Heard of Sanganer?

Situated in Jaipur district of Rajasthan adjoining the capital city is where Sanganer is located. What is it known for? Three things – it has a handmade paper industry, it is known across India and flocked to for its Jain temples, and most importantly its hand block printed fabrics are very popular across India and even overseas, for their bright colored patterns decorating white backgrounds.

A well-connected place on account of being just outside the capital city Jaipur, Sanganer has a few International Schools, two prominent institutions in Agriculture and Health to boast of.

One of the things that Sanganer is able to boast about to the world, is the ancient Shri Digamber Jain Atishya Kshetra Mandir at Sanghiji.

Shri Digamber Jain Atishya Kshetra Mandir at Sanghiji

Made of red stone, this temple with principal deity Lord Adinath (Rishabh Dev) is the pride of Sanganer, a showpiece for tourists visiting Jaipur. What is special about this temple one might ask? It has extremely fine carvings that compare to the famous Dilwara temples of Mount Abu that are an extremely popular tourist destination. Built in phases, the last phase was completed in 10th century A.D. as per one of the inscriptions of the sacred texts.

It has sky-high shikaras and the inner sanctum is a stone shrine with eight sky-high shikaras or pinnacles. In the midst of underground portion, there is located an ancient small temple guarded by the Yaksha. The sacred temple has seven underground floors which are kept closed due to old religious beliefs and visitors are not allowed to see them. It is said that only a Balyati ascetic Digambara saint can enter in it and able to bring out the idols of this underground temple for a limited period, which is declared and decided previously. The idols thus brought out for viewing (Darshan) of devotees, must be placed back within auspicious signs. The temple came in light when Muni Sudhasagar Ji, a disciple of Acharya Vidyasagar Ji visited the underground floors. He brought valuable, never seen before, Jain Murti made of precious stones from the underground floors in the presence of more than five lac Jain disciples.

He claimed that he encountered many Yaksha in form of snakes who were there to protect the treasure and ordinary people cannot enter into the underground floors without seeking permission from the protector gods. The process of bringing Murti and keeping back was telecast live on various TV channels and widely covered by media.

Coming to the Inner temple, it has three pinnacles in the centre of which is an idol of Parshwanath with 7 serpent hoods. All around it are carvings of lotuses, creepers and elephants pouring water from pitchers held in their trunks. But the main idol is that of Adinath, installed in the shrine behind this.

The Temple also has a dharamshala equipped with all modern facilities including a Bhojanalaya (place for meals).

This is a good site to visit for the tourist and the religious devotee, but then having had their fill move on to Jaipur.

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