A Journey Inwards through this Jain Museum, 50 km from Pune

 

By Namrata Kohli 

Have you been to a museum which only talks about thought over things, spirituality over materialism, intangible rather than tangible, and is all about philosophy rather than artefacts. I am referring to the just opened country’s largest museum dedicated to Jain philosophy which is 50 km from Pune. 

A visit to Abhay Prabhavana Museum in Pune, spread over 50 acres with a built up area of 3.5 lakh sq ft, is a journey inwards rather than outwards. After all, every trip need not be about going to Goa or Bali. Travel should also allow us space for spiritual growth and development. Located along the scenic banks of the Indrayani River, in the historic lands of Pune, near the ancient 2,200 years old Pale Jain caves, the Abhay Prabhavana Museum is poised to become a global cultural landmark, which will give the visitors a sense of profound Indian values, as seen through the teachings of Jainism. Just as art lovers plan special trips to The Louvre in Paris or the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, seekers of spiritual knowledge must plan special trips here and budget for spending a day or two here. 

This “Museum of Ideas” or knowledge centre dedicated to Jain philosophy is replete with hi-tech audio-visuals, animations, virtual reality, immersive experiences, interactive systems and specially created 350+ artworks, sculptures and grand replicas to explain complex philosophical and spiritual concepts in a modern, and easy manner. 

Established by Abhay Firodia, Chairman of the Amar Prerana Trust, and founder of Force Motors, the Museum represents a significant milestone in preserving and promoting India’s spiritual legacy. “The project took 10 years from germination to inauguration and around 200 people have been working on it for a decade now,” says Abhay Firodia. The museum was officially launched on his 80^th birthday on 5^th November by Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, alongside Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister and Maharaja of Gwalior, Justice Dalveer Bhandari, International Court of Justice, The Hague, and Maharaj Kumar Lakshyaraj Singh of Mewar along with other dignitaries and spiritual leaders.

Reflecting on the inspiration behind the Museum, Abhay Firodia shared, “Abhay Prabhavana stands as a tribute to the profound values of the Shraman and Jain tradition, which form the core of India’s ethical and cultural ethos, since millennia. This Museum 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. Our hope is that this center will inspire people to explore and connect with the ten ideals of Indian civilization, expressed through Jainism: Asi (tools and weapons), Masi (ink and communication), Kasi (agriculture and animal husbandry), Vanijya (trade and commerce), Shilp (professional skills), Vidya (knowledge (mathematics, cosmology, medical sciences etc.), Ahimsa (Non-violence and non-injury through thought, speech and actions).”

This knowledge centre is a repository of timeless Jain values such as Aparigrah or non-possessiveness, Anekantvad or non-absolutism of truth, and acceptance of others’ viewpoints as equally valid and Kshama or seeking and offering forgiveness. The museum encourages a quest for truth and personal reflection and is rooted in the Jain principle of “Panna Samikhaye Dhammam.” Overall, a place for reflection, inspiration and imbibing some of the ancient wisdom of Jainism and its timeless values.