Muchhal Mahavir Temple

A Mahavira temple on the Falna–Kumbhalgarh road, its image tradition holds once grew a moustache — the origin of the name it carries.

The story the temple’s name records concerns Rana Raj Singh I of Mewar, who visited and, while applying saffron to the image, noticed a white hair on its face. Told it was a hair from Mahavira’s own moustache, the Rana pressed to see the full moustache for himself; the temple priest fasted for three days, and the image is said to have shown one. Mahavira himself is not otherwise depicted with facial hair anywhere in this directory or in Jain iconography generally, which is exactly what makes the story worth recording rather than passing over — Muchhal Mahavir, "moustached Mahavira," is a name this one image alone carries.

The temple holds an annual fair on the thirteenth day of Chaitra, and sits on the road between Falna and Kumbhalgarh — a stop pilgrims travelling the wider Gorwad Panch Tirth circuit take in alongside Ranakpur, Narlai, Nadol and Varkana.

Written for Jain Times. Corrections are welcome — see sources and licences.