SHRI BHINMAL TIRTH

PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :

Shri Parshvanath Bhagwan, in golden color, seated in a lotus posture (the idol cast in five metals) in a shrine in a street named Shethwada in the middle of the city of Bhinmal (Shve).

ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :

Bhinmal, the ancient capital of city Gujarat was at one time very famous. Who found it is not known for certain. According to stories in Puranas, it sname in Satya yuga ws Shrimal, inTreta Yuga it was Ratnamal, in Dwapar Yoga it was Pushpamal andnow in Kaliyuga it is Bhinmal. SHrimal and Bhinmal names are very well known among people and the city has certainly undergone many ups and down in the course of ages.

In the ruins of Jain temples, an inscriptions is found of Vikram year 1333 which states that Mahavir Bhagwan had visited here. This is a great subject for research as ancient references are found stating that Mahavir Bhagwan visited various places in the area. If the research students pay some attention, many historical materials may be found here. A reference, is available to the effect that in first Vikram century, Acharya Sri Vrajraswami had come walking to Shrimal (Bhinmal). According to one Jainsuccession record (Pattavali), in Ratnaprabhsuriji, Prince Sri Sunder and minister Sri Uhad of Shrimal City having left Shrimal had founded the city of Osiyan where many Jain householder families from Shrimal later settled down permanently. According to one opinion, when King Deshal of Shrimal gave sanction to affluent people to build their residences within the fort area, many people who were dissatisfied joined hands with king Deshal’s son Jaichandra and left Shrimal, to settle permanently in Osiyan in Vikram year 223.

Once upon a time, this city of Shrimal had a circumference of 64 Kms. The surrounding fort had 84 gates. Millionaire jain householder families who lived there were 84, the familes of Shrimal Brahmins were 64 and those of Pragvat Brahmins were 8, the city was glittering with hundreds of domed temples. Sri Jindasgani in his composition entitled “ Nishith Churni” of Vikram year 733 has mentioned that this city was very prosperous before 7th, 8th Vikram centuries, the population of Jain householders was very great and there were many Jain temples, Sri Udyotansuriji in his composition “Kuvalayamala” of Vikram year 835 has stated that Sri Shivchandragani in one of his foot-wanderings had come here for worship and offering prayers and he had felt then so much impressed that he had decided to settle here for ever. Almost all the erudite and scholary Acharya of the period between 7th and 10th Vikram centuries have, by visiting this place made it pure and holy and by being engaged in writing , discourses and commentaries here, left an invaluable treasure-store of Jain literature. Today, this heritage provides rare materials of great significance to scholars historians and researchers.

During 10th and 11th Vikram centuries , 18000 Shrimal Jains had left this city and had settled at its new capital city of Patan and its surroundings area. These included also Shreshthi Sri Nana, an ancestor of Minister ShriVimalshah.

In the year 1611 A.D. an Englesh trader named Nicholas Uplet had visited this city of Shrimal. AT that time it is stated that the circumference of the fort surroundings the city was 58 Kms. Even today Stand 8 Kms on the north the Jalori Gate, to the west the Sanchori Gate, to the east the Surya gate and to the south the Laxmi gate. On the high hills around in the area are seen even today ancient bricks, carved pillars and innumerable stone carvings of the temples. On the Parikar i.e. the surrounding frame of the idol there is an inscription dated Vikram year 1011. This idol was discovered from under the earth. It is evident from various inscriptions that this as well as many other idols were in possession of Gaznikhan in Jalor but keeping them he was experiencing great mental torture. At last he decided to hand over the idols back to the Jain community (Sangh) and Sanghvi SrI vajrang Sheth after building the magnificent temple finally got them properly consecrated and installed there in Vikram year 1662. On this occasion Gaznikhan also installed 16 “Gold Stavan” of Sri Punyakamalmuni.

This is the birth place of Poet Sri Megh who has composed the epic of “Shishupalvadh”. The astrologer Sri Brahmagupt had written his famous volume entitled “Sfoot Arya Siddhant” here in 7th Vikram century. During 8th Vikram century when “Kulgurus” were established, the powerful Achayra Bhagwan of 84 Gachchha in Vikram year 791 preached and made followers of Jainism Pragvat and Shrimal Brahmins in this city. Acharya Sri Siddharshiji composed here his “Upamitibhavaprapanch Katha” in Vikram year 992. This is also the birth place of Acharya Sri Virgani who was a very great scholar. He had highly impressed Chumundrai, a Gujarat king by his supernatural powers. The ancestors of minister Vimalshah belonged to this place. Also 18000 Shrimal Jains after migrating from here and settling in Patan had acquired great respect and authority there. Sri Siddhasenduriji has described this shrine elaborately in his composition entitled “Sakal Tirthmala”. Instance and occasions enhancing the fame of this shrine are innumerable.

Besides this temple, there are 15 others in the city most of these belong to a period between 14th to 18th Vikram centuries. One of these which is located in Gandhimutavas named Sri Shanthinath Bhagwan’s temple was once again ceremonially consecrated in Vikram year 1634 at the hands of SrI Hirvijaysurishvarji. The whole of the city is full of artistic relics of the temples, and in each there exists ancient idols, the iconography of which is just admirable.

APPROACH – ROUTE :

The nearby railway station and bus stand of Bhinmal is 1 Km away from the temple. There is a direct bus service for Bhinmal from Jalore-Shirohi and Jodhpur bus service fro Bhinmal from Jalore – Shirohi and Jodhpur etc., There is a tar road upto the temple.

AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :

For lodging there are two dharamshalas with all facilities, one near Sri Mahavir Temple and another at Keerti Stambh and bhojanshala for meals are available.

MANAGED BY :

Shri Parshvanath Jain Shvetamber Tapagachchhiya Trust
Hathion Ki Pol,
P.O. Bhinmal – 343 029
Dist : Jalore , Rajasthan
Tel : 02969 – 21190.