SHRI SATYAPUR TIRTH
PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :
Sri Mahavir Bhagwan in white color, seated in a lotus posture in a shrine in the village of Sanchor (Shve).
ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :
This shrine is believed to be of a period cotemporaneous to Sri Mahavir Bhagwan. In “Jagchntamnai Stotra” this shrine has been described. This “Stotra” (laudatory hymn) was composed by the chief disciple Acharya Sri Gautamswami of Bhagwan Mahavir. The ancient names of Sanchor were Satyapur and Satyapuri.
The brave king Nahad after having discourses from Guru built a large sky reaching temple in about Vikram year 130 and therein had got installed ceremonially at the hands of Acharya Sri Jajjigsuriji the golden idol of Sri Mahavir Bhagwan this is stated in “Vividh Tirthkalp” composed by Sri Jinprabh-suriji in 14th Vikram century. Poet laureate Sri Dhanpal in his composition entitled “Satyapuriya Mandan Mahavirotsha” of Vikram century has sung about the great importance of this idol of Sri Mahavir Prabhu.
In “Vividh Tirthkalp” it is even stated that the importance of this shrine increased so much that others started becoming jealous and in order to cause irrepairable damage to the shrine, attempts were made by the king of Malwa in Vikram 11th century, by Moghal army in Vikram year 1348, and by Ullughkhan, brother of Allauddin Khilji in Vikram year 1256. All however had to accept defeats and stage ignoble retreats. Nobody could inflict any damage to the idol. At last it is said that Allaudin Khilji himself arrived and played a device by which he took away the idol to Delhi.
A reference is available to the effect that in Vikram 13th century the Raja of Kanoj built a wooden temple of Sri Mahavir Bhagwan. Also a reference is available to the effect that in Vikram 13th century , Sri Alhad, the military commander of the king of Gujarat Sri Ajaypal had got ceremonially installed an idol of Sri Parshvanath Bhagwan. It is said that here there exists a mosque which in earlier years would be a Jain temple. In the mosque on some old rocks, there are inscriptions found on which one states that on Vaishakh Krishna 13 in Vikram year 1322 , Bhandari Sri Chadda Sheth had renovations carried out on the temple of Sri Mahavir Bhagwan. The time when the present temple was built is not known but repairs and renovations thereon were carried out in Vikram year 1963. The whereabouts of the golden idol of Sri Mahavir Bhagwan which Allaudin Khilji carried to Delhi are not known. The idol existing at present in the temple however is also ancient and profoundly impressive.
This is the birthplace of poet laureate Upadhyay Sri Samaysunderhi who was born during Vikram 17th century. Even today this temple here is styled as “Jiwitswami” temple. The ancient temple having been destroyed, ancient art creations existing today are only few. The old mosque which is also called ancient Jain temple reveals however many ancient relics.
Besides this temple there are six more temples here.
APPROACH – ROUTE :
The nearby railway station Raniwada is 48 Kms away where buses and taxis are available. For Sanchor, bus service is available from Jalore, Bhinmal,Badmer, Abu, Jodhpur, SIrohi, Jaipur and Ahemdabad. The bus stand is only 200meters from the temple. Bus and car can go upto the temple.
AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :
There is a dharamshala Nyati Nohara with all facilities and a bhojanalaya for meals are available near SrI Kunthunath Bhagwan temple.
MANAGED BY :
Sri Swetamber Jain Moortipujak Sangh Ki Pedhi
P.O. Sanchor – 343 041
Dist : Jalore, Rajasthan
Tel : 02979 – 22028 (Pedhi)
02979 – 22147 (Nyati Nohara)
02979 – 22491 (Bhojanshala)
