SHRI SEVADI TIRTH
PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :
Sri Shanthinath Bhagwan in white color, seated in lotus posture,of height 127 Cms located in a shrine right in the market place of village called Sevadi (Shve).
ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :
The ancient names of this place were “ Shatvatika”, “Shatvapika”, “Samipati”, “Simapati” etc., IN the temple are stone inscriptions of Vikram year 1167, 1172 and five others which are great historical significance. In the inscription of Vikram year 1172, it is stated that the Presiding deity here is Mahavir Bhagwan. In Vikram year 2014 however, at the time of renovations, the ancient idol of Sri Shanthinath Bhagwan was installed and ceremonially consecrated as the Presiding Deity. All the idols in this temple appear to belong to 13th Vikram century and there is no inscription on any of the idols. The idol of Sri Gunaratnasuriji, one of the successors in the tradition of Sri yashobhadrasurihi of Sanderak Gachchha is worth seeing, as on it, there is an inscription of the bright half of the month of Maha in Virkam year 1244.
In the stone inscription dated Vikram year 1172, it is stated that Sri Yashodev, the commander of the army of Sri Katukraj a Chouhan king had installed and ceremonially consecrated in one of the niches of this temple the idol of Sri Shanthinath Bhagwan.
Once upon a time this place was a prosperous city where there were about 100 Vavs. Even today one ancient Vav by the name of Jetal, very large and beautiful can be seen. In the copper place inscription of Vikram year 1238 of Prince Sri Sanantsinh (which is relevant to the shrine of Sevadi) there is a reference to the existence of the temple of Sri Parshvanath Bhagwan in one “Anilvihar of Samipati”. In the context of the discovering of this temple several ruins have been found in the Atergadh fortress about 1 ½ Km away from this village which show a distinct possibility of the existence of Jain temple. It proper attention (for the excavation of this area) of the Archaelogical Department of the Government of Rajasthan is drawn, a great material of historical importance is likely to be found. Every year on Falgun Sukla 3, a “Dhavaja” is hoisted on the mast at the sikhar of the temple.
On the doors of the inner sanctum of this temple there are carved 16 idols of “Vidyadevis” i.e. Goddesses of Learning, and some idols of Yaksha andKuber (God of Wealth) etc., which are worth mentioning. In the sanctum itself there is an idol of “Gaj-Lakshmi” (Goddess of wealth with elephants) which is unraveled. The architecture of the large and very high sihar is unique. In this temple of 52 surrounding small room shrines, all the idols are very ancient and on no idol any inscription is found. Such beautiful idols are difficult to come by anywhere else. The idol of Sri Saraswatidevi in this temple is superb and very attractive.
There are two other temples by the name of “Vasupujya Vatika” and “Manibhadra Temple”.
APPROACH – ROUTE :
The nearby railway station of Falna is 16Kms away where buses and taxis are available. FromBali, this place is 11 KMs away. Cars and buses can go upto the temple. The public bus stand is 200meters away.
AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :
For lodging there are two big dharamshalas with all facilities including a bhojanshala and Ayambilshala.
MANAGED BY :
Sri Jain Shvetamber Devasthan Pedhi
P.O. Sevadi – 306 707,
Dist :Pali, Rajasthan
Tel : 02938 – 48122.
