SHRI INDRAPUR TIRTH

Presiding Deity and Location :

Sri Jambhuswami, the second of the most loyal and learned disciples of Sri Mahavir Bhagwan, the last who had attained Keval Gnan, by his Footprints about 30cms in length, in a shrine located in Chourasi, 4 Kms away from Mathura Sri Parshvanath Bhagwan is shrine at Giyamandi at Mathura (Shve).

ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :

This shrine is believed to be as old as the period of the 7th Tirthankar Sri Suparshvanath Bhagwan. In ancient times, this place was known by the names of Madhupuri, Madhura, Madhulika, Indrapur etc., Here there existed a large and magnificent stupa of Bhagwan Sri Suparshvanath set with precious stones believed to have been built by Gods. In “Bruhat-Kalp-Sutra” there is a reference to the construction of a temple nearby and to an attempt having made to cover this stupa by bricks during the period of Bhagwan Sri Parshvanath. This was the capital city of King Ugrasen. Last disciple Sri Jambhuswami attained Moksha from this place while delivering his last sermon.

There is a reference suggesting repairs and renovations having carried out to this heavenly stupa built by gods during the 8th Vikram century by Acharya Sri Bappabhattasurishvarji. In the composition “Vividh Tirthkalpa” of Sri Jinaprabhasuriji of the 14th century this city has been described as Twelve Yojans long and Nine Yojans wide containing many Jain temples, wells, shrines, market places, houses etc., When Acharya Sri Hirvijaysurishvarji visited this place accompanied with a large congregation of Jains, it is believed that here, then existed temples of Sri ParshvanathBhagwan and Sri Suparshvanath Bhagwan and also 527 stupas of Sadhus and Sadhvis including Sri Jambhuswami, Sri Prabhaswami etc., There were 84 marked forests in this place during the period of Sri Jambhuswami who while seating in meditation and practicing austerities in one of them had attained Moksha. This also is the reason why the place is called “84” i.e. “Chourasi”

This present new temple was constructed at the ancient site of Chourasi. The ancient Foot-Prints of Sri Jambhuswami enshrined here were found during excavations at this place undertaken as a result of a dream that came to one Jain householder (Shravak) of Bharatpur.

There were two munis (Saints) named Dhamarauchi and Dharmaghosh during the period of 7th Tirthankar Sri Suparshvanath. They after leaving this place, on reaching Mathura, started practicing intense austerities in a small forest by the name of Bhutaraman. Impressed by these austerities the guardian goddess of this forest named Kubera prostrated at the feet of these munis and requested them to ask for a boon. The munis had no desires of any king. The goddess herself therefore constructed a stupa with three umbrella-like (trilinear) roofs on the dome decorated by built in arches and all set in gold and pearls and precious stones. In four direction idols made of invaluable five colored jewels were installed where the presiding idol was of Bhagwan Sri Suparshvanath. This very stupa during the period of Sri Parshvanath Bhagwan was covered with bricks at the behest of gods because “Dushma’ part of the Avasarpini half of the Cycle of Time was then about to begin. The stupa commenced to be called god-made. It was also called Bodhstupa during Kushan period.

There is a reference that here there are hundreds of stupas and there is no place any where in the world where so many stupas exist. As stated earlier, this was the capital of Yadav King Ugrasen. The future Tirthankar Sri Krishna, was born here in prison house. This is also the birth place of Sati Rajulmati.

Here in Kankali Tila (mound) ancient Jain idols, stupas, copper inscriptions etc., have been found which have proved priceless and the mere sight thereof gives unquestionable evidence of antiquity. Nowhere else such a large treasure has been traced. Several idols and other material are still preserved in the museum in Lucknow and the place has proved to be of great importance to research scholars.

In Chourasi, this is the only temple. In Mathura however there are four Digamber temples and one Shvetamber temple. The architecture and natural scenery here are worth seeing. A great treasure of ancient Jain art exists here. There are several mounds like Kankali Tila but deep research on an extensive scale is necessary. A mere sight of the place is enough to remind one of its past glorious history.

APPROACH – ROUTE :

The railway station of Mathura junction is just 4Kms away from Digamber temple and 2Kms away from Shvetamber temple, where buses and taxis are available. On Delhi-Agra road, this place is 145Kms from Delhi and 54Kms from Agra. There is a tar road right upto the temple. Buses and cars go upto the temple.

AMMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :

For lodging there is a beautiful commodious dharamshala near Digamber temple where even a bhojanshala exists. Near Shvetamber temple there is a dharamshala but presently not well equipped.

Managed By :

Antim Kevali Shri 1008 Jambhuswami Digamber Jain Siddhakshetra, Chourasi
Post : Mathura – 281 004
Dist : Mathura, .(UP)
Tel : 0565-420983

Shri Parshvanath Bhagwan Shvetamber Jain Mandir Pedhi, Ghiya Mandi
Post : Mathura – 281 004
Dist : Mathura, .(UP)
Tel : 0562-254559 (Agra)