VATPADRA TIRTH

Categories : All Jain Tirth

VATPADRA TIRTH

SHRI VATPADRA TIRTH

PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :

Sri Paurushadaniya (Giver of Strength) Parshvanath Bhagwan in white color and seated in a lotus posture, located in a shrine in the middle of Badoda village (Shve).

ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :

This place was known in the past as Meghpur Patan. Vatpadra nagar etc., according to scripture. It is believed that this temple was constructed in Vikram year 1036. Once upon a time this was a large city. The ancient ruins scattered all around this place remind one of its antiquity. The place is of great importance as it is an ancient shrine of the Dungarpur district of Rajasthan-Mewad.

Ruins of great art and antiquity can be seen here on all sides. On one of the idols, there is found an inscription dated Vikram year 1359. In this temple ancient Pattas (wide and long several clothe prices joined and stitched together to make one whole extra large size sheet) on which 2- Tirthankar of Videhkshetra (who are alive and moving from place to place giving discourses on Jainism but have no physical bodies, human or visible) and 24 Tirthankars of the present part of the cycle of time are embroidered and painted are indeed very interesting.

According to one opinion, the idol of Sri Kesariyanath Bhagwan ceremonially installed in Dhuleva was discovered here in Vikram year 909 from down under the earth at a spot under a banyan tree about 4 furlongs away from this shrine.

At this spot, the foot prints of the Lord have been enshrined where thousands of devout Jains and non Jains gather for sight and prayer. At this is the ancient place of Sri Kesariya Baba who destroy misery and unhappiness, the devotees visit here and get all their wishes fulfilled. A few years renovations to this shrine was carried out to give a pace-lift to it.

APPROACH – ROUTE :

The nearby railway station of Dungarpur is 40 kms away where Buses and Taxis are available. This place is on DuUngarpur – Banswada road.. From Kesariyaji, one can come here via Dungarpur. Private cars and buses can ply right upto the temple.