Shri Abhinandannath Bhagwan Janma Bhumi Tonk, Ayodhya: The Birthplace of the 4th Tirthankara, Timings and Visit Guide

ॐEssential info at a glance

ॐAbhinandannath Janma Bhumi Tonk timings and aarti

The shrine keeps a morning session from about 5:30 AM to noon, with the main pooja and abhishek, the ceremonial bathing of the Tirthankara, held from around 8:00 to 11:30 AM; and it reopens in the evening for darshan and the sunset prayers, closing by about 8:30 PM. The aartis are the loveliest moments: the morning Mangala or Prakshal aarti around 6:00 to 6:30 AM, and the evening Sandhya aarti around 6:30 to 7:15 PM, at sunset. Entry is free, and it is a peaceful, uncrowded shrine, so darshan is calm and unhurried.

ॐThe Janma Bhumi Tonk: the birthplace of the 4th Tirthankara

This Digambar Jain shrine at Raiganj, near Rajghat, holds a glory of the first order, for it is a Janma Bhumi Tonk, a memorial shrine upon the very birthplace, of Bhagwan Abhinandannath, the fourth of the twenty-four Jain Tirthankaras, born here in the holy city of Ayodhya. Here, tradition tells, in the royal house of King Samvara and Queen Siddhartha, of the ancient Ikshvaku dynasty, the great soul who would become the Tirthankara Abhinandannath took birth. And so this tonk is a sacred station of Jain pilgrimage, one of the birthplaces of the Tirthankaras that make Ayodhya a supreme tirtha of the Jains, where devotees come to bow at the birthplace of the fourth Lord and to perform the abhishek and worship of the Digambar tradition.

ॐBhagwan Abhinandannath, the Lord of Joy

The Tirthankara this shrine honours bears a name of gladness: Abhinandannath, from abhinandana, which means rejoicing, felicitation, the giving of joy and blessing; and it is a fitting name for a Tirthankara, for the coming of a ford-maker into the world is a cause of the deepest joy for all beings, a blessing upon the age. Born here in Ayodhya, fourth in the line of the Tirthankaras and of the same royal Ikshvaku dynasty as Lord Ram, he in time renounced the world, attained the supreme knowledge, and taught the eternal path of non-violence, truth and liberation, before attaining his own final release at the great mountain of Sammed Shikharji. His emblem is the monkey; and he is revered, as the fourth of the ford-makers, among the great and early teachers of the Jain faith.

ॐThe five Tirthankara birthplaces of Ayodhya: the Jain Tirth Vandana

This shrine is one of five, for one of the great glories of Ayodhya, less known than its fame as the city of Ram, is that it is the birthplace of five of the twenty-four Jain Tirthankaras: Bhagwan Rishabhdev, or Adinath, the first and founder of the faith; Ajitnath, the second; Abhinandannath, the fourth, whose birthplace this is; Sumatinath, the fifth; and Anantnath, the fourteenth; and all five were of the ancient and sacred Ikshvaku dynasty, the same royal line as Lord Ram. Their birthplaces lie close together, within a few kilometres, in and around the old city, and to make the round of all five, bowing at each in turn, is a beautiful and deeply cherished pilgrimage, the Jain Tirth Vandana. The circuit reaches beyond the city too, to Ratnapuri a little to the west, the birthplace of the fifteenth Lord, Dharmanath; so that the Jain circuit of the Ayodhya region holds the birthplaces of six Tirthankaras in all.

ॐThe abhishek, the rules and an honest word

For those who wish to perform the abhishek, the ceremonial bathing of the Tirthankara, or a special Vishesh Puja, an Ashtahnika or a Janma Kalyanak Puja, the shrine has its beautiful traditional observances, which can be arranged with the temple's local office or the Jain dharamshala on site. A few respectful rules apply, and it is good to know them: modest and clean clothing is expected of all, and those who intend to enter the inner sanctum for the abhishek are asked to wear the traditional dress, a dhoti or kurta-pyjama for men, a saree or suit for women. Photography is not permitted inside the main shrine, and leather items, wallets, belts and bags, must be left outside the prayer hall. And an honest and useful word, as at all the Jain temples of Ayodhya: entry and darshan are completely free, there is no VIP darshan and no paid queue, and there is no need of any agent; so please never pay a tout who promises special or fast-track entry, for the doors are open to all, free.

