Adinath Mondir is one of the most visited places in Maheshkhali Island surrounded by sea. Adinath Temple is located on the top of Mainak Pahar, 288 feet above sea level. Temple length 10.87 meters, width 8.62 meters, height 5.93 meters. 

Adinath originated several thousand years ago in the Treta Yuga. It has a historical authenticity which is known from Hindu scriptures, Ramayana, Puranas and historians. Rama-Ravana battle in Treta Yuga is found in scriptures. Ravana prayed to Devadidev Mahadev for the boon of immortality to win the battle with Rama. Mahadev was meditating in Kailash at that time. Satisfied with Ravana's worship, he granted him a boon for his desired pursuit and stipulated that the upward-facing Shivalinga should be carried from Kailash to Lanka and not be kept anywhere on the way. If kept then Mahadeva will stay at that place and Ravana's wish will not be fulfilled. As per the terms, Ravana headed for Lanka carrying the Shivalinga, but on the way he was forced to stop at Mainak Parbat in present-day Maheshkhali to perform natural rituals. Later, Ravana failed to restore the Shivlinga as per the terms and Mahadev took up his abode on this mainak peak. 

Divided into three parts, the first part has two puja rooms measuring 3.35 meters square. In the east room is a male Shiva idol and in the west room is an octagonal Durga idol. Traditionalists believe that the temple has a deep connection with Shiva. They believe that Shiva stayed for some time at Mainak Pahar during his journey from Mount Kailash to Lanka with Ravana on his shoulders. Besides, according to the prevailing legend of the area, an influential man of Maheshkhali, Noor Mohammad Sikdar, came to know that the rock seen in a dream is the 'Deva Vigraha' of Hindus. The names 'Mahesh' and 'Adinath' are among the many names of this god idol. It is believed that the name of the island is Maheshkhali after Deva Vigraha and the name of the mandap is 'Adinath Mandir'. However, Shiva Chaturdashi fair is organized here every year around this temple. Due to the influence of Shiva devotees, the main autumn festival of Hindus is not celebrated in Maheshkhali. A large number of pilgrims and pilgrims, regardless of caste and religion, gather at Maheshkhali on this occasion. Many men and women are seen sacrificing animals inside the main temple as they wish to have children or for the long life of the children they have. At this time, the locals are busy entertaining the guests who come from Sanatan and Rakhine houses as best they can. Adjacent to Adinath Temple is an ancient Buddhist pagoda.  

At present, due to the constant erosion of the hills, the vast land on the eastern side of the temple has been destroyed by sea corals. Adinath Jetty has been recently constructed by the Cox's Bazar Zilla Parishad next to this temple, making it easier for tourists to come here. At the foot of Adinath Temple there is a settlement of the Rakhine community and a monastery called Thakurtala Buddhist Monastery. During the war of independence, 5 innocent Rakhines were martyred in the indiscriminate shelling of the Buddhist monastery by the Pak invading forces. A few carved white stone Buddha images are still present in the said Buddhist monastery as a silent witness of the time as a reminder of the ruthless Tandabalila of the Paks. Rakhine women temporarily set up stalls for the tourists coming to Adinath Temple to sell their made cloths, chadars. In September 1947, near Mudirchhara located on the western side of Adinath Temple, a British-owned ship called 'M.V. Malad', which was arriving at Cox's Bazar from Chittagong port, sunk many people. The sky was cloudy that day and it was drizzling. Among the unfortunate passengers was a Magistrate with his family members who had just been transferred to Cox's Bazar subdivision. The daughter of Syed Mustafa Ali, the elder brother of the famous writer and literary Syed Mujtaba Ali, was the sister-in-law of the unfortunate magistrate.     

Worship:

Every day, as per the rules, puja-archana is performed at the same time in the temples of Adinath, Ashtabhuja, Bhairav and Radha Govinda. Apart from this, every year on the Shiva Chaturdashi tithi of Falgun, puja-archana and party-long fair are held. During this time, the temple premises are full of pilgrims who come from different parts of the subcontinent to fulfill their wishes. The temple has a rare species of Parijat flowering plant. Devotees keep vows to fulfill their wishes by tying a thread to the tree and when the wish is fulfilled they untie the thread and offer puja. There are two ponds at the back of the main temple. Although the two ponds are located at a height of about 280 feet above sea level, their water never dries up. There is a legend that bathing in one of the Duti ponds cures all diseases.     

Temple Management:

From the booklet published by the temple's caretaker committee, it is known that Nawab Alivardi Khan, the representative of Dewan Braj Kishore Lal Kanungo, came to this island along with Sarat Chandra, a nine-year-old boy of Dewan Kalicharan, and purchased the island. Later Sarat Chandra came in contact with a Naga monk and took initiation. He bequeathed all the properties of his zamindari in 1876 in the name of Sri Sri Adinath Mandir as deity property. Adinath Dual Management was under the Mohantan rule under the Puri Act. Later, when complaints were raised against the Mohants, from 1911 its management was entrusted under the Sitakund Shrine Committee.     

How to go:

Maheshkhali can be reached by trawler and speed boat from Kasturi Ghat or Ghat No. 6 area of Cox's Bazar district. P. in the trawler