Khandagiri Digambar Jain Temple: A Spiritual Ascent

The Khandagiri Digambar Jain Temple, located on Khandagiri Hill in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, is a revered site for the Digambara sect of Jainism. The temple's location atop the hill, honeycombed with ancient rock-cut caves commissioned in the 1st century BCE, creates a unique spiritual atmosphere. These caves, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, add to the historical and cultural significance of the site. The temple's architecture reflects the Kalinga style, featuring sandstone construction with a Vimana and Jaga Mohan. The temple complex comprises three distinct shrines. The first houses a black stone idol of Parshvanatha, a revered Jain Tirthankara, within a white marble hall. The main shrine features a white marble idol of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, accompanied by numerous other Jain idols. The third shrine showcases five images of Jain Tirthankaras. Local legends attribute the temple's origins to King Kharavela in the 1st century BCE, although the current structure dates back to the early 19th century during the Maratha Empire. The Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha Digambara Jaina Tirthankara Committee maintains the temple, ensuring the preservation of its religious and architectural heritage. Visiting the temple provides not only a religious experience but also an immersion into the art, history, and serene environment that embodies the principles of Jainism.