Shankheshwar
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Shankheshwar | |
|---|---|
town | |
UTC+5:30 (IST) | |
| PIN | 384246 |
| Telephone code | 912722 |
| Vehicle registration | GJ |
| Website | gujaratindia |
Shankheshwar is a town in the
.History
The village is considered a place of great antiquity. Jain Acharya Merutunga had mentioned this place as Shankhpur in his works. A
According to Mughal history, the Shankheshwar village was a lease-grant by Emperor Shah Jahan to Shantidas Jhaveri, a former nagarsheth (equivalent to mayor) of Ahmedabad.[2]
Shankheshwar Jain Temple
In ancient inscriptions, this Jain tirth is referred to as Shankhapur. It is said that a
The following is a history of the various renovations of the main temple:
- In the year 1155 of the Vikram era (1099 CE), Sajjan Shah built the Shankheshwar temple on the banks of the Rupen river.
- In the year 1286 of the Vikram era (1230 CE), Jain AcharyaVardhamansuri.
- There were 52 deities in the temple. In the year 1302 (1246 CE), the reigning King was awestruck by the incomparable grandeur of the presiding deity and inspired by Jain AcharyaUktasuri, he renovated this temple.
- In the fourteenth century of the Vikram era, the temple was destroyed by Musliminvaders.
- In the sixteenth century of the Vikram era, under the inspiration of Jain Acharya Vijaysensurisvarji, a splendid new temple was built with 52 deities.
- In the year 1760 of the Vikram era (1704 CE), the Jain Sanghabuilt the new temple and reinstalled the presiding deity. Since then, this vast and beautiful temple has stood there in this present form.
Apart from the original sanctum-sanctorum, this temple has an open square, a decorated square, a vast square and two assembly halls. Numerous miracles are associated with this temple and the presiding deity of Lord Parshwanath, represented by a six feet high statue in the Padmasana (lotus) position.
The sanctum of the presiding deity is flanked by a smaller sanctum with Lord Bhidbhanjan
Other Jain temples
Besides this temple there are several other impressive Jain temples - the Agam Mandir,[3] the modern sprawling complex of 108 Parshvanath and Padmavati [108 Parshwanath Bhaktivihar Tirth], Shree Rajendrasuri Navkar Mandir, Kalapurnam Smriti Mandir, the Gurumandir, are important.
Shruth tirth[4] is located two kilometer southerly to Sankeshwar on Sankheswar-Viramgam Highway.
Further four kilometer south, there is Pavapuri Jalmandir at Ratanpura. The main Pawapuri tirth, the place where Lord Mahavira attained salvation is in the state of Bihar.[5]
Thus Shankeshwar tirth ranks next only to those on Mount Shatrunjaya in Palitana, (Gujarat) in terms of importance to the Jaina.
Fair
A fair is held here on the full moon days of the
Transportation
The nearest railway stations are Harij (25]] km) and Viramgam (62 km). Bus services and private vehicles are also available. Boarding and lodging facilities are available at Jain hostels (dharam sala) in Shankheshwar. Nearest airport is Ahmedabad.
References
- ^ James Burgess (1876). Report on the Antiquities of Kutch & Kathiawar: Being the Result of the Second Season's Operations of the Archaeological Survey of Western India, 1874-1875. London: India Museum. p. 217. Retrieved 27 August 2016. Alt URL
- ^ Gujarat (India) (1975). Gazetteers: Mehsana. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications. p. 828.
- ^ "Shri Agam Mandir Teerth in India".
- ^ "Home". pravachanshruttirth.org.
- ^ "Home". pawapuritirth.org.
1.History of Shankheshwar [1]
2.Shankheshwar Parswanath Shankheshwara Solanki Jinalaya Bagol [2]