Jain Tirth Yatra

India is a land of spirituality where great persons were born to sing immortal songs. The places stamped by their holy feet became famous as sacred places. Idols of Tirthankara- Parmatmas, promoters of Jainisim, were installed there. India has a large number of such sacred places. They are powerful means of crossing the samsara. They provide an opportunity to cure the disease of transmigration.

Sacred places are silent but they tell immortal stories of holy selfs of Tirthankaras and other saintly beings . Picture writings and various kinds of idols convey the message of Tirthankaras. The name of sacred places tells glorious stories of its past history, its architecture, its culture,its prosperity and the mind of the masses. Visits of monks and nuns preserve the sacredness of sacred places. Sacred places are innocent places which are free from worldly affairs. They who visit sacred places try to live an innocent life. Sacred places remind us of the holy life of Tirthankaras. Worthy people sing God's virtues and become one with God. Devotional sentiments permeate thought sacred places. Pilgrims who visit sacred places can not but sing the virtues of God. Only sacred places promote welfare and bring happiness. Sins are washed off, there. People who are agonised by worldly agonies get peace there. The modern man has developed hill stations but nowhere can man get the peace that sacred places offer. Hill stations cannot liberate you from sins. Sacred places make the present life and the subsequent lives happy.

Jain Tirths in India

• Shri Achalagadh Tirth
  Mulnayak: Nearly 105 cms. high, golden - colored metal idol of Bhagawan Adishvar in the Padmasana posture.
  
  Tirth: It is the Fort on the highest summit of the Arvalli hills.
  
  Historicity: This is an ancient temple of Bhagawan Shantinath built by King Kumarpal. On the summit of a hill, there is a temple of Bhagawan Adishvar. On the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Fagan in the year 1566 of the Vikram era, the large metal idol of Bhagawan Adinath was installed here under the auspices of Jaykalyansuriji. This is the land of nirvana of the great ascetic Mahatama Vijayshantisurishvarji. He practised here great penance and inspired many kings to abstainfrom taking flesh and wine and from hunting. A large - size photograph of Vijayshantisurishvarji is kept at the place of his nirvana.

• Shri Amarsagar Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    Nearly 75 cms. high, white - colored idol of Bhagawan Adishvar in the Padmasana posture.
  • Tirth
    It is in the center of a pond in the Amarsagar village.
  • Historicity
    The idol was installed by Patva Sheth Himataramji bafna under the auspices of Acharyashri Jinamahendrasurishvarji in the year 1928 of the Vikram era. The ancient idol is believed to belong to the times of King Samprati. This is a tirth of the Jesamber group of five tirths. The Shetrunjaya Pilgrimage led by Bafna brothers of this place is very famous. Mines of yellow stone known as the jesamler stone, are famous in the country and abroad.

• Shri Aur Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    80 cms high-white,colored parikarayukta idol of Bhagawan Adishvar in the Padmasana posture
  • Tirth
    It is in the center of the Aur village on the river bank.
  • Historicity
    It is known that its ancient name was Aud. There are inscriptions of the year 1141 on the parikar of the idol of Ambikadevi and of the year 1242 of the Vikram era on other idols in the Kayotsarga posture on the pendal in the temple. It is believed that the installation of the idol of Bhagawan Adishvar at the time of renovation of the temple in the fifteenth century was posterior to the inscription of Bhagawan Mahavir Swami. This idol is very ancient. A flag is hoisted every year on the first day of the bright half of the month of Fagan.

• Shri Ayad Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    White - colored idol of Bhagawan Adishvar in Padmasan posture.
  • Tirth
    It is in the Ayad Village at a distance of one kilometer from the city of Udaipur.
  • Historicity
    There is an inscription that the idol of Bhagawan Adishvar was installed by Acharya Yashobhadrasurishvarji before the year 1029 of the Vikram era. There is a inscription that in the times of King Jaysinh in the 13th Century, all the canonical sariptures were got written on palm - leaves by Shri Hemchandra. The last renovation of this temple was accomplished in the year 1995 of the Vikram era. At the time of the renovation, the idol of the Bhagwan Adishvar was installed.

