SHRI JAISALMER TIRTH

PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :

Shri Chintamani Parshvanath Bhagwan in white color, seated in a lotus posture and of 105 Cms height located in a shrine in a fort on a hill near the town of Jaisalmer. (Shve)

ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :

Raval Jaisalji, founding Jaisalmer after his name, had started construction of the fort on Sunday, Ashad Sukla 1 in Vikram year 1212. The capital of his nephew Bhojdev Raval, was then Loddrava. On account of some tiff between the uncle and his nephew, uncle Jaisalji had signed up a secret treaty with Mohamed Ghori and invaded the territory of his nephew. In the battle field, nephew Bhojdev and thousands of his warriors were killed. Lodrava then came under the authority of uncle Jaisalji. People of Lodrava out of fear were scattered in various nearby places making Lodrava deserted, and lifeless. Jaisalji, there upon founded a new city, called it Jaisalmer and made it his capital. It is believed that the idol of the Presiding Deity Sri Chintamani Parshvanath here in Jaisalmer temple is the same that used to be in the temple at Lodrava. On it there is a inscription dated Vikram year 2. When Lodrava fell to Jaisalji, the idol was brought here in the newly founded city of Jaisalmer. There is a reference that in Vikram year 1263, on Falgun Sukla 2, this idol was installed and consecrated here in the hands of Acharya Sri Jinpatisurishvarji. The festival on this occasion was celebrated with great ostentation and joy by Shreshthi Sri Jagdhar.

It is also stated that the installation and consecration ceremony of this idol was performed by Acharya Sri Jinkushalsurishvarji. There is also a reference found which mentions that in Vikram year 1459, the construction work of this temple started due to the discourses of Acharya Sri Jinasurishvarji and in Vikram year 1473 during the reign of Raool Laxmansinhji, at the instance of Shreshti Sir Jaisinh Narsinh of Ranka Gotra, Acharya Sri Jinvardhansurishvarji performed the consecration ceremony. It is possible that the temple might have been repaired and renovated and the idol consecrated again in Vikram year 1473. At that time, the temple was called by the name of “Lakshmanvihar”. In this very temple, there are several inscriptions on stones and many idols of 15th and 16th centuries. This one is believed to be the principal temple of Jaisalmer and it is well-known as the temple of Sri Chintamani Parshvanath Bhagwan. Other temples here are said to have been built during the 16th century. At some time, there lived here 2700 wealthy and prosperous Jain families and the whole area was the center of not only trade and commerce but also Jainism.

A number of Acharyas have visited Jaisalmer on a pilgrimage. In Vikram year 1461 when Sri Jinvardhansurishvarhi came to Jaisalmer, there existed an idol of Bhiravji (a Guardian God) near the idol of the Presiding Deity Sri Parshvanath Bhagwan. Believing the seated of master and servant close to each other on the same platform as improper, Acharya Sri place Bhairavji’s idol outside. The next day Bhiravji’s idol was seen on the same platform as obstinate, began recantations in a loud and threatening tone as a result of Bhairavji himself went out and took his sear outside. Acharya Sri at that time also fixed of copper so that Bhairavji may not repeat the impropriety. The idol of Bhairavji is believed to be a worker of miracles, several other miracles were performed by Acharya Sri but the description of all of them here is out of place.

Jaisalmer is famous throughout the world for its store houses of Jain scriptures. Volumes on varied subjects have been preserved here. Such an invaluable collection is impossible to come by anywhere else. The treasure is priceless for Jain religion and fro researchers, this is a veritable heaven.

The following are the store houses of scriptures here :

Brihad Bhandar in the temple in the fort,Tapagachchhiya Bhandar in the Upashraya of Acharya, Brihad Khartar gachchhiya Bhandar in the Upashraya of Bhattarak Gachchha, Lonkagachchhiya Bhandar in the Upashraya of lonkagachchha, doongarsi Gnanbhandar in the doongarsi Upashraya and Thirushsh Bhandar in the haveli (a residential place like a place like a palace) of Sheth Sri Thirushah.

