Shri 1008 Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra Beenaji (Barha)

Shri Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra Beena (Barha) is situated near the bank of river ‘Sukh – Chain’, at one end of village Beena in District Sagar (M. P.), surrounded by natural greenery that is charming to eyes. 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 King. She was also very beautiful, brave & full of modesty. Queen had a fan, while she went in war; she always took that fan. 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.

Recovery of Bhagwan Shantinath’s idol: – 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. At that night he saw a dream. A gentleman was saying to him to dig at the place of stroke, on digging he will visit the God. That businessman dug that place up to next three days with hard labor. In the night of last day he again saw a dream, that gentleman again appeared in dream and asked him for the viewing of 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 businessman dig that place, soon he saw the God. After visiting the God he felt great joy & happiness; he worshiped the God 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 is following him or not. He saw that God was standing at a little distance from him. He was very happy and again started to wards his village, but now God was not moving, he was standing at the same place. Soon the businessman remembered the warning of dream that he had forgotten. But now there was no alternative. As this news spread in the public, men gathered there and decided to build a magnificent temple there. So after some time a beautiful spired temple constructed there and the God idol of Bhagwan Shantinath installed in the temple organizing a great function. 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.

Atishaya: – 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.

There are 3 main temples at Beena – Barha.

(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. Both the above idols are the specimens of art. The gateway of this temple is 40 feet in height; this is a superb piece of Rajasthani art. A basement or a cave also exists in this temple 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, magnificent one. Such artful idols are also available at Aharji, Thoovonji, Khajuraho, Pavagiri & Bajarang Garh etc. 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.

(iii) Third Temple: – This is known as ‘Gandha Kuti Temple’. There are 40 stairs made to reach this beautiful temple from all sides.

(iv) Maan Stambha (Column of Dignity): – ‘Maan Stambha’ is standing in the center of the premises of Kshetra, this is made of marble and very beautiful & magnificent creation, attracts the visitors from a far distance.

At Beenaji Kshetra, a museum has been established, where various ancient artistic broken idols and pieces of art are kept safe, these are collected from the nearby area. These have a great significance in the views of art & archaeology. Among these pieces of art, an idol of a woman doing ‘Panchang Namaskar’ is very important. The woman has florid with ornaments, bearing a dagger in her hand; an image of woman’s palm is carved on the back of this idol. It seems that this is the idol of ‘Kamalawati’ – the queen of King Benu. It is famous that she was very beautiful with high level of modesty. Her deity was Goddess Padmawati or other. This idol is related to time, when Queen was bowing before God or Goddess before going in the war. Being pleased on the Queen for her devotion, Goddess is blessing the Queen keeping her hand on the Queen’s back. Image of the palm on the back is the symbol of blessings by Goddess. This idol is worth being seen. Another image of palm exists here on a piece of flat rock placed on a platform; palm is in the position of blessing. Some persons call it ‘Sati Chaura’.

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