SHRI SARHIND TIRTH
Presiding Deity and Location :
Sri Adhishvar Bhagwan in white color of height approx. 37 Cms in a lotus posture (Shve) and Mata Sri Chakeshvari Devi in white color (Shve) in a shrine located in the village of Athevali.
ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :
It is deduced from the facts that this shrine is of 12th Vikram century. It is said that during the reign of Maharaja Prithviraj Chouhan a congregation of Jain pilgrims heading towards Sri Kangada Mahateerth in a number of bullocks carts halted in the shrine and stayed overnight for rest. The idol of Mata Chakeshvari Devo was along with them. Throughout the night the devotees were singing Bhajans with devotion and were very much engrossed in it. When they were about to depart from the place in the morning to continue their journey, the bullock cart was unable to move from the place despite trying to move with all force. There was a peculiar glow, a noise from the four directions, which said that “devotees this place is dear to me. I want to halt and stay here”. The yatris were in ecstasy and joy and were dancing in full devotion and thus got a small temple built here and installed the idol of Sri Chakeshvari Mata which is worth seeing even today.
According to one more detail, when scholars of Jains and non-Jains had gathered and were debating for the victory of their religion, Mantra-Tantra were also used lavishly, the belief of Gods and Goddess was getting stronger during the debate. At that time the whole of Southern region was aired by the power and effect of Chakeshvari Mata. The popularity of Sri Chakeshvari Mata was increasing day by day in Gujarat, Katiavad etc. When the Jain religion was in danger I Punjab, the Jain sangh over here came together and approached Jain Acharya Sri Dharmagoshsuriji in Arbudachal (Abu) and apprised him about all the facts and details. Acharya Bhagwant ordered two of his scholarly Munis viz., Sri Somdev and Sri Samvatdev to take the idol of Sri Chakeshvari Devi to Punjab under their observation. Sri Sangh, Munis along with the idol then started the border of Sarhind. In the morning when they started the journey again there was a voice from the Palki that “This is the place where I would stay, this place is very dear to me”. The members of the sangh exalted in joy on hearing this and got a small temple constructed, installed the idol of Mataji over there, which still exists today.
It is very much evident from the above two detailed facts that this place, apart from being ancient, is also miraculous. During the course of time, on several occasions there was a rise and decline of Sarhind village but this holy place of Mataji was to disturbed at all by any devastation or an attack and remained as it was earlier and still in existence. The temple is getting renovated at present.
In the whole of India, this is the only shrine of Sri Chakeshvari Mata, who is the Adhistayika also called Sashan Devi, of the first Tirthankar of the present time, Sri Adhinath Bhagwan. However, the idol of Shashan Devi is found installed in almost all the temples. The wonderful and miraculous incidents of Shashan Devi over here is similar to that of Sri Padmavati Mata of Humbaj Teerth. Hence in North India the temple of Sri Chakeshvari Mata and in South India that of Sri Padmavati Devi are very well known.
Lot of miracles have happened here but one incident is very noteworthy among them. As there was scarcity of water in and around, a small girl sung in praise of Mata for want of the same. The very next moment water spurt in the form of fountain. This indeed is a startling and miraculous incident and the same fountain exists even at present, which is well known as “Amritkund”. Devotees consider this water as pure and holy and take it to their home as well as drink this water and eradicated any diseases. This had been known from the devotees. In the same Amritkund Parisar, idol of Sri Adhinath Prabhu is installed which is very beautiful and worth seeing. The construction of a beautiful temple is in process at present.
Annually, the Dhvaja ceremony of the temple is held in Ashwin Sukla Chaturdasi and from Ashwin Sukla Triyodasi to Poornima large scale celebrations are held here, where approx, 10000 Jain and non-Jains gather. A. lot of Jains and non-Jains come over here and get their wishes fulfilled.
The art of the idol of Mataji is a class of its own. The miraculous incidents of Mataji and the historical significance is depicted in the form of pictures on glass, that is certainly worth seeing. Besides this, there is no other temple at present.
APPROACH – ROUTE :
The nearby railway station of Sarhind-Mandi is approx 5 Kms away in main line on Ambala-Ludhiana route and that of Fatehgarh Sahib is approx. 2 Kms away in branch line. Sarhind Mandi bus stand is also approx. 5 Kms away, where taxis and autos are available.. Cars, buses can go upto the temple. The nearby airport of Ludhiana is 55 Kms and that of Delhi is 300Kms away.
AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :
At present there are 50 rooms for lodging with facilities of bhojanshala too.
Managed By :
Mata Sri Chakeshvari Devi Jain Teerth Prabandan Committee (Regd).
P.O. Sarhind,
Dist : Fatehgarh, Punjab
Tel : 01763-32246
0171-530781/533481/530166 (P.P)
