Statue of Vasupujya

Statue of Vasupujya
The 31ft high "Statue of Vasupujya" at Champapur, Bihar
Location
Location	Champapur
State	Bihar
Country	India

The Statue of Vasupujya located at Champapur in the Indian state of Bihar, is one of the tallest statue in eastern India. The statue is dedicated to Vasupujya, the twelfth Jain Tirthankara of the present cosmic age. The height of the statue is 31 ft. The statue was constructed and donated by Smt Sona Devi Sethi Charitable trust, Nagaland. Champapur is a Siddhakshetra and occupies a very significant place among the Jains. This is said to be the place where all the five kalyanaks (five auspicious events)- Garbh, Janam, Diksha, Kevalgyana and Moksh kalyanak of Tirthankara Vasupujya took place. It is said that the first tirthankar Rishabha, twenty-third Tirthankara Parshvanath and last tirthankara Mahavira had their Chaturmas (monsoon stay) at this place. Mahavira had his third and twelfth Chaturmas at this place.

Early Stages

The statue was built in the memory of Smt Sona Devi Sethi. The main force behind the project was Shri Binod Sethi, son of Shri Phulchand Sethi and Smt Lada Devi Sethi, of Dimapur, Nagaland who wanted to fulfill the last wishes of his wife, Sona Devi Sethi, daughter of Shri Bhawarlal Jain and Smt Banarsi Devi Jain. His entire family including his two sons Dewas and Anand, and daughters Chandni and Shiwangi played an instrumental role in the project.

The stone for the statue was brought all the way from Koyra mines in Karnataka to Champapur in Bihar. The original stone weighed over a 100 tonnes and was brought by road.

Bhoomi Pujan

The Bhoomi Pujan was done in June 2012.

Carving of the statue

The carving of the statue was done immaculately by Jagdish Sharma & Co, sculptors from Rajasthan, in Champapur itself. The carving was completed in about 14 months.

Erection of the statue

The statue was lifted with the help of two cranes which were brought from nearby states.

Panch Kalyanak Mahotsav

The Panch Kalyanaka Pratistha Mahotsav of the statue was held from 27 February 2014 to 3 March 2014. The Pancha Kalyanak Pratistha Mahotsav was conducted by Muni Shri 108 Shri Punya Sagarji Maharaj, Peethadeesh Swami Shri Ravindra Keertiji with the blessings of Ganini 105 Shri Gyanmati Mataji, a disciple of 108 Shri Shantisagar ji Maharaj. The chief Pratishtachari(Priest) of the Panch Kalyanak was Shri Vijay Kumar Jain. The Suri Mantra was said by Muni Shree 108 Shri Punya Sagarji Maharaj. The first ever Mahamastakabhisek of the statue was performed on 3 March 2014.

Gallery

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  Statue of Lord Vasupujya, Champapur
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  Statue of Lord Vasupujya, Champapur
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  Shri Phulchand Sethi and Smt Lada Devi Sethi
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  Smt Sona Devi Sethi
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  Shri Binod Sethi and Smt Sona Devi Sethi
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  Dewas Sethi performing the rituals at the mines
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  Bhoomi Pujan of the Project being performed
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  Swami Raveendra Kirtiji with Shri Binod Sethi at the site
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  108 Shri Saurabh Sagarji at the site
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  Shiwangi taking part in the carving
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  Shri Binod Sethi taking part in the carving
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  The statue being lifted with the help of cranes
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  108 Shri Punya Sagarji Maharaj performing the rituals
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  108 Shri Punya Sagarji Maharaj performing the Suri Mantra
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  First ever Panchamrit Mahamastakabhishek of the statue on 3 March 2014

See also

• God in Jainism
• Arihant (Jainism)
• Jainism and non-creationism
• Vasupujya

External Links

• [1]