SHRI ANTARIKSH PARSHVANATH TIRTH

PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :

Shri Parshvanath Bhagwan in black color, seated in semi-lotus posture, of height 017 Cms in a shrine in Shirpur village.

ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :

The history of this magnificent miracle working idol is very ancient. According to Swetamber tradition it is said that this idol was made from sand and cow dung for worship by Mali and Sumali employees of King Khardushan Raja of Patal Lanka, the brother –in-law of King Ravana. At the time of their departure, the idol was forsaken in the nearby reservoir. For centuries thereafter, the idol remained unseen in reservoir and in Vikram year 1142 it surfaced again accompanied by miracles. On Maha Sukla 5 in that year, at the hands of Nav-angi (one having knowledge of nine Angas i.e. nine parts of a total of eleven parts into which the whole of Jainism is redected) commentator Sri Abhaydevsurishvarji the idol was ceremonially installed in the newly constructed sangh temple. Thereafter as a result of religious discourses by Sri Bhavvijayji Gani , following repairs and renovations to the temple it was once again ceremonially installed by the hands at an auspicious hour on Chaitra Sukla 5 in Vikram year 1715.

The story is that once King Khardushan was passing through his area in his viman (air-vehicle) and when it was time for his prayers and meals he descended from the viman at this spot. By an oversight, Kings employees Mali and Sumali had forgotten to carry the image of the Lord for his worship. The king therefore made a temporary idol out of sand and Cow dung for worship. At that time of this departure he forsook it in the nearby reservoir. After remaining in water unseen for centuries when no use of this water king Sripal of Elichpur was cured of his skin-malady., it was indicated in a dream to the queen ancient possessive idol of Sri Parshvanath Bhagwan that is lying in the reservoir. In the dream it was also suggested that the idol maybe carried in a cart yoked by a calf only seven days old and driven by king himself to whichever place the king wished provided no doubt be raised and no glance be cast behind. On making search accordingly in a diligent manner, the idol was discovered. The king made grand and elaborate preparation to carry the idol in a cart to Elichpur amidst scenes of popular enthusiasm and gaiety. While the idol was thus being carried in the cart as suggested, the king’s mind was filled with doubts on the way as to whether or not such a large idol was being actually carried by a seven day old calf. He therefore quietly looked behind and instantly on that very spot under a tree the idol remained in the space steady without any further movement. It is said that the idol was so high in the space that a rider on a horse would easily pass underneath without being touched.

Overawed and impressed by this miraculous happening, the king got a magnificent temple constructed on that very spot and aspired to ceremonially install the idol there. During the moments of actual installation, vanity arose in the heart of the king about his power, wealth and magnanimity and therefore inspite of best efforts the idol did not move from its place and the temple remained vacant. The temple is known today by the name of “Pavali Mandir”. The tree under which the idol remained steady in the space is also near the temple. Thereafter as a result of religious discourses by Acharya Sri Abhaydevsurishvarji who was present at the time of this stalled ceremonial installation, the Jain community householder built another gorgeous and majestic temple in the middle of the village and in the presence of the king, as by consensus of all concerned it was decided that the ceremonial installation be now performed in the community temple, the idol moved there in and amidst wild scenes of joy and éclat and music, the same was satisfactorily completed. The idol remained six fingers above the ground at the time this final installation.

Since then till now many miracles have continued to happen among which those that have happened to Shri Abhaysurishvarji through Dharmendra Dev are very well known. In Vikram year 1715, Sri Bhavvijayji Ganiji visited Antariskshji with an intense aspiration of having sight of the Lord and when he did attempt to have the sight with sincerity, the lost lusture of his eyes was indeed regained. His blindness was cured. Staying there thereafter, he got the repairs and renovations carried out on the temple and once again got also the consecration ceremonies performed on Chaitra Sukla 5 in Vikram year 1715, when the idol remained one finger above the ground. Today the idol is still in that position. However due to unholy forces of the present times a part of the idol almost of the size of a minute point below the front portion of left knee and one the left edge of the back. Appears touching the ground at present.

Annual festival fairs are held here every year on Falgun Sukla 3 and Posh Krishna 10.

Both Swetambers and Digambers offer their prayers and perform ceremonial worship in the temple according to their respective rites and rituals during prescribed periods of the day.

Nearby the temple, there is a Swetamber temple if Sri Vignahara Parshvanath Bhagwan with its very attractive Shikhar.

The idol of Sri Antariksh Parshvanath Bhagwan is in the underground cell. The idol being very ancient is worth seeing.

APPROACH – ROUTE :

The nearby railway station of Vasim is 19 Kms away from the shrine. From Akola, this is 72 Kms away. Nearby large towns is Malegaon, 11 Kms from Shirpur on Hingoli-Balapur road where taxis and buses are available. There is a tar road till the temple and car, buses can go upto the temple.

AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :

Nearby the temple, there is a Swetamber Dharamshala fro lodging with all facilities and a bhojanshala for meals are available. Nearby there is a Digamber dharamshala too.