SHRI BHARUCH TIRTH
PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :
Shri Munisuvrat Swami Bhagwan in black color, seated in a lotus posture in a shrine in Shrimal Pole of the town of Bharuch situated on the banks of river Narmada (Shve).
ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :
The ancient names are Bhrigukaksha, Bhrigukul, Bhrigpur, Bharuachcha etc., This was an important city of the state of Lat. According to jain scriptures the story is that a horse made ready for Ashvamedh Yagna was addressed a religious discourse by Bhagwan Sri Munisuvratswami and when it died, it became a God in Heaven in its next birth. This God or heavenly being in commemoration of that obligation built this temple of Lord Munisuvratswami.
The temple was referred to at first as “Ashvavbodh”. Later when Princess Sudarshana daughter of Raja Sinhal of Sinhaldwip on having cognition of her previous incarnation of she-kite, got renovations carried out on this temple, it came to be named also as “Shakunika Vihar”.
Thereafter renovations were carried out at the instances of Raja Samprati, Raja Vikramaditya ( as a result of discourses of Sri Siddhasen Diwakar), Raja Satvahan of Andhra Pradesh (when ceremonial consecration of the temple flag-mast was performed by Sri Padliptasuriji), Sri Abhad son of minister Udhyan of king Kumarpal (when ceremonial consecration was done at the hands of Sri Hemchandracharya and king Kumarpal had performed at that time Arati etc.,) In the temples were transformed into mosques by Muslim kings and this temple was one of them. According to the opinions of archaeologist, the artistic creations here reveal that the present Jama Masjid must be this ancient temple. It is being inferred that during the period of such upheavals, the idol must have been securely preserved elsewhere and as time went by and circumstances settled sown, building this new temple, the same ancient idol was ceremonially installed therein which even today exist in the temple.
Bhagwan Munisuvratswami gave discourses to the horse at this place. Sri Ganadhar Gautamswami who composed a laudatory poem entitled “ Jag Chintamani Stotra” in the shrine of Ashtapad (in Kailash, Himalaya) has offered his obeisance to Bhagwan Munisuvratswami sitting in Bharooch i.e. this place. A number of scholar and erudite Acharyas have set their feet on pilgrimages in this place. They include Shashansamrat Acharya Vajrabhutiji, Bappabhattacharya, Kalakacharya, Mallavadisuri, Padaliptasuri, Vijaysensuriji etc., Living here, they have composed many volumes, ceremonially consecrated many temples, installed many idols and carried out various activities in the glorification of Jain religion and general human welfare which is indeed praiseworthy.
Besides this temple, there are 11 more Jain temples. This place being very ancient is full of archaic specimen of art. In the middle of the city, the art displayed in the structure of Jama Masjid is extremely attractive.
APPROACH – ROUTE :
This place is located on Mumbai – Ahemdabad trunk road as well as rail line. From the temple, the railway station of Bharuch and the bus stand are 1.5 Kms away where rickshaws, taxis etc., for transport are available. There is a tar road upto the temple. Vadodara is about 70 Kms, Zagadia 33 Kms and Gandhar almost 45 Kms away from this shrine.
AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :
There is a dharamshala nearby the temple with all facilities and a bhojanshala for meals.
MANAGED BY :
Shri Munisuvratswami Jain Derasar Pedhi
Shrimali Pole,
P.O. Bharuch – 392 001
Dist : Bharuch , Gujarat.
Tel: 02642 – 62586 (Pedhi)
02642 – 21750 (Dharamshala).
