Shri Digambar Jain Teerth Kshetra Kakandi

Kakandi – the ancient Teerth Kshetra is situated in eastern Uttar Pradesh of India, presently this is known as Khukhundu. Near this town, there are so many ponds & 30 hillocks, where ruins of ancient buildings & temples are spread here & there in about area of one mile. These hillocks are known as ancient Kakandi, it’s name later on changed in to ‘Kishkindhapur’. In Jain tradition, one feels great faith in the name of Kakandi, being the place of ‘Garbha’ & ‘Janma Kalyankas’ of 9th Teerthankar ‘Bhagwan Pushpdanta’ (other name was ‘Suvidhinath’). In the forest of this city – Pushpak Vana, Bhagwan Pushpdant accepted asceticism and became Muni, his first precept was also delivered here after attaining Kevalgyan. So ‘Deeksha’ & ‘Gyan Kalyankas’ were celebrated in ‘Pushpak Vana’ and this place also became Teerth. But later on both the places get ruined. Braken fragments of these two Teerths are spread in the miles of area, hiding the ancient art, culture and history under the earth.

About 9th Teerthankar Bhagwan Pushpdanta: – Bhagwan Pushpdanta born on the day ‘Magsir (Agahan) Shukla – 1’ in the house of ‘King Sugreev’, mother’s name was ‘Rama’. Up to the birth, for 15 months there was continuous shower of precious stones & jewels. Garbha & Janma Kalyankas were celebrated by Devs & Indra of Heaven with public of Kakandi. One day Bhagwan Pushpdanta became ascetic after seeing the meteoric fall from the sky. So he left the crown & family, give up cloths & ornaments and accepted asceticism in ‘Pushpak Vana’ near Kakandi. Up to 4 years he practiced of penance at various places like forests, hills & banks of rivers. Later on he arrived in Pushpak Vana near Kakandi, decided the fast for two days and engrossed in the deep meditation and penance. On the day of ‘Kartik Shukla – 3’ Bhagwan Pushpdanta attaind Kevalgyan. At that time too Devs & Indra of heaven celebrated the occasion as Gyan Kalyanaka. As Bhagwan attained Kevalgyan, Indra (King of Heaven) ordered to Kuber (Mammon) to prepare Samavsharan thus first precept (Divyadhwani) was also delivered here. So many ascetic saints attained salvation from here.

In great texts “Bhagawati Aaradhana” & “Aaradhana Katha Kosha” a story of ‘Muni Abhaya Ghosh’ is described, this is given below: –

Abhaya Ghosh was the King of Kakandi. One day he cut the four legs of a tortoise by sword, so that died, but he born as a son of Abhaya Ghosh after such death, his name was kept ‘Chandvega’. One day the King Abhaya Ghosh saw Lunar Eclipse (Chandra Grahana) and became ascetic. He accepted asceticism and started penance in forest out side of Kakandi. One day his son Chandvega passed from there while walking. As he saw the Muni, due to the aversion of previous life (Tortoise) he became angry. He took his sword and started cutting the various parts of Muni’s body. But Muni was engrossed in deep penance & meditation. Due to the increasing concentration in soul, Muni was experiencing the purity of soul and as Chandvega cut the last part of body, by the effect of deep penance he attained Kevalgyan and at the same time Muni attained salvation.

Bhagwan Mahaveer’s Samavsharan also visited Kakandi so many times. Kakandi is situated on Saket – Shravasti – Vaishali – Nalanda highway, so the devotees continued to come here for pilgrimage.

Many Kings, their family members and businessmen have built here so many Temples, Stoopas, idols of Yaksha & Yakshini and other artistic items, but later on all these artistic creations turned in to ruins due to Theomania (Dharmonmad). Definitely this place was the center of Jain culture for centuries. After digging of some of hillocks Jain Teerthankar idols, Chaitya Vriksha (Tree), idols of Yaksha – Yakshini, Stoopas and their ruins are found mostly related to Jain culture. On digging of 11th hillock a platform of 89 feet in square size has been found, it is made of bricks with the designs of flowers on them. It is supposed the floor of Jain Temple. Items found in digging are related to the period from B. C. to Gupta Empire.

In Khukhundu at a corner of town a Jain Temple is situated in the middle of farms. It is believed that Bhagwan Pushpdanta was born here. There is one altar in the temple, on which an artistic idol carved on a flat rock is installed, this is Bhagwan Neminath – the principal deity in black color & in Padmasana posture. This is 2 feet & 3 inch high idol.
Another is Bhagwan Pushpdanta’s 11 inches high idol in white color & in Padmasana posture, this is very attractive & was reverenced in V. S. 1548. One Chaubeesee on metal plate and other artistic idols are also here worth seeing.