Kumbhoj(pronounced askum'bho'j) is the name of an ancient town located inKolhapur districtinMaharashtra.The town is about eight kilometers fromHatkanangale,about twenty seven kilometers fromKolhapurand currently, also is the Taluka or Tehsil Headquarters.[citation needed]The famousJainTirtha(pilgrim place) known asBahubali,is just two kilometers away from the Kumbhoj city.
| Kumbhoj | |
|---|---|
 28 feet Bahubali statue, Kumbhoj | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Secular |
| Festivals | Mahavir Jayanti, Dasara, Diwali, Eid, Christmas |
| Governing body | Grampanchayat, Kumbhoj |
| Location | |
  Shown within Maharashtra | |
| Geographic coordinates | 16°49′17.9″N74°26′41.5″E/ 16.821639°N 74.444861°E |
| Architecture | |
| Date established | 1156 AD |
| Temple(s) | 14 |
As the name itself suggests, Kumbhoj seems to be connected with well-known ancient termKambojaofSanskrit/Paliliterature.
Alternative name of Kumbhoj isKumboj(Kamboj). The former name is apparently free fromIranianorPaisaciinfluence sinceMaharashtralocation was far removed from the north-west division of ancient India. Kamboj is the standard name found in numerous ancientSanskritandPalitexts.
Padma VibhushanDr. Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil,a renowned social worker and philanthropist was born at Kumbhoj.
Bahubaliat Kumbhoj is identical to the Bahubali ofShravanabelagolaknown as Gomateshwar to the south in Karnataka.
History
editDuring the second century BCE, a section ofKambojasfrom Central India had joined the great tribal movement toCentral Asia.One section of those Kambojas appears to have given their name to this coastal town of southwestIndia.There is said to be a microscopicJaincommunity,predominantly agrarian, calledKambhojliving near Nanded in Maharashtra.[citation needed]
Kumbhoj was very ancient village where Devi Shakambari has visited. There is a temple of Devi Shakambari which has close relation from Banashankari near Badami.
There is a reference to sageKumbhoja(q.v.) who finds reference in southern Indian recensions ofRamayana.He seems to have lived somewhere on the banks of river Godavari, in southwest India during Ramayana times. Seems like sage Kambhoja originally belonged to northwest and had migrated to south ofVindhyaon river Godawri.[citation needed]
The Shakambari Madir needs cultivation through Archaeological Survey of India.
Kumbhoj is nowadays famous for the agriculture land where sugar cane farming is popular.
Jain Temple
edit
In 1156 AD, a 6 feet tall idol of lordBahubaliwas installed here.[1]Many Jain saints have visited this place including Shri Bahubali Maharaj, Shri Prabhachandraji, Shri Kamlakarji, Shri 108 Shanti Sagarji.[2]The temple also has a dharamshala equipped with all modern facilities[3]This Tirth has small scale replicas ofGajpantha,Taranga,Mangi-Tungi,SonagiriandPavagirion left andKailash Parvat,ShikharjiandGirnarjion right side. Jal Mandir, Ratnatraya temple, Shantinath Temple, Chandaprabhu Temple, Adinath Temple and Samavsharan Mandir are also built near main temple.[4][5]
Bahubali monolith
editA monolithic statue of Bahubali inkayotsargaposture was installed in 1963. The statue is situated on about 50 steps up and 8.5 m (28 feet) in high at Kumbhoj, Kolhapur, Maharashtra. The famous Jain Tirtha (pilgrim place) known as Bahubali, is just two kilometers away from the Kumbhoj village. Bahubali at Kumbhoj is identical to the Bahubali ofShravanabelagolaknown asGomateshwarto the south in Karnataka[6]
Mahamastakabhishek
editMahamastakabhisheka(Maha-mastak-abhishek = Grand religious ablution from head) happens in every 12 years. This pious event runs for continuous 7 days with witnessing thousands of pilgrims across the country.
