SHRI VAV TIRTH
PRESIDING DEITY AND LOCATION :
Sri Ajitnath Bhagwan seated in a lotus posture, idol made of all metals of height about 85 Cms in a shrine in the village of Vav. (Shve).
ANTIQUITY AND SALIENT FEATURES :
This shrine is believed to be of Vikram 13th century. It is stated that when the Chouhan king of Tharad Raja Punjaji was killed in a battle with invading Muslims, his wife queen Sodhi with her young son Bajaji escaped from here and took shelter with Dipa Bhil on Thundla hills nearby. When Bajaji grew up, he dug and built here a Vav (a stepped well) and in vikram year 1244 founded his own capital which was named Vav.
This idol in the temple at present, it is believed was first ceremonially installed in the temple of Tharad in Vikram year 136 by the king of Tharad Thirpal Dharu and was later brought here to protect it from fears of invasion and plunder by Muslim rulers. When Badshah Allauddin Khilji heard that there existed a golden idol in the temple at Tharad he decided to invade and plunder the temple but devoted followers who came to know of the plan immediately removed this magnificent idol from the temple and brought it to the Vav. At the same time they applied gold leaves to another idol so dexterously that when Allauddin Khilhi did invade Tharad he was not able to make any distinction at all! How far sighted and devout out ancestors were! The original, ancient, golden color, all metal idol was thus saved.
From the point of view of even art, this idol looks bright, gorgeous and impressive. It is almost celestial, the sight of the like of which is almost impossible anywhere else.
Near this temple, there is only one another temple of Sri Godi Parshvanath Bhagwan.
APPROACH – ROUTE :
The nearby Railway station is Deesa which is 70 Kms away where buses and taxis are available. From here the shrine of Bhorol is 22 Kms away. Dheema is 12 Kms away and Tharad is also 12 Kms away. All these shrines have buses to reach Vav.
AMENITIES FOR JAIN PILGRIMS :
There is a small community common building (Wadi) for lodging where water and electricity are available.
MANAGED BY :
Sri Jain Swetamber Murti Pujak Sangh Pedhi
P.O. Vav – 385 575
Dist : Banas Kantha, Gujarat.
Tel: 02740 – 27113.
