Devanagari घंटाकर्ण महावीर Major cult center Mahudi Region Gujarat, India | Gujarati ઘંટાકર્ણ મહાવીર Weapon Bow and arrow Festivals Kali Chaudas | |
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Ghantakarna Mahavir is a protector Jain deity. There is a shrine dedicated to him at Mahudi Jain temple established by Buddhisagar Suri, a Jain monk.
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Legend
There was a Kshatriya king named Tungabhadra or Mahabal from Shri Nagar. He was king of the Himalayan dynasty. He protected religious people, castes and virtuous women and unmarried girls from robbers. He protects pilgrims who visited Shri Parvat near his kingdom from bandits. He primarily used bow and arrows, to protect innocents and he had a heavy mace.
He died fighting thieves while saving a group of people who were targeted for threat and robbery. He reincarnated as Ghantakarna Mahavir. He is venerated as 30th Vir (hero) in the list of fifty-two Rakshak Deva ("protector divinity") or Virs.
Association
He liked the sounds of bells (ghanta) and had bell-shaped ears (karna) so he was called Ghanta-karna Mahavir (great warrior). He was fond of sukhdi (mixture of jaggery, wheat and ghee), a sweet, so it is offered by devotees at his Mahudi shrine.