Here, in the temple’s Brihad Bhandar in the fort, are preserved the original bed-sheet, the lips covering-cloth piece (Muhapatti) and the Chaddar, all almost 800 years old belonging to the first Dada Sri Jinduttsurishvarji and it is believed that when Dada was being Cremated, these belongings did not catch fire owing to same Divine power’s interventions and the devotees therefore preserved them for posterity.

Many affluent and illustrious Jain personalities such as seth Thirusha, Sanghavi Sri Pancha, seth Sri Sandasa, Seth Sri Jagdhar etc., lived here who became famous in the world on account of their philanthropy and also deeds in the glorification of Jain religion. Sir Thirusha was a great donor and yet was of a very simple nature. His congregation of pilgrims to the shrine of mount Shatrunjay is well-known. The final renovations of Sri Lodravpur shrines were carried out by him. Sanghavi Sri Pancha took out congregations of pilgrims to great Shatrunjay temples thirteen times. The stories of seth Sri Sandasa undertaking to build walls on the fort and his willingness to go to Multan for the sake of the temple are inspiring. Similarly the deeds of many other affluent families including the one of Seth Sri Jaghar are indeed praise worthy.

Jaisalmer is well known for its typical art. The sculptors have not left any corner of stone where of India, Jaisalmer is the only place where not only in the temples but also in the private residences and balconies and gates and terraces, specimen of finest form of art can be seen. In spite of hardness of the local yellow stone, the sculptors have succeeded in chiseling out numberless shapes and forms of exquisite beauty “exquisite in quality and impressive in form”.

In this temple there are other thousands of idols big and small which one can see where prayers are offered. Next to Sri Shatrunjay shrines, that is the only place where this is possible. In one stone tablet, here there is a delicately carved temple as small as barley grain with an image therein as small as a sesame seed. Besides this, there is one idol made out of emerald stone in Brihad Grant Bhandar, the sight of which keeps one totally spell-bound.

It appears that less said about art in Jaisalmer the better it is. In every temple there are pillars, arches, nymphs, gods, goddesses, princesses, damsels dancers etc., of stunning beauty. The art of Western Rajasthan is here at its best, not to be seen anywhere else. Visiting Jaisalmer, one instantaneously is reminded of the temples of Mt. Abu, Dilwara, Ranakpur, Khajuraho etc., but with a significant difference. Carving on hard yellow stones is extremely difficult and this is the most distinguishing feature here. Besides temples, the carvings in private residences is also without parallel. The cluster of domes in yellow stone appears from a distance as if the same is made out of gold.

Besides this main temple, there are 9 more on the fort and 5 in the town.

APPROACH – ROUTE :

The railway station of Jaisalmer is 1 ½ Kms away from the Dharamshala and 2 Km away from temples on the fort. Cars and buses go upto the base of the fort and there after one has to climb oneself. It is about 10 minutes climb, Public buses stop at a distance to two furlongs from dharamshala because the road further is very uneven. Direct buses come here from Jodhpur, Badmer, Phalodi, Ahemdabad, Jaipur and Jalore. From the bus stand, dharamshala is ½ Km away. The construction work of one more dharamshala is also going on outside the town. Buses can go upto the present dharamshala.

AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :

For lodging, there are 3 different dharamshalas viz., Jain Bhavan, Nakoda Bhavan and Sri Mahavir Bhavan, all at different places. These are around 1 ½ Km from station and ½ Km from Bus stand. All the facilities along with that of a bhojanshala is available in Jain Bhavan. Even cars, buses can be parked here. Near the temple at the fort there is a small dharamshala too, where you can get water for a bath for performing pooja.

MANAGED BY :

Jaisalmer Lodravpur Parshavanth Jain Shvetamber Trust, Jain Bhavan.
P.O. Jaisalmer – 345 001, Rajasthan
Tel : 02992-52404
02992-52330 (Fort Temple )