Gautam Adani Mahudi Jain Temple Visit Ahead of Paryushan
Gautam Adani Visits Mahudi Jain Temple With Family Ahead of Paryushan
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani visited the Mahudi Jain Temple in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district on Wednesday morning with his wife, Dr Priti Adani, his elder son, Karan Adani, and his daughter-in-law, Paridhi Adani. The family offered prayers at the Jain pilgrimage centre as the Shwetambar Jain community prepares for Paryushan Mahaparva, which begins on September 8 and ends with Samvatsari on September 15.
The visit comes less than three weeks before Paryushan, eight days marked by prayer, fasting, study, self-discipline and reflection. Samvatsari, observed on the final day, is associated with seeking forgiveness and forgiving others. Jain communities around the world are due to observe the festival from September 8 to 15 this year.
Mahudi, historically known as Madhupuri, is one of Gujarat’s recognised Jain pilgrimage centres. The town is in Mansa taluka of Gandhinagar district and is known especially for the shrine of Ghantakarna Mahavir and the temple dedicated to Padmaprabhu, the sixth Jain Tirthankara. The modern temple complex dates to the early 20th century, with the foundation stone laid in 1916 and the temple established under the guidance of Jain monk Acharya Buddhisagar Suri in 1917.
Ghantakarna Mahavir has a distinct place in the Shwetambar Jain tradition. He is regarded as a protective deity rather than a Tirthankara. Devotees visit the shrine seeking protection and strength when facing difficulties. The temple is also known for the tradition of offering sukhadi, a sweet made from ingredients including wheat, jaggery and ghee. The offering is traditionally eaten within the temple premises.
The site has a much older history than the present temple. Gujarat Tourism says archaeological remains and inscriptions found in the area point to a history going back nearly 2,000 years. Mahudi is also described by tourism authorities as a place visited by Jain devotees as well as people from other communities.
For the Adani family, the Mahudi visit follows another religious visit earlier this year. In April, Gautam Adani travelled to Ayodhya with Dr Priti Adani, Karan Adani and Paridhi Adani and offered prayers at the Shri Ram Mandir. The family visit was also followed by a visit to Shri Nishulk Gurukul Mahavidyalaya, where the Adani Foundation announced support for an artificial intelligence laboratory.
The family’s appearance at Mahudi also comes against the backdrop of a recent development in the long-running US legal matter involving Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, an Executive Director of Adani Green Energy Limited. On August 10, 2026, a US federal judge dismissed the criminal indictment against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and others after the US Department of Justice sought dismissal of the case. The dismissal was made with prejudice, bringing the criminal proceedings against the named defendants to an end.
The case had begun in November 2024, when US authorities announced criminal charges involving Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and others. The US Securities and Exchange Commission separately brought a civil case against Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani. In May 2026, the SEC announced proposed final judgments by consent, under which Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani agreed to civil monetary penalties of $6 million and $12 million respectively, without admitting or denying the allegations.
The August 10 dismissal concerns the criminal case. It should therefore be distinguished from the separate SEC civil proceedings. That distinction is important because the two matters followed different legal processes. The Adani Group and its executives have faced scrutiny over the US proceedings since the original charges were announced in 2024.
Adani has for several years linked his public social-service work with the phrase “Seva Hi Sadhana Hai”, which means selfless service is the highest form of worship. The Adani Foundation, the social welfare arm of the Adani Group, works in areas including education, healthcare, livelihoods, climate action and community development. According to the Foundation, its programmes currently cover 7,247 villages and urban wards across 22 states and have affected 13.3 million lives.
The Foundation’s work has included a nationwide blood donation programme linked to Gautam Adani’s birthday. In June 2026, the campaign collected 52,306 units of blood through more than 754 cities, towns and villages in 21 states, five Union Territories and four international locations. The Foundation said the blood collected could support more than 1.56 lakh patients. The annual drive began in 2011, when just over 1,300 units were collected.
The timing of the Mahudi visit gives the religious setting added relevance. Paryushan asks followers to spend time examining their conduct, controlling desires and seeking forgiveness. For Shwetambar Jains, Samvatsari marks the close of the eight-day observance and is traditionally associated with asking forgiveness from all living beings and extending forgiveness to others.
At Mahudi, the Adani family’s visit was centred on prayer as the community prepares for that annual period of religious observance. The pilgrimage site, with its long history and special association with Ghantakarna Mahavir, remains one of the better-known Jain religious destinations in Gujarat.
For Gautam Adani, the visit also adds another chapter to a year in which family temple visits have been accompanied by public references to faith, service and social work. The Mahudi visit comes shortly after the conclusion of the US criminal proceedings and ahead of Paryushan, placing a private act of worship within a wider period of religious reflection and forgiveness.