Bundelkhand, a region in central India, has been an ancient center of Jainism. It covers northern part of Madhya Pradesh and southern western part of Uttar Pradesh. Bundelkhand was known as Dasharna or Jaijakabhukti in ancient times. The Betwa (Vetravati) and Dhasan (Dasharna) rivers flow through it. It is one of the few regions in India where Jainism has a strong presence and influence. There are many ancient tirthas in Bundelkhand region. Many of the modern scholars and monks of Jainism belong to this region. Prominent tirthas Many of the famous Jain tirthas, Vidisha, Deogarh, Lalitpur, Karguanji (Jhansi), Chanderi, Kundalpur, Khajuraho, Aharji, Paporaji, Drongir (Chhatarpur), Sonagir, Nainagiri, Badagaon, Pateriaji, Nisaiji etc. are in this region. Jain communities Bundelkhand is home to several Jain communities: Parwar Golapurva Golalare Teranpanthi (including Samaiya, Charanagare and Ayodhyavasi) Kathanera (also known as Kathanere) The Khandelwals were originally from Rajasthan, but they have been present in Bundelkhand since ancient times. Navalsah Chanderia in 1768 in his Vardhamana Purana mentioned 11 communities that were partly Jain. These include Grihapati Nema Asati A few among them are still Jain and follow the Teranpanthi sect. The Bhadavar region (Bhind, Morena, Etawah) is adjacent to Bundelkhand and is home to some like Barhiya Golalare Kharaua Padmavati Purwar Lamenchu Jaiswal Golsinghare Budhele Gallery See also Mula Sangh Balatkara Gana Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh References http://bundelkhanddarshan.com Digambar Jain Tirth in Bundelkhand Kasturchand Jain Suman, Bharatiya Digambar Jain Abhilekh aur Tirth Parichay, Madhya-Pradesh: 13 vi shati tak, Delhi, 2001. Siddhantacharya Pt. Phulachandra Shastri, Parwar Jain samaj ka Itihas, Jabalpur, 1990. Jainism in India Jain communities Bundelkhand Jainism in Uttar Pradesh