Champaran, Chhattisgarh

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Champaranya Champajhar
Village
Country	India
State	Chhattisgarh
District	Raipur
Government
• Body	Gram Panchayat
Languages
• Official	Hindi, Chhattisgarhi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	493885
Vehicle registration	CG
Nearest city	Rajim 15 Km south of Champaran
Lok Sabha constituency	Raipur MP: Brijmohan Agrawal (BJP)
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Abhanpur MLA: Indra Kumar Sahu (BJP)
Civic agency	Gram Panchayat

Champaranya, formerly known as Champajhar, named after forests of Champa flowers which are extinct from here, is a village in the Raipur District in the state of Chhattisgarh, India, which lies about 60 km from the state capital of Raipur via Arang and 30 km from Mahasamund via Bamhani, Tila.

It is famous because it is the birth place of Vallabhacharya, the reformer and founder of the Vallabh sect.^[1]

A temple has been constructed in his honour. Near this is a temple of Champeshwar Mahadeva. There are two Baithaks of Vallabhacharya's Chaurasi Bethak here.^[2]

The village is identified with Champaranya forest

The Champaran is derived from the Champa flower. There is a myth that in past Champaran was a forest of Champa Flowers. So, on this myth, the place first named Champajhar (Chmapa+Jhar; Jhar means house) then it named Champaran from Champaranya (its ancient name, meaning forest of Champa Flowers)

There are two temples dedicated to Shri Mahaprabhuji in Champaran. The first one is known as Prakatya Baithakji Mandir, where seva is performed by HDH Param Pujya Goswami 108 Shri Dwarkeshlalji Maharajshri and HDH Param Pujya Goswami 108 Shri Purshottamlalji Maharajshri. The second Baithakji is Mool Prakatya that is normally known as Chhatti Baithak. In this temple seva is done by Goswami shri Vallabhlalji and Shri Raghunathlalji (Shri Pinky Bawa) of 5th house of Kamvan. Apart from this there is a Haveli temple dedicated to Shree Girirajji and Shree Balkrishnalalji. A small stream of Mahanadi River flows near the temple which is believed to be from Yamuna river and worshipped. Mahaprabhuji's Prakatya Utsav is celebrated every year on eleventh day of Baisakh and many of followers of the sect gather at the temple to pay homage. The Annual Fair of Champaran is held with great festivities in the month of Magh every year. Large number of Pushtimargiya Vaishnavs visit Champaran every year. ^[3] The Champeswar Madadev Temple haves rare shivling which had dedicatd to Lord Shiv, Parvati and Ganesh.

Champaran is accessible from Raipur both via Arang. From the junction of Arang-Rajim Road at the village of Jonda, there is a paved road to Champaran. Buses are available from Raipur and Arang. Nearest Railway Station Is Mahasamund Railway Station

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balakrishnalalji mandir.

• Temples near Champaran
• Tours to Champaran Archived 5 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
• Photo of temple