Transportation
editSangliRailway Station, located 25 km from Kumbhoj, is a preferred disembarking point for visitors traveling to Kumbhoj, especially those who wish to visit the various Jain temples in Sangli. This station is well-connected by express trains to major Indian cities including Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Goa, Bangalore, Agra, Bhopal, Mysore, Hubli, Kochi, Mangalore, Gandhidham, Pondicherry, and Nagpur. Travel from Sangli to Kumbhoj is a short 30-minute journey, with rickshaws, cars, and buses readily available for hire..
MirajJust 27 km from Kumbhoj. Miraj Junction is a vital hub in western India, featuring connections via four railway lines. It offers services from several express and superfast trains, including Karnataka Sampark Kranti, Chandigarh Sampark Kranti, Goa, Mumbai Hubli, Yesvantpur Miraj, Pondicherry, Tirunelveli, Suvarnajayanti, Chalukya, Shravati, Bangalore Jodhpur, Bangalore Ajmer, Bangalore Gandhidham, Mahalaxmi, Sahyadri, Koyna, Rani Chenamma, Haripriya, Miraj Hubli, Kolhapur Hyderabad, Kolhapur Solapur, Maharashtra, and Deekshabhoomi Express trains. Private cars and taxis can be hired at Miraj station for a 30-minute ride to Kumbhoj. For travelers, vegetarian Jain meals are available at Miraj Junction courtesy of the local Jain Temple.
Located just 4 km from Kumbhoj,HatkanangleStation is another convenient stop, especially for trains traveling towards Kolhapur on the Pune-Miraj-Hubli mainline.
Bus Travel: Buses from Mumbai or Bangalore are also an option for reaching Kumbhoj. Additionally, the Maharashtra State Road Transport (ST-Bus) operates regular services from Kolhapur and Sangli to Kumbhoj, offering another reliable mode of travel for visitors.
Religious organizations
editTheDakshin Bharat Jain Sabhais a religious and social service organization of theJainsof South India. The organization is headquartered atKolhapur,Maharashtra, India.[7]The association is credited with being one of the first Jain associations to start reform movements among the Jains in modern India.[8][9]The organization mainly seeks to represent the interests of the native Jains ofMaharashtra,KarnatakaandGoa.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^http://jain.org.in/tirth-Kumboj%20Bahubali[permanent dead link],Maharashtra.html
- ^"Kumbhoj Bahubali, Jain Shwetambar Temple, Jahaj Mandir".
- ^https:// maharashtratourism.gov.in/treasures/temple/bahubali-teerthakhstra-kumbhoj[dead link]
- ^"Bahubali,Jain places, Kumbhoj, Jahaj mandir,Shravanabelagola, Gomteshwara,Bahubali, Jain Tirth places, kolhapur".Archived fromthe originalon 2014-09-12.Retrieved2014-09-12.
- ^"Bahubali Kumbhoj Bramhcharya and Vidyapeeth Atishaya Kshetra".
- ^"Kumbhoj Bahubali, Jain Shwetambar Temple, Jahaj Mandir".
- ^Bhanu, B. V. (2004).People of India: Maharashtra - Kumar Suresh Singh - Google Books.Popular Prakashan.ISBN9788179911006.Retrieved2013-01-30.
- ^Carrithers, Michael; Humphrey, Caroline, eds. (4 April 1991).The Assembly of Listeners: Jains in Society - Google Books.Cambridge University Press.ISBN9780521365055.Retrieved2013-01-30.
- ^Markham, Ian S.; Sapp, Christy Lohr (26 May 2009).A World Religions Reader - Google Books.John Wiley & Sons.ISBN9781405171090.Retrieved2013-01-30.
External links
edit- Official website of Kumbhoj Jain templeArchived2014-09-12 at theWayback Machine
The information here is partly based on Jain Internet Religious websites:[1],[2],[3],
- [4],[5]Archived2014-09-12 at theWayback Machineetc