By Neha Kirpal
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, there is sometimes a need to pause, reflect and look back at who we are and where we come from. Recently, I had the chance to visit the world’s largest Jain museum.
Abhay Prabhavana, which is also India’s largest private museum, is picturesquely located along the banks of the Indrayani River on the Mumbai-Pune highway. It celebrates the rich ethos of Jain values and culture as well as India’s enduring heritage.
‘Prabhavana’ means a precious and selfless gift to society without any expectation of returns. That was exactly the intention of Abhay Firodia, Chairman of the Amar Prerana Trust, who decided to build the museum about a decade ago.
The huge 50 acre estate, which opened to the public in November last year, is an attempt to create a ‘Museum of Ideas’ in order to find answers to life’s questions. As soon as I enter, after depositing my phone and other belongings safely outside, I step onto a pristine marble floor and see eight exquisite Pichwai paintings depicting the revered 24 Tirthankaras.
Jainism is one of the oldest living religions in the world. With over 350 specially commissioned artworks displayed across 30 carefully curated galleries, the state-of-the-art museum, which Firodia calls a ‘Knowledge Centre‘, was created after ten years of extensive research and involved the expertise of several scholars, artists, builders, architects, philosophers, thought leaders, technologists and construction engineers.
More than Rs 400 crores have been spent on the museum, which requires at least an entire day to be seen completely.
A former entrepreneur who headed Force Motors and Jaya Hind Industries among other businesses, 81 year old Firodia has spent about five decades in the automobile business.
According to him, it is important that young people today learn to look at the past. “The idea is to introduce people to a perspective on how to look at our tradition. We have tried to look at the evolution of India’s value system in a rational, practical and modern way,” he explained.
The museum has entire rooms dedicated to explain different Jain concepts, such as non-violence, self-restraint, compassion, humankind and nature, the interdependence of life, non-attachment, and respecting others’ viewpoints.
“Abhay Prabhavana reflects the principles of Education, Enterprise and Ethics – not just as concepts, but as the real societal values that guide individuals toward a balanced and purposeful life,” added Firodia.
Apart from that, there are galleries devoted to Jain literature, art and architecture as well as the flourishing Jain community and their contributions. A lot of immersive experiences, such as audio-visual, animation, virtual reality and multimedia technology have been used to make the museum user-friendly and appealing, especially for younger audiences.
For instance, one of the 3D shows, Dawn of Civilisation, consists of a spherical screen overhead which is filled with stars, like in a planetarium. Then there are interactive digital devices through which visitors can trace the evolution of Jain traditions and access detailed information about the six main Tirthankaras.
At the centre of the building, there is about a 100 feet tall Manstambh Tower, made of Vietnamese marble and carved with murals. Its seven intricately carved layers showcase important aspects of Jainism and human life. One of the most striking features of the outdoor heritage walk is a 43 feet meditative statue of the first Tirthankara, Rishabhdev, in art deco style.
It was Rishabhdev who laid the foundation for both social and personal values, which later generations expanded to form the Jain society. Other features at the premises include an expansive library, a 170 seater auditorium, and a food court that offers vegetarian delicacies and can accommodate more than 500 people.
Before the end of the year, the museum plans to open a two acre playground space for children who are less than eight years old as well as an open-air amphitheatre for cultural performances. A large souvenir shop will also open in a few months’ time. In future, the museum also plans to partner with various cultural institutions to bring world-class exhibits to the country.
