83.Ajahara Parshwanath
Mulnayak: Nearly 46 cms. high saffron – coloured idol of Bhagwan Ajahara Parshvanath in the
Padmasana posture. This idol is made of sand. There is an umbrella of 7 hoods over the head of
the idol.
Tirth: It is in the outskirts of the village Anjar.
Historicity: To learn about the glorious history of this Saffron coloured idol of Shri Ajahara
Parshvanath, first we have to know the incomparable history of the prosperous city of Ayodhya.
There were many great and brave kings in the Suryavanshi dynasty of Ayodhya. King Raghu was
the 25th king of this Suryavanshi dynasty. He had a son by the name of Ajaypal. When Ajaypal
became the king, he made Saketpur as his capital. King Ajaypal, who was a Jain, once went on a
pilgrimage to the sacred Tirth of Shatrunjay. On reaching the port of Div, he was afflicted by many
diseases. So, he camped in the port of Div with his army for a long time. At this time, an incident
occurred in the middle of the ocean. A merchant named Ratnasar was sailing with his ships for
overseas trade with many other traders when suddenly his ships were caught in a terrible storm in
the middle of the ocean. Ratnasar started praying to god to save him and his people from this
difficult situation. His prayers were answered. He heard a divine voice telling him that there is a
very ancient and influential idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath in the depth of the ocean which was
worshipped by Dharnendra Dev for 7 lakh years, by Kuber Dev for 600 years and by Varun Dev
for 7 lakh years. Devi Padmavati told Ratnasar to give this idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath to King
Ajaypal who is stationed in Div port. On hearing this, Ratnasar's joy knew no bounds and with the
help of many people he brought the idol out of the ocean and took it to Div port. With great faith
and devotion, Ratnasar took the idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath in a big procession to the city and
gave it to King Ajaypal narrating the incidents that occurred. Ajaypal sprinkled the bath water of this
idol (Naman) on himself and he was cured of all his diseases in a few days. Being very much
influenced by the miraculous power of this idol, Ajaypal established a new city and named it
Ajaynagar. He built a beautiful and gorgeous temple in the middle of the city and formally installed
this miraculous idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath in it. By doing Trikal Pooja of Bhagwan Parshvanath,
Ajaypal became very prosperous. He stayed in Ajaynagar for 6 months and left for pilgrimage to
the sacred Shatrunjay Mahatirth. As King Ajaypal was cured of all his diseases (ajar), this
Parshvanath came to be known as "Ajahara Parshvanath". Even today, many diseases of faithful devotees are cured by the water used in bathing the idol. The water used in bathing the idol is
regarded by Jains and non-Jains as nectar. A bell found here bears the carvings of the year 1034
of the Vikram era. Many stone inscriptions of 14th century are found which prove the antiquity of
this temple. Many idols in Kausagga Mudra were found here which were installed in the temple in
V.S. 1323 by Acharya Shri Mahendrasurishvarji. The idol of Chintamani Parshvanath was installed
in V.S. 1343. The 14th renovation of this temple was done in V.S.1667 by Shrimali Kunwarji Jivraj
Doshi of Una in the holy presence of Tappagaccha Acharya Shri Vijaydevsuriji. A fair is held here
every year on Chaitri Purnima, Karthik Purnima and on the 10th day of the dark half of the month
of Paush. Shri Jinprabhsuriji has named this Parshvanath as "Navnidhi Parshvanath". Many
miracles have happened here and even today miracles keep happening. Now and then, a Nagraj
(Dharnendra Dev) of about 6 feet is seen worshipping in front of the idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath.
This "Ajahara Tirth" is known as the "Sankheswar Tirth" of Saurashtra.
Other Temples: At present, there are no other temples.
Works of art and Sculpture: This is a very ancient temple which has been renovated more than
14 times. Hundreds of ancient stepped-wells are present here. While digging the surrounding area
around and near the temple, many relics and stone carvings with inscriptions are found which
proves the antiquity of the temple. Near the temple, there is a cellar from where many idols have
been found. This proves that in the past this was a very prosperous place. The chief idol is bright
and worth seeing. It is made of sand and is plastered with saffron.
Guidelines : Una, the nearest railway station is at a distance of 5 kms. and Delwada is at a
distance of 2.5 kms. from the temple. There are good roads from Una and Delwada. Buses and
cars can easily go up to the temple. Dharamshala and Bhojanshala facilities are available here.
