SHRI NAGRADH TIRTH

PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :

Sri Shanthinath Bhagwan in black color, seated in a lotus posture and of 270 cms height, located in a shrine on the bank of Baghela lake in the lap of wild mountains 1 ½ Kms away from Ekalingji (Kailaspuri) (Shve).

ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :

A reference is found that this place was known as Nagradh in the past. Once this was the capital town of Mewad and for centuries it was wallowed in prosperity. Raja Bhojraj had built a great center of education in Mandavgadh which was known as “Bhartiya Bhavan” and having been pleased at the good work of its Karnataki Principal Sri Bhatt Govind, had given him this village once as a gift. Sri Munisundersurishvarji in his composition “Naghrad teerth Stotra” has mentioned that Sri Samprati Raja had built here a temple of Sri Parshvanath Bhagwan. In 5th Vikram century Acharya Sri Samudrasurishvarji who was proficient in religious having won the debate on religion had received this village as a gift and had handed it over to Shevetamber Jain Community. On the pedestal of the idol in the old temple of Sri Parshvanath Bhagwan there is an inscription dated Vikram year 1192. On another idol also, there is an inscription dated Vikram year 1356.

It is stated that Sri Pethdshah built here a temple of Sri Neminath Bhagwan and that once there existed here 350 Jain temples. In the evening during “Arati” bells were ringing simultaneously in all 350 temples and the sound and its vibrations reminded one of the worship offered by gods in heaven. From here upto Devkulpatak there was a tunnel. During the period of Sultan Shansudin, this place was considerably damaged.

Today however, there exists here only one temple. The temple, right now is getting renovated. On the idol there is an inscription which states that this idol which was commissioned by Shreshthi Sri Sanrang of “Oswal” dynasty and “navlakha” gotra, of Devkulpathak and was ceremonially installed and consecrated at the hands of Sri Jinsagarsurishvarji onMaha Sukla Ekadash, Thursday in Vikram year 1494.

This temple is one of the Panch Tirthi of Mewad. Such a large sized idol of Sri Shanthinath Bhagwan seated in a lotus posture is difficult to be found anywhere else. Here on the hills and mountains there are seen many temples in ruins. If proper research is carried out, much material of historical significance will surely be found. In the adjacent temple which is in ruins, pillars and ceilings are full of artistic splendour and even several other temples in dilapidated condition which are scattered on the hills and wild nearby, beautiful specimen of art is visible. In the nearby temple in ruins, no idol is found. A little away, there is also a structure in ruins which is called the temple of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law where too, no idol is found at present.

APPROACH – ROUTE :

Nearby Railways tation of Udaipur is 20 Kms away where buses and taxis are available. From Eklingi (Kailaspuri) on Udaipur Road, this place is only 1 ½ kms away. This shrine is 30 Kms away from Nathdwara, 80 Kms away from Ranakpur and 7 Km from Devkulpatak shrine (Mewad Dilwada).

AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :

For lodging there is a dharamshala near the temple where a bhojanshala is also there .

MANAGED BY :

Sri Jain Shvetamber Adhbutji Teerth Trust
P.O. Nagada (Kailaspuri ) – 313 202
Dist : Udaipur , Rajasthan
Tel : 0294 – 772281.