Kundalpur

Kundalpur has a large statue of Rishabhanatha (also known as Bade Baba). The statue is in a sitting (Padmasana) posture and is 15 feet in height.[5] This is also the place of salvation of Antim Kevali Shridhar Kevali.[6] There is also an idol of Mahavira of 12 feet in padmasana posture with the 4 feet pedestal.[3][7]

According to Alexander Cunningham (1885), there were 51 temples on the hill and 30 on foot near Vardhaman Talao.[8][9] There are 63 temples of various types. A temple called Jal Mandir is situated in the middle of the pond Vardhaman Sagar.

Among all the temples the most famous is the Bade Baba temple with Bhagwan Adinath (affectionately termed "Bade Baba") as the principal deity. The photographs of the Bade Baba statue have been widely used in many publications, calendars and posters.

Acharya Vidyasagar has been the main source of inspiration for the construction and development of the new main temple and some of the recent structures at Kundalpur. He is often referred to as Chhote Baba in relation to the Bade Baba image.[10]

Construction of a massive and spacious new Bade Baba temple was initiated in 1999 after consulting architectural and religious experts. The main statue was transferred to the sanctum of the new structure on 15 January 2006. The new temple will be in the classical Nagar style with some elements of the modern Rajasthani architecture.[11]

The Bade Baba temple is the oldest temple at Kundalpur. According to an inscription[12] of Vikram Samvat 1757, the temple was re-discovered by Bhattaraka Surendrakirti of Mulasangha-Balatkaragana-Sarasvati Gachchha and was rebuilt from ruins by his disciple, with assistance from Bundela ruler Chhatrasal.[13]

The statue of Bade Baba (Lord Adinath) was transferred to a new temple under construction on 17 January 2006. The transfer was a dramatic event involving a confrontation between the district administration and the Jain community that was peacefully resolved.[14] The transfer is narrated and eulogized in a poetic and lyrical composition "Purudev Stavan" by Aryaka Mridumati Mata [15] and is also described in a book by Suresh Jain Saral.[16] and also in book released in 2018 by MP Chief Minister Chauhan.[17] Two times Major Mahamastabhishek of Badebaba was held in 2001 and 2016 under Acharya Vidyasagarji Maharaj Saanidya.[18]

There is a 24 lines inscription of time of Maharaja-dhiraja Sri Chhatra Sala dating 1700 AD, the line 4 mentions the name of Mahavira and line 8 mentions terms Jina marga and Jina Dharma.[3][7]

The temples are square blocks with dome roofs and pinnacles dating back to 8th-9th century.[11][3][7] The main temple has an image of Neminatha along with an inscription mounted on wall.[2]

The kundalpur fair takes place in month of march, beginning with yearly gathering of Jains, immediately after Holi and last a fortnight. [19][20]

Nearby cities include Damoh (35 km), Sagar (113 km), Jabalpur (143 km). Nearest railway station is Damoh which is 38 km from Kundalpur bus stand. Nearest airport is Dumna Airport in Jabalpur (150 km).

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  Famous 15 feet Image of "Bade Baba" (Rishabhanatha) at Kundalpur
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  Temple below hill
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  Samavasarana temple
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  Jain temple near Vardhmansagar lake
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  Jain shrine inside Kundalpur lake
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  Glass mural with a traditional representation of Kundalpur in a Jain Temple Katni
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  New Bade Baba temple promotional brochure

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kundalpur.

• Jainism in Bundelkhand
• Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir