Bawangaja

Bawangaja
Hike to Bawangaja Tirtha
Location within Madhya Pradesh
Basic information
Location	Barwani, Madhya Pradesh
Geographic coordinates	21°59′46″N 74°51′43″E / 21.996°N 74.862°E / 21.996; 74.862Coordinates: 21°59′46″N 74°51′43″E / 21.996°N 74.862°E / 21.996; 74.862
Affiliation	Jainism
Deity	Rishabhanatha
Festivals	Mahamastakabhisheka, Mahavir Jayanti
Website	www.bawangaja.com
Date established	12th century
Elevation	1,219.4 m (4,001 ft)

Bawangaja (meaning 52 yards) is a famous Jain pilgrim center in the Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh in India. Its main attraction is the megalithic statue (carved out of mountain) of Lord Adinatha, the first Jain Tirthankara. The statue is 84 feet (26 m) high, and was created early in the 12th century. The statue is supported from the back unlike the Gommateshwara statue of Lord Bahubali at Shravanabelagola, Karnataka. The center is located in the Satpura Range and is 8 km from a Barwani town.

Bawangaja is a medium size village, situated in the middle of Satpura range, five miles from the town of Barwani, Madhya Pradesh. As per the 2011 Census of India, the Bawangaja village accommodates 94 families having a total population of 494 of which 242 are males while 252 are females.

The 84 ft (26 m) tall megalithic statue (carved out of a single rock) of Lord Adinatha (the first Tirthankara and founder of Jainism) is situated at an height of 1,219.4 m (4,001 ft), in the middle of the Satpura range. The idol stands on base of mountain just like the Gommateshwara statue of Lord Bahubali at Shravanabelagola.

The idol of Lord Adinatha is made in brown stone in Kayotsarga posture. The hands of idol are not joined with legs but are made separate. The structural art & style of this idol is unique and it is in perfect proportion. The various parts of idol are quite symmetrical. There is balanced image of all emotions like joy, mercy & separation on the face of this idol. On the left side huge idol of Bawangaja Lord Adinath the 4 armed ‘Gomukh Yaksha’ & on the right side the very artistic idol of 16 armed ‘Yakshi Chakreshvary’ is established.