Sonagiri is a town in Bhopal, India, in the BHEL township in the city of Bhopal.

Importance of Sonagiri

There is a special importance to route between Jhansi and Gwalior in between Delhi and Bhopal. Here almost 110 Jain Temples are present. Jain Religious heads visited these temples several times. For every visit of a head, a temple is built here. The 8th Teerthankar Chandra Prabhu visited this place highest of 15 times than any other. Biggest temple was built for him. His Shrine was sculptured with marble in this temple beautifully. This area was developed by Chandragupta Mouryas. This area got its importance after 200 years after death of Mahavir. All Jain religious heads visited this temple. Each temple here is built in a different way than others. Some temples were in round shape. These are called as Chakkiwala Mandir.

52th temple was built with ancient art, 59th temple was built with four pillars. Here we can see Mahavir in different shrines. Infront of Chandra Prabhu temple, small temples where built with marble for 24 Teerthankars. So that all the visitors can have Darashanam for all the Teerthankars at a place.

About Jainism

One of the ancient religious cultures in India is Jainism. They don't believe in God. But they believe in death and rebirth. The religious heads of Jainism are called Teerthankars. They left all relationships and got onto high positions with great knowledge.

There are 24 Teerthankars in Jainism. The first one among them is Aadinath and last is the Mahaveer or Vardhman. Jainism widely expanded during Chandragupta Mourya's period. Some of the Jains came to South India and settled here. There are two kinds of people in Jain Culture. They are Digambars and Swethambars. Digambars used no clothes. Swethambars used to wear white clothes only. Their beliefs are all same except small differences in their pooja styles.

Jain Temples

In India, there are many temples for their religious heads. Importantly, their first religious head Aadinath temple is in Mount Abu in Rajasthan. It is called as Bilwara Temple. It is also an International Tourist spot. Similary, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan; Phalitana in Gujarat; Gomatagiri, Sonagiri in Madhya Pradesh also have jain temples.

Udayagiri, Khandagiri in Bhuwaneswar, Seethalnadh in Kolkata also contain jain temples. Gomateswara Statue in Sravana Belgola (Bahubali) in Karnataka is not a piligrim centre but also an International tourist spot.