- Bhadreshwar Parshwanth
Post-BHadreshhwar(Vasai), Ta-Mundra
Dist-Katch (Gujaratat)
Mulnayak : Nearly 61 cms. high, white – coloured idol of Mahavir Swami in the Padmasana
posture. Previously, Parshvanath Bhagwan was the Mulnayak. Now this amazing and miraculous
idol of Shyamala Parshvanath is installed in the 25th Deri in the temple. The black – coloured idol
of Parshvanath is nearly 68 cms. high in the padmasana posture.
Tirth : It is a lonely beautiful place on the sea – shore outside the Bhadreshwar village. This idol of
Bhagwan Parshvanath is more than 2,500 years old.
Historicity : Bhadravati was the ancient name of this place. Today, this city is known as
Bhadreshwar or Vasai. There are references to this city existing during the times of the
Mahabharata. This city was the Karmabhoomi of Vijay Sheth and Vijaya Shetani who hold a
prominent place in Jain history. Although being married to each other, they were "Akhand
Brahmachari" (celibate) for life. Devchandra Shresthi was very religious and wanted to build a
temple. 23years after the Nirvana of Bhagwan Mahaveer, he laid the foundation stone for this
temple. He built a beautiful and glorious temple here like a Dev Viman. The idol of Bhagwan
Parshvanath was ceremonially installed by the revered hands of "Kevali Shri Kapil Muni" 45 years
after the Nirvana of Bhagwan Mahaveer. Vijay Sheth and Vijaya Shetani took "Diksha" on this
occasion. Idols installed by Shri Kapil Kevli are rare and this is the prestigious point of this temple.
Maharaja Samprati, Kanak Chavda, Maharaja Kumarpal, Vastupal-Tejpal have all renovated this
temple. There are references showing that this temple was renovated by Shrimali brothers in the
year 1134 and by Sheth Shri Jagdu Shah in the year 1312-1313 of the Vikram era. In Vikram year
1313 during the catastrophe of an extensive acute famine for three years, Jagdu Shah showed his
generosity and magnanimity by helping the people with free distribution of food grains and clothing
and opening shelter houses. In course of time, the city was considerably damaged including the
temple. A muni took the idol of Shri Parshvanath and hid it in a basement for its safety. In Vikram
Samvat 1622, the Jain sangh renovated this temple and ceremonially installed the idol of Shri
Mahavir Bhagwan in the temple as the Mulnayak. After many years, this idol of Parshvanath was
returned to the temple and the idol was installed in the temple in the 25th deri. This idol of
Parshvanath is there even today. In Vikram year 1682, Sheth Vardhaman Shah and Sheth Shri
Padamsingh renovated this temple. It is said that some time later, the local chieftain (Thakur) had
taken over the management of the temple and in Vikram year 1920 Jain community took back the
management of the temple and renovated it. A reference is found that the last renovations were
carried out at the instance of Srimati Mithabai wife of Mandvi resident Sheth Monsi Tejsi in Vikram
year 1939. At present, the management of the temple is in the hands of Shri Vardhaman Kalyanji
Pedi. Due to the earthquake some years back, a lot of damage has been done to the temple.
Renovation work is under progress
Other Temples : At present there are no other temples.
Works of art and Sculpture : On the maidan of nearly two and a half lakhs of square feet, this is a
very beautiful temple comparable to an elegant residence of God. The main temple is surrounded
by 51 small temples. Gurumandirs of the Paychalgachchha, the Khartarga gachchha, the
Tapagchchha are there. The garden in the open space presents a beautiful sight. The three doors
and the arched gate of the temple stand out as distinctly superior to other works of sculpture. The
temple is 38 feet high, 80 feet broad and 150 feet long. The entrance of the temple is constructed
in such a manner that the idol of God is seen from the sculptured gateway. The canvas paintings
of life events of Bhagawan Mahaveer and Bhagwan Parshvanath and of sacred pilgrimages look
very fascinating. In the temples, there are 218 pillars and 146 idols of God. There are niches for
idols of presiding gods and goddesses of Mahaveer Swami. Besides, the idols of Ganadhar
Sudharma Swami, Vagheshvaridevi, Chakreshvaridevi, Mahakalidevi, Saraswatidevi and of the
feet of Kalyansagasuri MaharajSaheb are installed there. The atmosphere of this impressive
temple is peaceful and beautiful.The idol of Sri Vir Prabhu is wonderful and beyond comparison,
the sight of which anywhere else is impossible. The idol of Sri Parshvanath Prabhu ceremonially
installed by Kevali Sri Kapil Muni is also beautiful and awe inspiring. The entire architecture of the
temple is superb.
Guidelines : The nearest railway station of Gandhidham is at a distance of 39 kms. The
Bhadreshwar bus stand is close to the temple. Taxis are available here. It is here that people begin
their pilgrimage to the small and big groups of the five sacred places. Mundra, the town nearby, is
27 kms. away, and Bhuj, the capital of Kutch is 80 kms. away. Dharamshala and Bhojanshala
facilities are available here..
Scripture: A mention of this temple has been made in "Shri Visaldev Vrith", in "Jagdu Charitra", in
"Praband Panchshati", in "Praband Kosh",in "Shri Vardhaman Padamsingh Shreshti Charitra" etc.
A copy of "Uttaradyayan Sutra" written in Bhadreshwar Tirth in Vikram Samvat 1309 is available in
the Granth Bhandar of Patan even today. Suthari, Kothara, Jakhou, Naliya, and Tera are the
Panchtirthis of Bhadreshwar Tirth.
Trust: Shri Vardhaman Kalyanji Trust, Shri Vasai Jain Tirth, Mahavirnagar, post: Bhadreshwar –
370 441. District: Kutch, Gujarat State, India.
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श्री भद्रेश्वर पार्श्वनाथ – भद्रेश्वर तीर्थ
कच्छ में आए भूकंप के कारण भद्रेश्वर तीर्थ को हानि होने से उस तीर्थ के पुन: उद्धार का अकार्य चल रहा है| जिणोरद्वार के पूर्व भद्रेश्वर तीर्थ में २५ वि देरी में पुराने मुलनायक पार्श्व प्रभु बिराजमान थे| ये प्रभुजी फने रहित २७” ऊँचे थे|
महावीर प्रभु ने अस्तित्व काल में “भद्रावती ” के नाम से प्रक्यात यह नगरी “भद्रेश्वर” के नाम से प्रसिद्ध है|
इतिहास में प्रसिद्ध विजय सेठ और सेठानी की जन्मभूमि भी यही भद्रेश्वर तीर्थ थी|
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काल के प्रवाह में इस तीर्थ पर भी कई बार आक्रमण हुए| संप्रति, कुमारपाल, वास्तुपाल आदि ने भी तीर्थ का जिणोरद्वार कराया था|
जगडूशा ने भी इस तीर्थ के विकास के लिए खूब योगदान दिया था| इसके बाद किसी बाबा ने इस तीर्थ पर कब्ज़ा पर पार्श्वप्रभु की प्रतिमा को कहीं छुपा दी|
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वि.सं १९३९ में पुन: इस तीर्थ का जिणोरद्वार हुआ| यह तीर्थ गांधीधाम रेलवे स्टे. से ३७ की.मी. दूर है |
