SHRI SUTHARI TIRTH
PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :
Shri Ghrutkalol Parshvanath Bhagwan in white color seated in a lotus posture, of height 30 Cms in a shrine located in the Suthari village. (Shve).
ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :
This shrine is one of the principal shrines of Abdasa Kutch-Bhuj Panch Tirthi. This shrine has become very famous because the idol is believed to be working incredible miracles. This temple was ceremonially consecrated on the 8th day of the bright half of the month of Vaishakh in Vikram year 1895.
It is said that one Jain householder Udeshi while on a tour met one villager who happened to have one idol at whose sight the former became joyous. Udeshi thereupon after paying him whatever amount of money demanded bought off the idol with enthusiasm, happiness and reverence and took it to his home and lodged it in his store. Next day when he opened the doors of the store to have sight of the idol, the store was full of an brimming with varieties of eatables. He was surprised on seeing this and ran to consult one respectful Yatiji who at that time happened to have come to the village. Yatiji advised him to erect a temple and therein ceremonially installed this idol. Accordingly he built the temple to get the idol ceremonially installed. On this happy and joyful occasion a community festival dinner was organized when the quantity of ghee which was being utilized as necessary became never depleted and the pot containing ghee remained full. The devotees who had gathered on the occasion being wonder struck at the happening started calling the idol as “Ghrutkalol Parshvanath” and ceremonially installed the same in the temple among wild acclamations of joy and wonder.
Even today many miraculous events do often happen here. Recently during the 2500th Nirvana Jayanti of Bhagwan Sri Mahavir, large scale celebrations were organized and as there were no rains for past four years the prevailing acute shortage of water was a matter of great anxiety and distress to the organizers. At that moment a Jain householder of great merit and good fortune had a dream in which it was indicated by heavenly powers that water would be available in plenty if a well nine feet deep was dug in the middle of the pond existing outside the boundary of the village. Accordingly a well was dug and plenty of clean water became available. People of the village were highly elated at this unprecedented miracle and the celebrations were held with great éclat and gay abandon. During the year, rays of the sun would touch the feet of the Lord in this temple which has a Sikhar without parallel. There are also the idols of Sri Gautamswamiji and Goddess Padmavathi in this temple which are ancient and of a special type and are anointed with a miracle.
There is no other temple in the area nearby.
APPROACH – ROUTE :
The nearby Railway Station of Bhuj is about 96 Kms away and of Gandhidhan is 161 Kms away where buses and taxis are available. The shrine of Kothara is 12 Kms. From Mandvi, this shrine is about 75 Kms away.
AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :
There are two dharamshalas for lodging about 10-0 meters from the temple with al facilities and a bhojanshala for meals are available.
MANAGED BY :
Shri Suthari Ghrutkalol Parshvanath Jain Derasar
P.O. Suthari – 370 490,
Dist : Kutch , Gujarat.
Tel: 02831 – 84223.
