Arhat Parshva and Dharnendra Nexus

SR No.: 002108
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M A Dhaky
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 204
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Book_English, Articles, History, Art, E000, & E001
File Size: 8 MB

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Arhat Pārsva and Dharanendra Nexus
followed several similar compositions, in Sanskrit as well as Prāksta, which sing the glory of the image of that tīrtha. Among these the earliest was by Vardhamāna Sūri - disciple of Abhayadeva Sūri — followed by other brilliant compositions till the 15th century. From these, the beginning of a stuti by Nayacandra of BỊhad-gaccha, dated S. 1257/A.D. 1201, is cited below:
सेढीतटस्तम्भनकप्रतिष्ठः श्री पार्श्वनाथः सुगुणैर्गरिष्ठः । पायादपायादलिनीलकायः सिद्धयङ्गनासङ्घटनाभ्युपायः ॥१॥
The glorificatory myths of the early and late medieval epochs speak in most glowing terms the merits that can be accrued by visiting (and worshipping) the Lord Jina Pārśva in the Stambhana shrine. By about A.D. 1232, minister Vastupāla had founded the "avatāra-tīrtha" - shrine incarnate — of Stambhana Pārsvanātha on the Satruñjayagiri as well as Ujjayantagiri.
The image of the Jina had been transferred, in early years of the 14th century, from Stambhana to Stambhatīrtha (Khambhāt) for ensuring its safety; but it could not have survived the Muslim conquest and subsequent occupation of Gujarat when, by A.D. 1325, all Brahmanical and Jaina temples in Khambhāt - which indeed existed in very large number — had been completely destroyed. A shrine of Stambhana Pārsvanātha today does exist in Khambhāt, but is a building of a very late date, of late British period, the old glory of the tirtha has by now been considerably dimmed.
Sankbapura - Pārsvanātha
The image had turned up in the present village of Sankheśvara at the fag end of the 11th century. One Sajjana built a temple for it in S. 1155/A.D. 1099. Minister Vastupāla had renovated or rebuilt in marble (or made additions to the temple early in the second quarter of the 13th century; he also founded its avatāra-shrine on the holy hills of Satruñjaya. Many pilgrim congregations had visited the shrine in the past and even today its fame is fairly considerable. A few hymns due to the Lord Pārsva of Sankhapura are known, that by Municandra Sūri of an unknown gaccha and probably of c. mid-13th century, which is of historical importance, is appended at the end. This tirtha of Pārsvanātha has been noticed also in several other hymnic compositions by authors of the centuries between the 13th and 15th; and Upadhyāya Yaśovijaya, in the 17th century, had sung the glory of the lord in dazzling phrases. The mythical literature commensurate with the glory of the tirtha was also duly