Aharji

Aharji is a historical pilgrimage site for Jainism in India. It is located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on the road from Tikamgarh to Chhatarpur.

Overview

Aharji is a place full of natural attractive beauty. It is famous for the miraculous colossus of Lord (Shantinath) in standing (Khadagasana) posture. It is 18 feet in height.

The main temple is famous for beautiful monumental image of Lord Shatinath from the Chandella period. It has an inscription on it of Vikram Samvat 1237 (=1180-81 AD). It was the last major temple to be built here in the Chandella period. Several other smaller temples were built here at the same time as the main temple.

Excavations have found a large number of Jain images that were installed here during Sambat 1011 to Samvat 1332, spanning the reigns of six Chandella rulers. This was a major Jain center during the Chandella period. The inscriptions give the names of 32 separate Jain communities that had built these temples, including Golapurva, Parwar, Khandelwal, Golalare, Jaiswal etc.