Rishabhdev (Adinath) Digambar Jain Temple — Badi Murti
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
The Rishabhdev (Adinath) Digambar Jain Temple is the spiritual heart of Jain devotion in Ayodhya, honouring the janma-kalyanak — the sacred birth — of Bhagwan Rishabhdev, the first of the twenty-four Tirthankaras. In Jain tradition, Ayodhya (Ayodhyapuri) is a hallowed birth-place: texts describe it as the janmabhumi of five Tirthankaras, of whom Rishabhdev is the foremost, born to King Nabhi and Queen Marudevi. As the adi-nath, the 'first lord' who is said to have taught humanity the arts of civilisation before renouncing the world, Rishabhdev occupies a place of unique reverence, and this temple stands as the devotional anchor of that memory in the city of his birth.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Sweet shops around Ram Ki Paidi and the temple lanes (area-level) – pure-vegetarian peda, khurchan and jalebi; confirm on arrival.
- ✦Kachori-sabzi and dahi-jalebi stalls near the main temple bazaar – classic Ayodhya pure-veg breakfast; verify freshness and hygiene on the spot.
- ✦Free bhandaras / Ram Rasoi-style community kitchens near the principal temples – simple sattvic pure-veg meals for pilgrims; timings vary, ask locally.
- ✦Small pure-vegetarian thali dhabas along Ram Path (area-level) – North Indian veg thalis; being a holy city these are meat- and alcohol-free, but confirm at the outlet.
About
The Rishabhdev (Adinath) Digambar Jain Temple is the spiritual heart of Jain devotion in Ayodhya, honouring the janma-kalyanak — the sacred birth — of Bhagwan Rishabhdev, the first of the twenty-four Tirthankaras.
- In Jain tradition, Ayodhya (Ayodhyapuri) is a hallowed birth-place: texts describe it as the janmabhumi of five Tirthankaras, of whom Rishabhdev is the foremost, born to King Nabhi and Queen Marudevi.
- As the adi-nath, the 'first lord' who is said to have taught humanity the arts of civilisation before renouncing the world, Rishabhdev occupies a place of unique reverence, and this temple stands as the devotional anchor of that memory in the city of his birth.
- The shrine takes its popular name — Badi Murti, the 'Great Idol' — from its most striking feature: a majestic standing marble image of Rishabhdev in the kayotsarga posture (the meditative 'body-abandonment' stance of a naked, motionless ascetic), reported to rise roughly 31 feet (about 9.5 metres).
- Carved in luminous white marble and set within a serene sanctum, the murti draws the eye upward in an attitude of profound stillness and detachment that is the very essence of the Digambar path.
- Around the main image, subsidiary shrines and vedis (altars) enshrine other Tirthankaras, and a tall manastambha (column of honour) and finely wrought spire mark the complex in the classic idiom of a Digambar Jain mandir.
- Devotees observe the temple's quiet, disciplined rhythm of abhishek (ceremonial bathing of the idol), puja and swadhyaya (scriptural study).
- The atmosphere is meditative rather than festive, in keeping with Jain sensibility — pilgrims circumambulate, offer rice, sandal and flowers at the vedi, and sit in contemplation.
- The most auspicious day is the Rishabhdev Janma-Kalyanak (falling in the month of Chaitra), when special abhishek and shanti-dhara ceremonies honour the Tirthankara's birth, and the shrine forms an important station on the wider Jain pilgrimage circuit that reveres Ayodhya as a kalyanak-kshetra.
- For travellers, the temple sits comfortably within Ayodhya's temple-town, a strictly vegetarian and alcohol-free holy city where honouring ahimsa (non-violence) is second nature.
- No food is sold within the shrine, and Jain visitors typically fast or eat before sunset; simple pure-vegetarian fare — kachori-sabzi, dahi-jalebi, peda and khurchan, and the free bhandaras near the main temples — is available a short walk away in the surrounding lanes.
- Please remove leather items before entering, dress modestly, maintain silence in the sanctum, and ask before photographing the idol.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Digambar Jain Mandir, near Ram Ki Paidi, Rai Ganj, Ayodhya, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, 224123
How to Reach: Located in the temple-town near Ram Ki Paidi, Ayodhya. From Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station it is about 2–3 km — an auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw costs roughly ₹40–80 (10–15 minutes). From the Ram Janmabhoomi / Ram Path area it is a short e-rickshaw ride or a pleasant walk. Ayodhya Airport (Maharishi Valmiki International) is about 12–15 km away by taxi. Confirm the exact lane locally, as the shrine sits among the old town's temple clusters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rishabhdev (Adinath) Digambar Jain Temple in Ayodhya known for?
It is Ayodhya's foremost Jain shrine, honouring the janma-kalyanak (sacred birth) of Bhagwan Rishabhdev, the first of the twenty-four Tirthankaras. It is best known for its towering standing white-marble idol — the 'Badi Murti' — of Rishabhdev in the meditative kayotsarga posture, reported to rise roughly 31 feet.
Why is Ayodhya important in Jainism?
In Jain tradition Ayodhya (Ayodhyapuri) is revered as a birth-place of five Tirthankaras, of whom Rishabhdev (Adinath) is the first and foremost, born to King Nabhi and Queen Marudevi. This makes the city a significant kalyanak-kshetra on the Jain pilgrimage map, and this temple is its devotional anchor.
What are the temple timings and is there an entry fee?
Entry is free. The temple is reported to open roughly 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, often with a midday break as is common at Jain temples. Timings shift by season and on festival days, so it is best to confirm locally before you go.
How do I reach the temple in Ayodhya?
It lies in the old temple-town near Ram Ki Paidi. From Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station it is about 2–3 km (₹40–80 by auto or e-rickshaw, 10–15 minutes), and it is a short e-rickshaw ride or walk from the Ram Janmabhoomi / Ram Path area. Ayodhya Airport is about 12–15 km away by taxi.
What should I keep in mind when visiting this Jain temple?
Observe the shrine's quiet, meditative rhythm: remove shoes and any leather items before entering, dress modestly, maintain silence in the sanctum, and ask before photographing the idol. Circumambulation and offerings of rice, sandal and flowers at the vedi (altar) are customary. The most special day is the Rishabhdev Janma-Kalyanak in Chaitra (March–April).
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the temple?
Ayodhya is a strictly vegetarian, alcohol-free holy city, so pure-veg food is everywhere around the temple lanes — peda, khurchan and jalebi at sweet shops, kachori-sabzi and dahi-jalebi at the bazaar stalls, and simple sattvic meals at community kitchens and bhandaras near the main temples. No food is sold inside the shrine; confirm hygiene and timings at each outlet on arrival.
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