The Epitome of Jaina Pilgrimage on a Deccan Highway

Waheeda Bi khan

The Epitome of Jaina Pilgrimage on a Deccan Highway

As ancient as the first civilisation of our subcontinent, which sprouted and flourished on the banks of the Indus River, was a religion of non-violence. This religion believed in the eternal cyclic nature of the universe, with no beginning and no end. It was founded by the twenty-four Tirthankaras and is known as Jainism. Jainism thrived in the Indus Valley and gradually spread until its spiritual essence reached even the southern lands of India. One of the magnificent Jaina temples, or Jinalayas, adorns the Mangalagiri hills of Vijayawada as well.

Hinkar Tirtha Jaina Temple, Vijayawada; Source: mangalagiriinfo.blogspot.com

The culmination of a thousand years of meditation granted Rishabhanatha the boon of omniscience. He must have paved the path to enlightened bliss millions of years ago, escaping the cycle of rebirth, and bequeathed his ethical code until the last Tirthankara, the Vardhanam or preacher Mahavira. Yet, the essence of these temples continues to bless millions who seek it with humble devotion, even to this day.

As ancient as the first civilisation of our subcontinent, which sprouted and flourished on the banks of the Indus River, was a religion of non-violence. This religion believed in the eternal cyclic nature of the universe, with no beginning and no end. It was founded by the twenty-four Tirthankaras and is known as Jainism. Jainism thrived in the Indus Valley and gradually spread until its spiritual essence reached even the southern lands of India. One of the magnificent Jaina temples, or Jinalayas, adorns the Mangalagiri hills of Vijayawada as well.

Jainism has permeated our lands with its spiritual essence since ancient times, solidifying its presence in various forms. It began with rock-cut caves referred to as layana or gumphas in ancient texts. These caves served as both temples and monasteries, such as the Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves of Odisha. Jainism's belief in the Almighty as a physically formless entity gave rise to the concept of stupas and statues, like the statue of Ahimsa or Rishabnatha (named after the first Tirthankara of Jainas). These statues represented essential postulates rather than idols for worship. The stupas were then established within ornate edifices influenced by the architectural structures of Chaityas and Viharas. The blend of architecture over time has created a unique style of Jaina architecture, exemplified by the Hinkar Tirtha Jaina Temple on the highway of Vijayawada-Guntur.

Located on NH-16, the temple stands gracefully, blessing the students of Acharya Nagarjuna University on one side of the road and the residents of the Malaysian township on the other. It is a beautiful marble edifice designed in typical South Indian Jaina architecture. Pilgrims and architecture enthusiasts flock to this temple, which creates a mini-city-like ambience, with its presiding Tirthankara – Shree Parshwanath Bhagwan, commonly known as Mool Nayak. The temple is situated just 1 km away from another well-known sacred site, the Lakshmi Narasimha temple.

Historical glimpses reveal that Jainism spread not through Jaina rulers but through the goodwill of Buddhist or Hindu rulers of ancient times who sponsored caves or temples for the followers of non-violence. Although not much is known about the time period when the early Tirthankaras of Jainism existed, there is evidence that the last one, Mahavira, was a contemporary of Buddha and is assumed to have lived around 500 BC. With the decline of the Indus Valley civilisation due to the arrival of the Indo-Europeans from Central Asia, Hinduism emerged with the scriptures of the Vedas. The influences of Hinduism and Buddhism are evident in the architectural blends of Jainism.

Among the rich architectural diversity and the amazing harmony among different styles of North Indian and South Indian architecture, Jaina architecture stands out as one of the most archaic and luxurious, incorporating a unique blend of raw materials and adornments.

Like most Jaina temples, the Hinkar Tirtha Jaina Temple is also beautifully constructed with white marble in the typical South Indian Jaina architecture style. It features a standard horizontal archway and bracket-like crowning arches on rows of marble pilasters, forming a chain of arched ceilings adorned with exquisite carvings. The temple also incorporates the Chaitya nave, a central cell of the temple that evolved into a grand porch seen primarily in Indian Jainas structures. Furthermore, the temple has entrances in all four cardinal directions, leading to the statues of the Tirthankaras.

The large bell, the exterior walls covered in serpentine carvings, and the carved Manastambha at the beautifully arched entrance are some of the unique attractions of this temple.

Every part of the marble structure is engraved with intricate deities in different mudras or postures associated with Jainism, along with designs of concentric rings. Although the concept of stupas is borrowed from Buddhist architecture, Jaina architecture differentiates itself by not having cells and niches surrounding the main prayer hall, the Gambhara, where the presiding deity is situated.

Exploring Jaina temples offers a complete package of devotion for pilgrims, providing essential amenities such as food, shelter, and precise attention to hygiene and cleanliness. The Shikharbadh Jinalaya on this Deccan highway exemplifies Jaina hospitality, featuring a park for children, restrooms, food facilities, and even provisions for accommodation to enhance the pilgrim experience. Jainism may be one of India's oldest religions, but the harmony reflected in the characteristic shikharbadh edifice with its multiple domes or pinnacles evokes peace and spiritual fulfilment, attracting pilgrims like bees to honey.