Shri Beenaji (Barha)

Shri Beenaji (Barha)
Shri 1008 Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra Beenaji (Barha) Place & Post – Beenaji, Taluka – Devari Kalan, District – Sagar (M. P.) Pin – 470026 Phone - 07586-280007

Shri Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra Beena (Barha) is situated near the bank of river ‘Sukh – Chain’ in village Beena in District Sagar (M.P.) and surrounded by natural greenery. This Kshetra is famous for miraculous idol of Bhagwan Shantinath. A saying about the name of Beena of this place is as follows: - Once upon a time there was a ‘King Benu’ here ruling this small area, his Queen’s name was ‘Kamalawati’. The King Benu was too brave and judicious. The Queen generally went in war with the King. She was also very beautiful, brave & full of modesty. Queen had a fan which she always carried with her. Fan was very miraculous. As Queen separated a part of fan, the death of soldiers of enemy started. Both, the King & Queen had the faith on Jainism. Thus the name of this place – Beena is kept on the name of King Benu to keep his memory long lasting.

The principal deity of this Kshetra - Bhagwan Shantinath’s idol is very famous for various miracles. It is said that a businessman lived in Malkhera often used to go on the route to Beena, while he went through this road; at a particular place he always received a stroke. One day the stroke was powerful. That night he saw a dream. A divine man was saying to him to dig at the place of stroke, on digging he would visit the God. That businessman dug that place for the next three days. In the night of last day he again saw a dream, that divine man again appeared and asked him to view the God next day. He added, “You must go in the direction of desired place where you want to install the God (Idol). The God will follow automatically, but you must not look behind. If you look behind, the God will not move further from there.” Next day that pious man dig that place, soon he saw the idol. He was filled with joy & happiness; he worshipped the idol a long time. Then, in the state of devotion, he started to his village. After passing a mile of distance, he looked behind to check whether God was following him or not. He saw that the idol was standing at a little distance from him. He was very happy and again started toward his village, but now the idol was not moving, he was standing at the same place. Soon he remembered the warning of dream that he had forgotten. But now there was no alternative. As this news spread, men gathered there and decided to build a magnificent temple there. So after some time a beautiful spired temple was constructed there and the idol of Bhagwan Shantinath installed there. This temple was constructed by Pande Jai Chand in V.S. 1803. Some other idols reverenced at that time are also installed in this temple.

This idol of Bhagwan Shantinath in standing posture is deemed miraculous by devotees. So many stories of miracles of this idol are popular here. Jains & other devotees come here to fulfill their desires. Temples:

(i) First Temple: - The first temple is also called ‘Mama – Bhanja Mandir’. In this temple a unique & huge idol of Bhagwan Mahaveer is installed, which is made of lime, bricks & silica; this is 16 feet high and artistic idol, rare in the world. Beneath the idol of Bhagwan Mahaveer, there is installed an idol of Bhagwan Chandra Prabhu, in dark red color, in Padmasana posture and 6½ feet in height. A basement or a cave also exists in this temple. The cave reaches to river, it is said. The entrance of this cave is also very artful; idols of Yakshas & Yakshinies are beautifully carved on it. Perhaps this cave was used to keep idols safe while in trouble. At the four corners of the temple small pinnacles are constructed and a huge artistic pinnacle is standing high over the sanctum.

(ii) Second Temple: - This is the temple of miraculous principal deity Bhagwan Shantinath. This idol is in dark red color in standing posture, 18 feet in height. General public of this place has a great faith on this idol. This is the belief that after visiting of Bhagwan Shantinath, all worldly worries & problems get vanished.