- Navsari Parshwanath
Madhumati, Post-Valsad,Dist-Navsari
Mulnayak: Nearly 33 cms. high brown – coloured idol of Bhagwan Navsari Parshvanath in the
Padmasana posture. There is an umbrella of 7 hoods over the head of the idol. This Parshvanath
is also known as “Chintamani Parshvanath”.
Tirth: It is in Madhumati in Navsari in Gujarat.
Historicity: Navsari is an ancient and very prosperous city. The jewellery business of Navsari is
world famous. More than 700 years ago, Navsari was a very famous and popular city of the jain
community. Tejpal Shresthi, the younger brother of Minister Vastupal, had gone on a pilgrimage to
the city of Soparak. After worshipping Bhagwan Adinath in Soparak, he halted in Navsari on his
way back. He was attracted by the place and he had a desire to build a huge temple in Navsari. He
built a beautiful and gorgeous 52 Jinalay and installed the idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath as the
Mulnayak. This Parshvanath came to be known as “Navsari Parshvanath”. During the Muslim
invasion, the idol of Bhagwan was kept hidden and it is believed that this temple was converted
into a mosque. This idol is believed to be of the period of King Samprati or maybe more older than
that. There is a story behind the origin of this idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath. It is said that one night
Goddess Padmavati came in the dreams of a Shravak residing in Navsari and told him about this
idol. She asked him to take this idol and install it in a temple. The next morning the Shravak went
to the said place and dug there. On seeing this beautiful and alluring idol, he was overjoyed and
his happiness knew no bounds. This news spread far and wide and people started gathering there.
There was fresh Chandan and flowers on the idol. Nectar was flowing from the idol. Who had put
the flowers and Chandan on the idol and from where was the nectar coming was the question on
everybody’s lips. This idol was installed in a two storeyed temple. On the top floor there is an
ancient and alluring idol of Bhagwan Jiravala Parshvanath. Siddhachakra Bhagwan made of
marble in the year V.S.1631 is also there. In the temple of Bhagwan Adinath, the artistic pictures
should definitely be seen. This idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath is very influential and miraculous. It is
said that at night the sound of music and dance can be heard in the temple. Navsari is the birth –
place of Mahatapasvi Acharya Shri Kumudchandrasurishvarji. Many men and women have
renounced the world and taken Diksha from here.
Other Temples: There is a beautiful temple of Bhagwan Vasupujya Swami in Mahaveer Society.
There are 6 other temples here.
Guidelines: Navsari is at a distance of 31kms. from Surat and 250kms. from Mumbai on the
Ahmedabad – Mumbai railway route. Navsari is well connected by road to the major cities of
Gujarat and Maharashtra. Dharamshala and Bhojanshala facilities are available here. There is an
Upashraya, Ayambilshala etc. here. More 700 jain families live here. Shri Tapovan Sanskar Dham
is at a distance of 6kms. from here. Sisodara, Gandevi, Surat, Alipore pilgrim centres are close by
from here.
Scripture: A mention of Navsari Parshvanath is made in “Tirthmala”, “Vastupal Charitra”,
“Shashwat Tirthmala”, “Prabandh Panchshati”, “Suryapur Chaityaparipati”, “Shri Sankheswar
Parshvanath Chaand”, “108 Naamgarbhit Shri Parshvanath Stavan”, “Shri Parshvanath
Naammala”, “Shri Parshvanath Prabhu ke 108 Naam ke Chaand” etc. There is an idol of Navsari
Parshvanath in Kalikund Parshvanath temple in Santacruz, Mumbai.
Trust: Shri Navsari Parshvanath Shwetambar Jain Tirth, Madhumati, Mota Bazaar,
Navsari: 396 445, District: Valsad, State: Gujarat, India. Phone: 02637 – 258882.
श्री नवसारी पार्श्वनाथ
श्री नवसारी पार्श्वनाथ – वलसाड
आज से लगभग ७०० वर्ष पहले हुए तेजपाल मंत्रिश्वर सोपारक तीर्थ की यात्रा के लिए गए| वापस लौटते समय वे नवसारी आए और वहां की पवित्र भूमि को देखकर तेजपाल मंत्री ने ५२ जिनालय से युक्त भव्य जिनालय का निर्माण कराया और वहां पार्श्वनाथ प्रभु की प्रतिष्ठा की | कालक्रम से तेजपाल द्वारा निर्मित वह मंदिर तो मस्जिद के रूप में रूपांतरित हो गया, परन्तु आज भी नवसारी के भव्य मंदिर में लगभग वो ही प्रतिमा विधमान है|
ये नवसारी पार्श्वनाथ, चिंतामणि पार्श्वनाथ के रूप में भी प्रसिद्ध है|
श्री शुभशील गनी द्वारा रचित प्रबंध-पंचशती में नवसारी पार्श्वनाथ की अत्पति के संदर्भ में एक कींवदंती प्रसिद्ध है|
एक अधिष्ठायक देव ने आकर एक श्रावक को कहा, “उठो! इस भूमि के नीचे एक भव्य, जिन प्रतिमा रही हुई है, तुम उन्हें खोदकर प्रगट करो|”
स्वप्न से प्रसन्न हुए उस श्रावक ने भूमि खोदी और उसमे से भव्य प्रतिमा प्रगट हुई| और उस प्रतिमा को भव्य गगन चुंबी जिनालय में प्रतिष्टित की गई|
