SANDERAO TIRTH

Categories : All Jain Tirth

SANDERAO TIRTH

SHRI SANDERAO TIRTH

PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :

Sri Shanthinath Bhagwan in white color, seated in a lotus posture, of height 75 Cms located in a shrine in the village Sanderao. (Shve).

ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :

This shrine is believed to be 2500 years old. A reference is found that during the rule of Raja Gandharvsen, the idol of Sri Parshvanath Bhagwan was installed and ceremonially consecrated in this temple as the Presiding Deity. On one “Parikar” in the temple there is an inscription which states that in Vikram year 969 at the time of renovations, the idol of Sri Mahavir Bhagwan was installed and ceremonially consecrated as the Presiding Deity. There after in16th Vikram century at the time of renovations once again, a reference is available which states that the idol of Sri Shanthinath Bhagwan brought here from some where else was installed and consecrated. This idol is still present as the Presiding Deity and the idol has no inscription thereon. Ancient idols of both previous Presiding Deity are today present in the temple. Below the idol on one Acharya in this temple there is an inscription dated Vikram year 1197. There are ancient underground cells also in the temple. After the fall and destruction of Vallabhi, it is said that, many things were brought here. In ancient times, a store house of scriptures is believed to be existing here. History of this place being very ancient, it is possible that if proper excavations are carried out, many valuable articles of historical significance including relics of art will be found here.

Sanderak Gachchha was founded here during 10th Vikram century. It is said that in Vikram year 969, at the time of ceremonial installation festival after repairs and renovations of the temple, Acharya Sri Yashobhadrasurishvarji by his Yogic powers had commandeered necessary quantity of ghee from a trader at Pali about which the trader himself did not know and later on when people from Sanderao sent the amount being the price of the ghee to the trader of Pali, the latter did not accept the amount as not belonging to him. Finally the whole amount which came to be nine lakhs of rupees was spent in building a temple at Pali which temple still stands today as “Navlakha Temple”. The idol of the Presiding Deity in this temple is a great worker of miracles. Some times the Guardian Deity of Sri Parshvanath Bhagwan Sri Dharmendra appears in the temple in the form of a cobra. Opposite the temple is an Upashraya, there is the seat of Manibhadra Yaksh where also many miracles happen from time to time. Every year on Vaishakh Sukla 6, the dhvaja ceremony of the temple takes place.

The architecture of this temple is unique. The temple is 6 feet below the ground level. During rains a great amount of water gets collected in the temple. In the temple chowk (a built up area within the temple) there is a hole from which all this water gets drained away. How this happens and where does the water ultimately go, nobody has been able to know till date. The idol itself is very pleasant and beautiful to see.

There are two other temples, one Guru Mandir and other Manibhadra temple besides this temple here.

APPROACH – ROUTE :

The nearby railway station of Falna is 13 Kms away from where buses and taxis are available. The public bus – stand is 200 meters from the temple. Bus and cars can go upto the temple.