Shri Shantinath Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra Bhojpur is situated at a distance of 30 km from Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, State of India, surrounded by dense forests of Vindhyachal Mountain Range. This Kshetra is famous for miraculous idol of Bhagwan Shantinath (16th Teerthankar) 22½ feet high in standing posture; this was installed here by the consent of ‘King Bhoj’, the famous King of ‘Dhar’ during 11th century. According to the inscription on idol, it was reverenced in year 1100 AD.

This Kshetra is related to ‘Acharya Mantunga’, who was the writer of famous ‘Bhaktamar Stotra’. Acharya Mantunga’s place of penance – Siddha-Shila (a flat rock) and his shrine is also here. At the place of shrine, a pair of foot images is reverenced.

Acharya Mantunga (an introduction): - King Bhoj seated on the throne of Dhara Nagari (presently city of Dhar) in year 1100 AD. Great poet ‘Kalidas’ was one of the members of his assembly – Royal Court. One Jain poet ‘Dhananjaya’ was also becoming famous those days in the city. One day King Bhoj called Dhananjaya in his royal court and get introduced with him and praised him for his poems & wisdom.

Shri Dhananjaya told the king very politely that his all wisdom & knowledge was due to his teacher (Guru) Acharya Mantunga – a Jain Muni (Saint), he said that all the knowledge is due to the blessings of Acharya Mantunga. After knowing about the praise worth Acharya Mantunga, King Bhoj desired to meet with Acharya. King Bhoj ordered his servants to bring Acharya Mantunga to his royal court with honor. At that time Acharya were staying at Bhojpur and doing Tapa (Penance) for self – realization – purification. Servants of King Bhoj reached there, prayed Acharya again & again to go with them to city of Dhara to meet their King Bhoj. But ascetic saints have no purpose in meeting with King or any other persons. So Acharya gave no reply to servants and engrossed in deep Tapa or meditation. Servants returned to King and told about their failure. So the King Bhoj became angry and he ordered to bring the Acharya forcefully in his royal court. Servants do the same and thus Acharya were brought before King Bhoj. The king praised Acharya and requested to give some religious precepts to the audience present there. But up to that time looking unfavorable situations, Acharya decided to remain silent during such conditions. So all the prayers & requests of King were all in vain, so King became angry and he ordered to his soldiers to place the Acharya in prison. Thus Acharya were placed in prison.

In the prison Acharya Mantunga started the prayer of Bhagwan Adinath (the 1st Teerthankar), thus he wrote in Sanskrit language a great poem – the ‘Bhaktamar Stotra’ having 48 Chhanda (Verse), this is very popular Stotra among Jains, daily recited in so many families. It is supposed that every verse (Chhanda) of this Stotra has the power of Mantra and is helpful in getting the dreams materialized.

Due to the effect of Bhaktamar Stotra, Acharya Mantunga automatically came out of prison. The watchman saw this miracle, but thinking about the self-ignorance, he again closed Acharya in prison and checked the locks firmly. But after sometime locks of prison again opened and Acharya were free again. Seeing this the watchman hurried to the king and told him about the event. King came there and he ordered the soldiers to tie Acharya firmly with strong chains and kept in the prison having 48 locks. Acharya again recited Bhaktamar Stotra and all the 48 locks with chains broken. Acharya automatically came out of prison. Looking this miracle, King Bhoj felt down in the feet of Acharya, he pardoned for his mistake again & again.

After this, Acharya Mantunga entered the city of Dhara, due the effect of preaches & Tapa of Mantunga, so many peoples accepted Jain Dharma (religion).

Later on Acharya Mantunga stayed at Bhojpur he practiced for penance & meditation, tried to get rid of worldly affection & aversion. At the end, he accepted ‘Sallekhana Vrit’ and give up his body doing Tapa. Shrine of Acharya Mantunga and his Siddha Shila (a rock where Acharya seated for Tapa & meditation) is also here in Bhojpur. A pair of footprints of Acharya Mantunga are installed on the shrine.

At a distence of 13 km from Dhara, in the village ‘Ahu’, ruins of 48 pillars may be seen where Acharya were kept during prison.

Later on a huge temple of Bhagwan Shantinath was constructed here by the consent of King Bhoj and 22½ feet high standing idol of Bhagwan Shantinath was installed in the huge sanctum of temple.

This huge temple was established in year 1100 AD. The miraculous idol of principal deity Bhagwan Shantinath in standing posture (22½ feet in height) is installed in the huge sanctum of this temple. On the both sides of this idol, 2 standing beautiful idols of Bhagwan Parshvanath & Suparshvanath (7th Teerthankar) 8 feet in height each are installed. Near the feet of Bhagwan Shantinath, artistic whisk bearers are carved on both sides.

In the Bhojpur, there also exists a huge Shiva Mandir – the temple of Lord Shiva, constructed by King Bhoj. This ancient artistic temple is standing on a 13 feet high plateform, which is 115 X 82 feet in size. Temple is 65 X 65 feet in size very artistic and unique. A 22½ feet high great ‘Shiva Linga’ is installed in this temple.
Bhojpur is an important place among the beautiful agreeable places of Bhopal. Other places worth seeing are: - Ashapuri – 6 km, Bhim Vetaka – 20 km.

Samas Garh: - This place is related to ‘Acharya Shubh Chandra’, the writer of ‘Gyanarnava (Jnanarnava)’ – a great Jain Text. Gyanarnava was written & completed here by Acharya Shubh Chandra. This is the place where Acharya Shubh Chandra addressed his brother Bhartri Hari & motivated him successfully to accept Jainism, after this Bhartri Hari became ascetic saint. Shubh Chandra did Tapa & Maditation here. This is memorable that Acharya Mantunga accepted Sallekhana Vrit in the last days of his life before Acharya Shubh Chandra.