Bahoriband Jain Temple

Bahoriband Jain Temple is a historic Jain temple located in Bahoriband town in Katni district, Madhya Pradesh. It is renowned for its colossal monolithic stone image of Jain Tirthankara Shantinatha, standing about 12 feet tall, dating to the 10th-11th century Kalchuri period. The site includes an important stone inscription recording its installation. Situated in a small town setting, the temple remains an active place of worship and archaeological interest.

Visitors can expect a small temple complex in a quiet town setting housing the large standing stone image of Tirthankara Shantinatha in Kayotsarga posture. The main shrine is open and visible, with the monolithic image as the central focus. The surroundings are simple with open courtyard area, stone structures and inscription slab nearby. The site is primarily for darshan, sightseeing and photography of the sculpture and temple architecture.

The temple is known for its colossal image of the 16th Jain Tirthankara Shantinatha, dated to the 10th-11th century during the Kalchuri dynasty. A Sanskrit inscription at the site, dated Kalchuri Samvat 355 (1028 CE), records that the image was installed by a merchant named Mahabhoja during the reign of Kalchuri ruler Gayakarna. The sculpture and inscription are important for understanding Kalchuri art, Jain iconography and epigraphy in central India.

The site is a revered Digambara Jain pilgrimage centre dedicated to Tirthankara Shantinatha. It remains an active place of worship, especially during Jain festivals such as Mahavir Jayanti and Paryushana, and represents the continuity of Jain religious and artistic traditions in the Katni-Jabalpur region.