Samrat Samprati Museum Inauguration – Mahavir Jayanti March 2026

On the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti on 31st March 2026, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Samrat Samprati Museum in which city?

Correct Answer: Koba, Gandhinagar

On the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti (31st March 2026), the Prime Minister inaugurated the Samrat Samprati Museum in Koba, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The museum is dedicated to preserving Jain history and honouring the legacy of Samrat Samprati, who is often referred to as the 'Jain Ashoka.'

Who Was Samrat Samprati?

• He was the fifth emperor of the Mauryan Empire, reigning approximately from 224 to 215 BCE.
• He was the grandson of Emperor Ashoka and the son of Kunala.
• He is the central figure for the Shvetambara Jain tradition.
• He played a role in spreading Jainism analogous to Ashoka's role in propagating Buddhism globally.

Key Contributions of Samprati to Jainism

• Traditional texts credit him with building 125,000 new Jain temples (derasars) and renovating 36,000 older ones.
• He is said to have commissioned over 12.5 million idols of the Tirthankaras.
• He sent missionaries to Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and parts of Central Asia.
• He established approximately 700 Sada-vratas (charitable houses) providing food, shelter, and medical care.

Why Other Options Are Wrong

• Ujjain and Pataliputra — Major ruling hubs of Samprati but not the location of the recently inaugurated museum.
• Varanasi — No connection to the Samrat Samprati Museum inauguration in 2026.