Scripture: A mention of Ajahara Parshvanath is made in "Vividh Tirth Kalpa", in
"Nabhinandanodhar Praband", in "Tirthmala" in "Dharmabyudai", in "Sanghpati Samarsingh Raas",
in "365 Shri Parshva Jin Naammala", in Shri Sankheswar Parshvanath Chandh", in "Shri Bhateva
Parshvanath Stavan", in "108 Naamgarbhit Shri Godi Parshvanath Stavan", in "108 Naam Garbhit
Shri Parshvanath Stavan", in "Shri Parshvanath Sankhya Stavan" etc. In the 17th century, Shri
Samaysundarji had written a Bhaas on Shri Ajahara Parshvanath. There is an idol of Ajahara
Parshvanath in Jiravala Tirth and in Kalikund Parshvanath temple in Santacruz, Mumbai.
Trust: Shri Ajahara Parshanath Panchtirth Jain Karkhana Pedhi, Village: Ajahara, Post: Delwada-
362 510. Taluk: Una, District: Junagadh, Gujarat State, India. Main Pedhi: Una-362 560.
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श्री अजाहरा पार्श्वनाथ
श्री अजहरा पार्श्वनाथ – अजहरा
अयोध्या के सूर्यवंशी राजा की वंश परंपरा में अजयपाल नाम का राजा हुआ, जिसने साकेतपुर नगर को अपनी राजधानी बनाई थी|
एक बार वह राजा शत्रुंजय महातीर्थ की यात्रा के लिए अपने नगर से निकल पड़ा| क्रमश: आगे बढ़ते हुआ वह दीव बन्दर में आया, तभी उसके शरीर में भयंकर व्याधि फ़ैल गई| इस कारण उसे वहीँ पर रुकना पड़ा|
इसी बीच रत्नसार नामक व्यापारी के जहाज समुद्र के तूफ़ान में फंस गए| अपने प्राणों की रक्षा के लिए रत्नसार ने परमात्मा का ध्यान किया| परमात्म-ध्यान की रक्षा के लिए रत्नसार ने परमात्मा का ध्यान किया| परमात्म-ध्यान के प्रभाव से उसे उसी समय दिव्यवाणी सुनाई दी| दिव्य वाणी के संकेतनुसार कल्पवृक्ष के लकड़े के संपूत में रही पार्श्वनाथ प्रभु की प्रतिमा की जानकारी मिली| दैवी संकेत से उसे ख्याल आया की धर्नेंद्र ने इस प्रतिमा की ७ लाख वर्ष तक पूजा की है, कुबेर देव ने ६०० वर्ष तथा वरुणदेव ने ७ लाख वर्ष तक पूजा की है| अधिष्ठात्री पद्मावती देवी ने यह प्रतिमा अजयपाल राजा को सौपने की बात की|
दैवी प्रभाव से रत्नसार ने समुद्र में से वह प्रतिमा प्राप्त की, उसी समय वह समुद्र भी शांत हो गया|
रत्नसार ने अत्यंत ही आडंबर पूर्वक वह प्रतिमा अजयपाल राजा को प्रदान की| राजा ने प्रभुजी का भव्य स्नात्र मोहत्सव किया| उस स्नात्रजल के प्रभाव से राजा की व्याधि एकदम शांत हो गई| अजयपाल राजा ने वहां अजयनगर बसाया| वहां पर भव्य जिनमंदिर बनवाकर उसमे पार्श्वनाथ प्रभु की प्रतिष्ठा की|
प्रभुजी की त्रिकाल-पूजा के प्रभाव से राजा की समृद्धि खूब बढ़ गई| छ मास बाद राजा ने शत्रुंजय महातीर्थ की यात्रा की|
अजय राजा के रोग को हरनेवाले ये पार्श्वनाथ प्रभु अजहरापार्श्वनाथ के नाम से प्रख्यात हुए|
४६ सें. मी. ऊँचे केसरवर्णीय सात फणावाले पद्मासन में सुशूभित ये पार्श्वनाथ प्रभु मन की मलिन वासनाओं को दूर करनेवाले है|
यह अजाहरा तीर्थ जूनागढ़ (सौराष्ट्र) जिले में अजहारा तीर्थ जूनागढ़ (सौराष्ट्र) जिले में अजाहरा गाँव में आया हुआ है|
