SHRI MAKSHI TIRTH
PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :
Shri Makshi Parshvanath Bhagwan in black color, seated in a lotus posture, of height 105 Cms in a shrine in the middle of a large walled compound on the bank of a beautiful lake in the village of Makshi.
ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :
The history of this idol of the Lord is stated to be very ancient, probably of a period earlier than 7th century B.C. There is a reference available which states that in 2nd century B.C. at this place there lived a great number of Jain householder families. IT is said that Parmar Kings built here Jain temples in 10th century A.D. There is a story current that in 11th Century A.D. when Mohammed Gazni broke many temples in India and plundered them and damaged countless idols, he came here too to pillage this temple but after reaching here he was trapped in serious illness and began having serious illness and began having experiences of supernatural forces. He therefore directed his army not only to retreat but to also leave the temple and the idol totally unharmed. As a token of his repentant commemoration he built five miniature turrets on the temple’s entry gate.
It is said that this temple was directed to be built by Sri Sangram Soni who was a treasurer of Mandavgadh and resident of Lolada village of Badhiar province. (He also is a resident of Palanpur) in Vikram year 1472. Its ceremonial consecration was done by Acharya Sri Somsundersurishvarji. According to another opinion, as the temple is believed to be of a very remote past it is possible that Sri Sangram Soni may have only carried out its renovations.
The idol of Sri Parshva Prabhu is magnificent, beautiful and miracle working. About miracles that have happened here there are so many popular stories. Once Sri Dharnendra Dev who usually protects the Lord by his Umbrella shaped hood of a cobra put out a steam by milk from the hood whereupon the sanctum sanctorum of the temple overflowed with milk. Many devotees who were present on the occasion considered this event as of their good fortune and felt themselves fulfilled by the glorious sight. Both Swetambers and Digambers offer their prayers here according to their respective rites and rituals. The sculptural art of the idol has always remained a source of attraction to the pilgrims here. At present, nearby this temple, there is one more temple of Digambers in which the Presiding Deity is Sri Suparshvanath Bhagwan.
APPROACH – ROUTE :
The temple is 1.5 Kms away from the Railway Station of Makshi. The village of Makshi is 40 Kms away from Ujjain and 70 Kms from Indore on Mumbai – Agra Road. There is a tar road upto the temple.
AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :
Near the station, there is a Digamber Jain Dharamshala. Near the temple, there are two dharamshalas one each of Swetamber and Digambers, with all facilities are available. In the Swetamber dharamshala, there is also a bhojanshala where meals are available.
MANAGED BY :
1. Shri Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi Jain Swetamber Mandir ,
P.O. Makshi – 465 106
Dist : Sajapur, Madhya Pradesh,
Tel: 07363 – 32037 (Makshi)
2. Shri Digamber Jain Atishaya Kshetra Parshvanath Jain Mandir ni Pedhi
Tel : 07363 – 32028.
