TEMPLE

Kaila Devi Temple :
Shri   Kailadevi Ji temple is situated around   23   km.  Away from Karauli town in district Karauli. It is believed that the temple came into existence around 1100 A.D. This temple is of Shri Kaila Devi Ji which is reining deity of millions of people of eastern Rajasthan, M.P. and U.P.  Around 60 lacs pilgrims flock to this place every year. This temple is regarded as one of   the 9 Shakti peeths   of goddess Durga.

In chaitra Navratra virtually the entire area of eastern Rajasthan, western U.P. and western M.P. congregate at the feet of goddess. 1000 of   buses, cars and other vehicles bring these people here. Lacs of devotees come on foot also. A real sea of humanity engulfs   the    surrounding   area   for around 15 days. Such a large assemblage of devotees requires tremendous efforts for provision and maintenance of basic civic amenities and services.

The Govt. Deploys a whole array of officers and staff from various Govt deptt.   for   proper   management   of Chaitra fair.

SHRI MAHAVIR JI :
Birth name of Mahavir was Vardhman. The different names  Ativir , Sanmati , Mahavir  were the  epithets conferred  upon  him  for  his   acts of  boldness  and bravery at different occasions. The universality of the application of the name Mahavir has rendered   it functionally equivalent to a personal name.

Born in a princely family all the comforts of life were available to him but child   Mahavir did not evince interest in worldly pleasures. Having strong   spiritual inclination and desire to do well of   the people, he   had a strong urge of renunciation of worldly   attach- ments. Deep affection and persuasion of his parents   and   relatives could not keep him confined to the family bonds. Spiritualism and  renunciation so  much prevailed over  him  the ultimately on  November 11, B.C 570 (Marga-sirsha Krishna - dasmi) , at the age       of 30 years, he left  the place and   proceeded  to the park,  Jnatrkhanda -Vana, close  to   Kundapur, and relinquished  his  ornaments and  clothes . He pulled   out his hair by his hands and initiates himself as   a Digamber Jain monk. He observed fast for 3 days and then plunged himself into meditation. After some- time he started touring various parts  of  the country.  He  lived  in gardens  park,   but as  required  by  the rules  of  his vows  and fast, he  entered a town or a  village once in a day and accepted the food  offered   to   him  according  to  the  norms  laid down for Jain ascetics. In a standing or squatting posture, and with    his eyes fixed on the tip of  nose, he spent his time in meditation  and  in  reflecting  on  the Atman ( soul )   and in cultivating the attitude of  equanimity towards   one and all. Strictly observing his five great vows &         other principles, he got himself habituated to endure        with peace & patience all physical tortures, know as  ‘pariahs’,  like  hunger,  thirst , cold, heat, mosquito   bites etc.,

Mahavir spent twelve years as an ascetic, practicing various  austerities. One day  on Baisakh - Shukla - Dasmi , April 26, B.C. 557 at  the age of 42  years, while he was seated   beneath a sal  tree plunged in meditation  close to the village   Jrmbhaka by  name,      on the  bank of  river   Rijukula  omniscience or  all knowledge - infinite  knowledge  ( Ananta - Jnana ), "knowledge free  from Karmic interference" -Keval   -Jyana which  has  no limitations of   time and space, dawned  on him. He  got  satisfactory   solutions  for     all  those   problems  and questions connected  with      life and  the universe which occur  to any  inquisitive    soul.