SHRI PALUKANNU PARSHVANATH TIRTH

PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :

Shri Palukunnu Parshvanath Bhagwan in white color seated in a lotus posture, in a shrine in the small village of Palikunnu (Dig)

ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :

This place is the most ancient shrine of the Wayanad district which is at least 1000 years old, but it is difficult to find out the antiquity of this place.

It is believed that when Bihar state in northern region was struck with worst famine for 12 years. Arya Bhadrabahuswamiji with his 12000 disciples muni group and king Chandragupta Maurya came and stayed at Mount Chandragiri at Shravanbelgola in Karnataka. That time in southern region there was a spread of religion everywhere. Muni’s used to travel extensively everywhere in the southern region to spread the Jainism religion, at various places created meditation centers in the caves, for lot of temples built and lot of sanghs were formed. They had written numerous book in the local languages which is even today available at various places. Even Kerala was most likely called Malabar or Malayagiri.

It is also believed that before Arya Bhadrabahuswamiji had come here, Jain religion was flourishing here and there were lot of Jains here. Only for this reason Arya Bhadrabahuswamiji with his group of disciples would have come down south. This is a subject of research.

In this Kerala state, in every district evidences of Jain Mandir being there previously is found One gentlemen over here said that when he was writing a thesis on ”Buddhism in Kerala” lot of people from various places approached him and said that here an idol of Buddha Bhagwan was found from earth. But when he himself went and saw he found a Jain Tirthankar Bhagwan idol. This used to happen almost in all the districts. It is evident from this that in ancient time Jain religion was flourishing over here and there were a lot of temples constructed.

In the course of time almost at all the places the idols and temples were damaged and destroyed or converted. The same thing would have happened at this place too it is understood. Presently there are 8 Digamber temple in this district from which 4 temples are at least 1000 years old but this idol and this temple is the oldest of all. In other temples because of the damage at a few places the location of the temple itself has changed whereas at a few places the idol is changed.

There are about 1500 Jain householders in this district today. At most of the temples here the management is done by the local gowder Jain s like in Karnataka the Shetty’s manage, in Tamil Nadu the Nainars etc., The ancient temples here are most probably Digamber, but in the Calicut, the main city of the Calicut district, there is an ancient temple of Sri Kalikaund Parshvanath Bhagwan of Swetambers. In the courtyard of this temple , 85 years back while digging for the foundation for one more temple, 34 Jain idols of the time of King Samrati were found from the earth. It can be deduced from this that even Swetamber Jains were prevalent in the ancient times over here. Swetamber Jains are there in Kerala even today but in a small number. Most of them are from Rajasthan or Gujarat.

The significance of this place is its antiquity because in Kerala state at various places Jain Mandir were there and in present time the worshipful ancient temples are there., a very few people are aware of this. A few temples are lying in a ruined state. One Jain temple of Sultan Batheri is in the control of Archeological Department where there is no idol.

3 Kms from Kalpatta is Mount Chandragiri, where on top of the mount is Sri Chandraprabhu Bhagwan’s temple which is at least 1400 years old. This temple and Sri Chandraprabhu Bhagwan idols were severally damaged but the face portion of the idol is still there. For renovation of this temple a committee is also formed. Bharrarak Swamiji of Shravanbelgola and Mudbidri and the Digamber Jain Tirthkshetra committee of India has planned to establish it in form of famous Teerth.

Every year on the day of Moksha Kalyanak of Sri Chandra Prabhu Bhagwan, arrangements are made for Pooja at the Mandap constructed on the mountain. In the same mounts there are some ancient Jain caves too.

There is not other temple besides this one presently. But in different villages of this district the following seven temples are there. In the district of nearby Palghat one ancient temple is found.

1. Shri Adhishvar Bhagwan Mandir – 1 Km away from Mananthawadi village.
2. Shri Anandpuram Sri Adhishvar Bhagwan : In Pudiyardam village, 8 Kms away from Mananthawadi village.
3. Shri Ananthnath Bhagwan Mandir – 5 Kms from Kalpatta, Ananthkrishnapuram.
4. Shri Ananthanath Bhagwan Mandir – Vardur village.
5. Shri Parshvanath Bhagwan Mandir – in Anjkannu village, 3 Kms away from Kalpatta.
6. Shri Shanthinath Bhagwan Mandir – in Veanniyod village, 8 Kms away from Kambalkad.
7. Shri Chandra Prabhu Bhagwan Mandir – In Pulnangadu village.

APPROACH – ROUTE :

The nearby railway station are Calicut 110 Kms and Mysore 150 Kms from here. The nearest village id Anjkannu 6 Kms away from here. The nearest village is Anjkannu 6 Kms and Panamaram 10 Kms away from here. From all these places, buses and taxis are available. Cars and buses can go upto the temple. The nearest airport is that of Calicut 110 Kms and Bangalore 290 Kms away from the shrine.