• Shri Beda Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    Nearly 65 cms high, black-colored idol of Dada Parshvanath Bhagawan in the Padmasana posture.
  • Tirth
    It is in the old Beda village which is at a distance of 5 kilometers from the New Beda village.
  • Historicity
    On seeing the flow of affection emerging from the body of the idol of God made of black stone, the worshippers are inspired with devotion. In the lonely atmosphere of the Arvalli hills, it is an excellent place for meditation. In many scriptures and tirthmalas, songs are sung in praise of this tirth. Dada Parshvanath is also a name of Dokoriya Parshvanath in the tirth of Chandraprabhas Patan and of Selali Parshvanath of Sesali. Shining with nine hoods in a new way, the beauty of this idol is extraordinary .

• Shri Bhandavaji Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    Nearly 60 cms high, white-coloured, parikarayukta idol of Bhagawan Mahavir Swami in the Padmasana posture.
  • Tirth
    It is outside the village, Nana Bhadavpur.
  • Historicity
    Once upon a time, this was a vast city. This splendid idol which was installed in the Vesana village on the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Magasar in the year 813 of the Vikram era, was reinstalled here in the year 1233 of the vikram era. This idol is very miraculous. It is said that when people in power invaded the village Vesana, Sanghvi Palji, a native of the village took away the idol in a bullock-cart and the bullock-cart stopped at Bhandva. In a dream Sanghvi got a hint to build a temple and install an idol. Accordingly the idol was installed on the auspicious fifth day of the bright half of the month of Magh in the year 1233 of the Vikram era. Even today, this place is regarded as a miraculous place. Thousands of Jains and non-Jains came here to have their wishes fulfilled. A fair is held here every year from the thirteenth day to the fifteenth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra and on the full-moon day of the month of Kartak.

• Shri Gohili Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    Nearly 53 cms high,white-colored idol of Bhagawan Godiji Parshvanath in the Padmasana posture.
  • Tirth
    It is in the center of the Gohili village.
  • Historicity
    The ancient name of this tirth was Gohavali. This tirth belongs to the times earlier than the thirteenth century. There is an inscription stating that a gift was given here by some Thakor. It was perhaps renovated from time to time. A fair is held every year on the tenth day of the dark of the month of Magasar.

• Shri Jaislmer Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    Nearly 105 cms. high, white - colored idol of Bhagawan Chintamani, Parshvanath in the Padmasana posture.
  • Tirth
    It is in the fort on the hill near the Jaislmer town.
  • Historicity
    Jaislmer is the new capital established by Jesalji after the fall of Lodrave. The inscription states that the time of the fall of Ladrava, The idol of Bhagwan Chitamani Parshvanath, Mulyanak, was installed by Acharya Jinapatisurishvaraji in Jaislmer in the year 1263 of the Vikram era. The inscription also states that this idol was installed by Jinvardhansurisvarji in the year 1473 of the Vikram era. Possibly the idol was reinstalled after renovation of the temple. This temple was then named ' Lakhshaman Vihar'. This was a center of Jain religion. Jaislmer is famous for its distinct art. For its rich collection of books, Jaislmer is also famous in the country and abroad. Books on various subjects are stored here. They are very rare. This is center of special attraction to research workers. There was an idol of Bhairav near the idol of Parshvanath. Thinking that is was not proper to seat the servant on the same level beside Swami, Suriji seated Bhairavji outside the temple. On the next day, the idol was at the same place. Thinking that Bhairvaji was an obstinate god, made a very loud in cantation. The idol itself went and sat outside. The idol of Bhairavaji is very miraculous. Next to the tirth of Shetrunjaya, this tirth has such a large number of idols. There is an idol of the size of an oil - seed in a temple of the size of a grain of barley. Many rich merchants of this place gained by doing many religious activities.

• Shri Agra Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    White - colored idol of Bhagawan Chintamani Parashvnath in the Padamasana Posture.
  • Tirth
    It is in the Agra city, which is on the bank of Yamuna river.
  • Historicity
    This city has an ancient history. There is a mention that it was in the domain of Emperor Ashok from the year 206 to 166 before the Vikram era. It is mentioned in many tirthamalas that in the times of Emperor Akbar, Acharya Vijayhirsurishvarji got many temples installed. This extraordinary idol of Bhagawan Chaintamaeni Parshvanath was made of Precious stone named yasav. It was installed here with a great celebration in the year 1639 of the Vikram era. Many honorable rich merchants of the court of Akbar built here Jina temples and did many religious activities. Emperor Akbar honored Hirvijaysuri with the designation - 'Jagatguru' and gave him the gift of an invaluable library. Even today, it is there in the upashraya. This Acharya did many religious activities, which will be remembered for centuries.

