A cultural repository
Situated along the historic Indrayani River, the Abhay Prabhavana Museum & Knowledge Centre is strategically located between Mumbai and Pune, ensuring easy accessibility to visitors from both cities. The museum’s proximity to ancient Jain caves – dating back over 2,200 years and situated along flourishing ancient trade routes – further enhances its cultural significance, as these sites bear witness to the region’s rich Shraman heritage.
Abhay Prabhavana, hailed as one of the largest ‘museums of ideas’ and dedicated to Jain philosophy as also Indian heritage, was officially inaugurated last year amidst great anticipation and widespread interest. Since its inauguration, the museum has emerged as a profound cultural and spiritual landmark. Spearheaded by Abhay Firodia, chairman, Amar Prerana Trust (he is also chairman, Force Motors), the museum has since captivated visitors with its innovative approach in preserving and promoting India’s timeless values.
Recognised as one of the largest private museums in the world, Abhay Prabhavana sets itself apart by creating a space that transcends conventional museum experiences, offering visitors an enlightening journey through the Indian heritage, its philosophy and enduring cultural ethos. “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,” says Firodia. “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 centre will inspire people to explore and connect with the ideals of Indian civilisation, expressed through Jainism”.
“At its core, the museum attempts to present the timeless Jain values to the 21st century society, presenting them as a truly universal heritage, yet is seamlessly intertwined with India’s cultural fabric,” adds Firodia. “It seeks to illuminate the universal principles underlying Jainism, reflecting its centrality to the shared values across various Indic traditions. The museum, also a construction marvel, presents the deep connect between Jain thought and modern scientific paradigm, highlighting their validity in the 21st century, and also establishes a comprehensive research base for those wishing to delve into the depth and wide spectrum of Jain philosophy and history”.
“The museum is a cultural repository for students, researchers and the public alike,” affirms Navin Srivastav, assistant curator, Firodia Institute of Philosophy, Culture & History. “Through a beautiful representation of India’s spiritual evolution, as seen through the lens of the Jain tradition, the museum offers modern insights into values of compassion, non-violence and intellectual rigour. A vast digital archive, extensive library and interactive exhibits provide valuable resources for scholarly exploration, supporting both structured learning and personal discovery”.
Immersive experience
To provide a truly immersive experience, Abhay Prabhavana incorporates state-of-the-art technology across its galleries, including touch tables, interactive kiosks and virtual reality stations. Each gallery offers a unique 10-minute immersion into the world of Indian spiritual values and philosophical concepts, designed to educate and inspire visitors. With sustainability at its core, the museum’s infrastructure aligns with LEED certification standards (in process), ensuring an environmentally responsible approach to cultural preservation.
Abhay Prabhavana houses an impressive collection of over 350 specially commissioned artworks, displayed across 30 high-tech galleries. The museum is not about antiquity of the Jain tradition, hence there are no antiques on display. It is about the logical validity of the most ancient Jain value system, in today’s most advanced world.
The museum liberally uses modern communication mediums, including immersive audio-visual experiences, innovative installations, murals and artworks to bring India’s philosophical heritage to life. Visitors can delve deep into the content, through touch tables, kiosks and interactive exhibits that convey Jainism’s wisdom in an innovative manner.
Its stand-out exhibits include:
The `Rishabhdev’ statue: The Indian societal culture is formatted by the first Tirthankar, Rishbhdev. His important, enduring and seminal civilisational inputs, which form the backbone of Indian culture, are explained in beautiful murals at the base of the 13.2 metre (60’) marble statue. It is an ancient icon depicted in a modern art-deco style.
The `Manstambh’: A 30.5-metre (100’) marble tower, carved with murals, it is related to enlightened social practices, leading to elevation of the human soul.
The ‘Plaza of equanimity’: An ultra-modern conceptualisation of the centuries-old approach to a chaturmukh temple (facing four sides), the plaza is designed to provide a calming space, encouraging spirituality and introspection.
All these exhibits aim to not only celebrate Jainism, but bring to life its values – implicit in the ancient tradition, explained in the most modern manner. The museum also hosts several dedicated spaces for cultural and educational engagements:
Kundanmal Firodia Auditorium: A 170-seat venue with modern facilities for lectures, seminars, and events.
Taxila Library: An expansive library granting access to rare texts and global resources, supporting scholarly pursuits in Jain studies and related disciplines.
Baijabai Firodia Gallery: A special gallery space created to host prestigious travelling exhibits, from both national and international museums. This venue provides a platform for showcasing and appreciating diverse world-class collections on a global scale.
Jamnabai Firodia Gallery: A secure space for private collectors to showcase treasured artefacts to a discerning audience.
The planned additions include a children’s museum and play area, as well as an open-air amphitheatre for cultural performances, ensuring a vibrant engagement with younger audiences. Through collaborations with cultural institutions, both local and international, the museum, meticulously conceptualised by Firodia himself, took almost a decade of rigour and grit and is set to showcase the epitome of India’s cultural tourism. On top of the right presentation of India’s values in an engaging, accessible format, it aims to attract international tourists, scholars and students, promoting India’s intellectual and artistic traditions on a global stage.
The museum remains committed to expanding its reach and enhancing its offerings through future exhibitions and collaborations. It plans to partner with other cultural institutions to bring world-class exhibits to India. With spaces facilitating high quality exhibitions, it anticipates hosting a dynamic line-up of events that stimulate intellectual growth, cultural dialogue and a deeper appreciation of India’s spiritual heritage.
In essence, Abhay Prabhavana isn’t merely a museum. It expands as a celebration of India’s ancient wisdom, a torchbearer of Indian value system, seen through the lens of Jainism and an invitation for all to explore the ethical foundations that have shaped Indian civilization. Backed by a blend of technology, art and scholarship, it stands as a contemporary custodian of timeless traditions, bridging India’s past with the aspirations of the future.