Antariksha Parshwanath Jain Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Nagpur has the nearest airport, about 190 km from Shirpur.

• By train

  Washim is the nearest railway station, 17 km away. Akola Junction, about 68 km away, is another railway hub for the region.

• By road

  Regular buses run to Shirpur from Akola, Nagpur and Mumbai, and cars can drive there. NH6 connects Shirpur to other parts of Maharashtra.

Why devotees come here

The Antariksha Parshwanath Jain Temple stands in Shirpur town, Washim district, Maharashtra. It is dedicated to Parshwanath, the 23rd Tirthankara, and draws thousands of pilgrims every year. Its idol is linked to a legend of floating in the air.

Pilgrims come to the Antariksha Parshwanath Jain Temple to honour Parshwanath, the 23rd Tirthankara in Jainism. Jain tradition says King Khara made the idol from cow dung and sand, a figure linked to the Ramayana. The idol was then sunk in a well near Ellora and stayed lost for centuries.

According to the legend, the idol was found again when King Shripal of Achalpur, who was seriously ill, was cured after drinking the water of that well. The spot where the idol is believed to have floated in the air was marked for a temple, in 1142 CE.

The main idol is black stone, about three and a half feet tall, and shows the Tirthankara seated in meditation. A cobra hood rises over it, a sign of divine protection. The temple complex has carvings and sculptures that reflect the cultural heritage of the Jain community.

Festivals

• In the Jain calendarMahavir Jayanti

  Marks the birth of Mahavir. Devotees mark it with grand processions, special prayers and devotional songs.

• In the Jain calendarParyushana

  One of the most important festivals for Jains, celebrated with great fervour and devotion.

Tips for your visit

• The temple complex has carved sculptures throughout, so there is more to see than the main idol.
• The Pavali Jain Temple is a short distance away, if you want to visit another Jain shrine nearby.

Questions people ask