• Ahar Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    Nearly 550 cms. high, light-rose-colored idol of Bhagawan Shantinath in the Kayotsarga posture.
  • Tirth
    It is among the hills near the Ahar village.
  • Historicity
    This tirth was known as Madaneshpur, Vasuharikpur and Nandanpur. This is the place of nirvana of the Omniscient Madankumar of the times of Bhagawan Mallinath. Perhaps that is the reason why this place is known as Madaneshpur. This is an ancient tirth in which there were many temples. Even today, their ruins are found on the hills nearby. Thirty-two castes of the Jain community, the names of disciples and grand-disciples of Bhattaraks and the names of disciples and grand-disciples of Arpyakas are mentioned in the manuscripts here. This idol was got installed by Sheth Ralhanji during the rule of King Madanvarma in the year 1237 of the Vikram era. The story goes that by the touch of this idol, the tin purchased by Shri Panashah, turned into silver. Even today, many miracles happen here. A fair is held here every year from the thirteenth to the fifteenth day of the bright half of the month of Magasar. Many faithful devotees participate in it.

• Shri Calcutta Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    Nearly 70 cms. high, white - colored idol of Bhagawan Shitalanath in the Padmasana Posture.
  • Tirth
    It is in the Sham Bazaar of the Calcutta city.
  • Historicity
    Rich Jain merchant has largely contributed towards making this city prosperous and developing it as a chief center of commerce. These Jain merchants always participated in activities of human welfare and promotion of religion. Raybhadur Baddidashji, the son of Lal Kalkadasji, under inspiration of his mother, built the present artistic temple. He was in search of a distinct ancient idol. A great man came and indicated to him that in the sanctuary in the Roshan locality of Agra; there was a wonderful idol. This idol was thus got. In the year 1867 of the Vikram era, the idol was installed under the auspices of Acharya Kalyansurishvarji. This temple is called Baddinath temple or Parshvanath temple. Every year on the fifteenth day of the bright half of the month of Kartak, a procession started from the big temple of Tulpatti and disperses here. It is very thrilling and delightful. It is believed to be the best in the whole of India. The Govt. provides all facilities. On that day, a caste - dinner is arranged in the Dadwadi in front of the temple.

• Shri Nasik Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    Nearly 52 cms high, blue coloured idol of Bhagawan Chintamani Parshvanath in the Padmasana posture and looking beautiful with seven hoods.
  • Tirth
    It is in the city of Nasik.
  • Historicity
    By reading the history of Nasikyapurkalpa written by Shri Jinaprabhsuri on basis of stories prevalent among Jains and non-Jains, one gets acquanted with the antiquity and impressiveness of this tirth. The temple of Chandraprabh Swami and its ancient idol are not present today but the ancient idols of Jain Tirthankaras can be seen on the hills near the Chandavad village at a distance of 45 kilometers from Nasik. The idol of Mulnayak Chnadraprabh Swami is among them. There is an idol of Chintamani parshvanath in the temple in the newly settled city of Nasik on the bank of the Godavari river. It was built by the sangha about the year 1800 of the vikram era. But according to another legend , this temple was built in the year 1918 of the vikram era. But on the cross-legged posture of God, the year 1548 of the virak era is carved. Nearby 30 years ago, the white idol was coated with blue color. Humming with many large-scale industries and commercial activities,this city was also a chief center of religious activities of Jains. Ancient scriptures and tirthmalas contain prayers to Chintamani Parshvanath.

• Shri Vaishali Tirth
  • Mulnayak
    Nearly 38 cms high., black-colored idol of Bhagawan Mahavir Swami in the Padmasana Posture.
  • Tirth
    It is outside the Vaishali town.
  • Historicity
    This temple has a very ancient, impressive and glorious history. It is interwoven with Bhagawan Mahavir Swami. This is the place of the three Kalyanakas (events beneficent the world) - chyavan, birth of diksa of Mahavir, according to the Digambar belief. Once in the past, the city of Vaishali was very prosperous. The Lichchhvi dynasty was chiefly in power. They were believed to be Kshtriyas of the Jnatruvamsha. They had faith in Bhagawan Mahavir. History says that the King of the Magadhas was fully defeated by the King of Vaishali. The son of shrenik caused a split in the Vaishali Sangha invaded it and killed chetak, the King of Vaishali. The glory of the city of Vaishali came to en end. It was nearly 2000 years old. The Govt. of Bihar established the Prakrit Jainological and Ahinsa Research Sansthan. In the whole of India, this institute, the only one of its type, has a distinct place. It tells the glorious story of the city of Vaishali.