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Mandar
Mandar hill is a massive rock of granite, 48 Kms south of Bhagalpur. This 700-800
feet high hillock is believed to have served as a churning rod at the time
of the churning of the ocean by the 'Devas' and 'Asuras' referred to in the
'Puranas'.
The 'Puranas' and other Hindu literary texts refer to it as 'Mandargir' hill
on Makar Sankranti (January 14) and lakhs of people take a dip in this sacred
tank despite the bitter cold.
A Jain temple has come up at Baunsi near the Madhusudana temple. Two images of
Vasupujyanatha, the 12th Jain Tirthankara have been installed in it. The bigger
image is of red stone and the smaller one of bronze. Two foot- or 'Mandarachala'.
According to local belief a large town once existed near Mandar hill. It had
88 tanks, 53 roads and 52 markets. Several ruins and remains of ancient and medieval
buildings, structures, temples and images and a large number of old tanks and
wells lying scattered over a two mile area around the hill and some works of
art and architecture on the hill itself testify to its grandeur and history.
The sacred tank at the foot of the hill is said to have been excavated by Queen
Konadevi wife of King Adityasena of Magadh (AD 672). Every year a big fair is
held near this prints are portrayed in front of the smaller image. Vasupujyanatha,
who was born in Champa is believed to have attained Nirvana on Mandar hill. Hence
this hill is sacred to the Jainas and a large number of pilgrims visit this hill
and the Baunsi Jaina temple each year.