ॐThe birthplace of the Lord of Joy, in my own words

By Rajeev Sharma, guide with Experience My India

I love bringing Jain pilgrims to the Abhinandannath tonk, because it is a true birthplace, the Janma Bhumi of the fourth Tirthankara. I tell them the lovely meaning of his name, Abhinandannath, the Lord of Joy, of rejoicing, because the coming of a Tirthankara is a blessing and a joy for the whole world. And I explain the great glory of Ayodhya, that five Tirthankaras were born here, all of the same Ikshvaku line as our Lord Ram, and I take my Jain guests to bow at all five, the Jain Tirth Vandana. To bow at five of the birthplaces of the Tirthankaras in a single circuit is a profound pilgrimage.

Because pilgrims often wish to do the abhishek here, I always tell them the practical things in advance, to bring the proper dress for the sanctum, to leave their leather and cameras outside, so they are ready and comfortable; and I arrange the special pujas with the temple office if they wish. As at all the Jain temples, I give my guests the honest word that entry is free and they should never pay any agent. It is a peaceful, deeply reverent shrine, one of the five holy birthplaces, and often we go on to Ratnapuri as well. The round of the Tirthankara birthplaces is one of the most meaningful things I share with Jain pilgrims, and this birthplace of the Lord of Joy is a beautiful part of it.

In more than forty years of guiding, the round of the five Tirthankara birthplaces is among the most meaningful pilgrimages I share with Jain devotees.

ॐWhat to see and do

• Bow at the birthplace of Bhagwan Abhinandannath, the 4th Tirthankara, and take darshan of his idol.
• Perform the abhishek in the morning session, or arrange a special Vishesh Puja with the temple office.
• Attend the Mangala aarti at dawn or the Sandhya aarti at sunset.
• Complete the Jain Tirth Vandana, the round of all five Tirthankara birthplaces of Ayodhya.
• Extend the circuit to Ratnapuri, the birthplace of the 15th Tirthankara, Dharmanath.

ॐHow to reach the Abhinandannath Janma Bhumi Tonk

The shrine is at Raiganj, near Rajghat and the Ramkot area of Ayodhya, easily reached by road, and close to the other Tirthankara birthplace temples, including the great Badi Murti.

It is close to the Badi Murti and the other Jain birthplaces for the Jain Tirth Vandana.

ॐBest time to visit and how to plan it

• Pair it with the other four Tirthankara birthplaces for the Jain Tirth Vandana, and with Ratnapuri.
• Allow 20 to 30 minutes for darshan, longer if you perform an abhishek or puja.

For Ayodhya, or a combined Kashi and Ayodhya pilgrimage, planned end to end, see our tour packages.

ॐVisitor rules and etiquette

• Wear modest, clean clothing; for the inner sanctum and abhishek, traditional dress (dhoti or kurta-pyjama for men, saree or suit for women).
• Photography is not permitted inside the main shrine.
• Leave leather items, wallets, belts and bags outside the prayer hall, and remove footwear.
• Behold the idol of the Tirthankara with reverence, and follow the temple's rules of purity.

ॐAccessibility for elderly and mobility limited visitors

• The shrine is reachable by road; check on any steps to the sanctum, and a helper is useful for the frail.
• Being peaceful and uncrowded, it allows an easy, unhurried darshan without long waits.
• The temple office or the dharamshala can arrange assistance and special puja for elderly pilgrims.
• We arrange transport and plan a gentle Jain Tirth Vandana within your Ayodhya day.

ॐOur guided visits and the Jain Tirth Vandana

We are a Varanasi and Ayodhya based operator, a unit of Experience My India, with more than forty years of guiding pilgrims across Kashi, Ayodhya, and Prayagraj. Entry and darshan are free, so what we offer is the story and the planning: a guide who tells the story of Bhagwan Abhinandannath and the five Tirthankara birthplaces, the whole Jain Tirth Vandana of the city, help with the abhishek and any special puja, and the wider Jain circuit of the region including Ratnapuri. And we look after you honestly, so you never pay a tout for what is free.

Inclusions and exclusions are stated up front, with any taxes and conditions, and no charge appears later that was not named. Darshan is free; our charge is only for guiding and services. See all our tour packages for the full range.

Experience My India is a travel operator, not the temple administration. Darshan is free; our charge is only for our guiding and services. Timings and rules are set by the temple and can change.

ॐNearby sacred sites in Ayodhya

The Abhinandannath tonk is one of the five Tirthankara birthplaces of Ayodhya.

For the Ram Mandir darshan and its free Sugam booking, see our Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir guide.