatha Temple is a Jain temple dedicated to the Jain tirthankara Shantinatha located at Khajuraho town in Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh, India. This temple is one of a cluster of three Jain temples considered part of the eastern group at Khajuraho. This temple is part of UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other temples in Khajuraho Group of Monuments.

History

This temple complex consists of two Chandella period shrines, along with fragment of other Chandella period temples. The present structure might have been constructed in 1870 CE, when a Gajarath festival was organized by Kanchhedtilal Jain of Nagaur marking a renewal of the site accompanied by installations of new images, as indicated by the inscriptions. The pedestal of the 12 foot Shantinatha image in the Shantinatha temple bears an inscription dated to 1027-28 CE mentioning the installation by Chandra Deva, the son of Thakur Devadhar. The inscription is now hidden under plaster. The original Shantinatha temple has been incorporated the 19^th century structure and is now the main centre of Jain worship in Khajuraho. The temple has been classified as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple

The current temple complex features modern construction but the temple houses two Chandella period shrines, along with fragment of other Chandella period shrines and modern shrines of 19^th Century CE. The present structure is a quadrangle housing 19^th century Jain shrines with an open courtyard in the middle. The ancient stone structure and elements are clearly seen embedded in the 19^th century structure.

The Shantinatha shrine is the prime place of Jaina worship. It enshrines a colossal (4.5 m high) image of Adinatha. The pedestal of the Shantinatha image bears an inscription dated to 1027-28 CE mentioning the installation by Chandra Deva, the son of Thakur Devadhar. The inscription is now hidden under plaster. The Shantinatha image is flanked by smaller images of all the 24 tirthankara. Ganga and Yamuna can be seen in the doorjambs. Idol of a 12^th century CE dancing Kshetrapala can be seen at the entrance.

There is an impressive sculpture of a Yaksha can be seen inside the temple. There are about 18 shrines in the temple complex housing idols dating from 10^th – 19^th Century CE. Some of the idols were brought from the ruins of Jain temples in nearby districts. There is a gallery displaying historical photographs and prints from early 20^th century CE in the quadrangle. There is a sculpture of Mahavira's parents in the temple premises. It is noted for its artistic execution.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1.5 Kms from Khajuraho Bus Stand, 6 Kms from Khajuraho Airport, 7 Kms from Rajnagar, 10 Kms from Khajuraho Railway Station, 13 Kms from Bamitha, 41 Kms from Chhatarpur, 47 Kms from Panna and 379 Kms from Bhopal. Khajuraho is situated on Bamitha to Rajnagar route. Khajuraho railway station connects the town by a daily train to Delhi via Mahoba, Jhansi and Gwalior. It provides a daily train connecting to Agra, Jaipur, Bhopal and Udaipur. A local daily train also connects to Kanpur, whilst Varanasi is connected three times a week. Khajuraho Airport has flights to Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and Mumbai.

Location | Photos