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

Page 163

The Tirthas of Pārsvanátha in Gujarat
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created. It is said in the hymn of Municandra that the local ruler Durjanaśalya (13th century) was cured of leucoderma by bathing in the lustral water of the Jina. Even today the lustral water of this Jina here is believed among the Jainas to be restoring the skin pigment. The original temple was, to all seeming, destroyed during the Muslim occupation of Gujarat some time early in the 14th century. On its site was built another temple, now in brick, in early 17th century in Mughal times. This, too, seems to have been desecrated and damaged in the time plausibly of Aurangzeb. The present shrine, situated at a different location in the village, is the result of construction late in the British period.
Anabillapāțaka, Pañcāsara - Pārsvanātha
The image had been brought from an old shrine in his ancestral town Pañcāsara by Vanarāja, the progenitor of the Căpotkața dynasty, and set up in late ninth century in a temple - Vanarāja-vihāra — an abbey-temple founded by him in his new capital, Anahillapāțaka or Anhillapattana, present-day Pāțan in north Gujarat. The temple and the ancient image of course have not survived since almost the entire old Pāțaņ was completely devastated by the Muslim invasion and occupation of Gujarat in c. A.D. 1304. Even the ancient site of the temple has been forgotten, though it could not be far from the present new structure. The image of Pārsvanātha of Pañcăsara, though famous becuase it was ancient, perhaps of sixth or seventh century, was not reputed for performing miracles. A few late stavanas and a number of notices on this temple, however, are known from the pilgrim psalms in late MaruGurjara-bhāṣā and in Gujarātī.
Cārupa - Pārsvanātha The temple's image was believed to be ancient. A hymn by Ratnasekhara Sūri of Tapā-gaccha (2nd quarter of the 15th century) sang the glory of the tīrtha. The tirtha exists but does not enjoy the importance it did in the medieval period.
Ajābarā - Pārsvanātha The foundation of the Ajāharā Pārsvanātha near Unā seemingly was of the time as early as the eighth century. It was in all probability destroyed when Mahmud of Gaznā, after devastating Unnatapura (Unā) was proceeding to Prabhāsa for the destruction of the temple of Somanātha in late weeks of December 1025. The original temple may have been built by the adherents of the Nirgrantha-Yapaniya sect who had settled for some time in Saurastra. The shrine was perhaps rebuilt in