Jain Pilgrimage

SR No.: 006600
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Lalitprabhsagar
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 158
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 23 MB

Page 95

Principal deity Tirthankar SHREE AJITNATH
In the pious land of Gujarat an unpre-cedented coordination of devotion and art has taken place. Taaranga pilgrimage is a living evidence of this. On arriving at this pilgrimage situated in the lap of the mountains far from the madding crowd of the city-life in the calm and quiet environment, the traveller not only feels self-peace, but he also becomes wonder-struck on viewing the art of the temple. Standing outside the temple if one sees around then the rare beauty of the mountains can be viewed. And, if one enters the temple, then the divine image of the Lord seems to speak out.
In the Jain scriptures several names of Taaranga are found viz. 'Taarur', 'Taarawar', 'Taarangiri' etc. Mention has been made in the informative book on Kumarpal written by Acharya Shree Somprabh Suri in Samvat 1241 that, inspired by Bapputacharya, King Vatsraya got the temple of Shree Siddhayika Devi built here. It is learnt from available references that king Kumarpal also got a Jinalaya' built here in Samvat 1212.
It is learnt from the stone-scriptures found in the pilgrimage that in 1284 'Sanghpati' (President of the Jain organisation) Vastupal got installed two idols of Lord Aadinath. Although none of those two idols are available today in the pilgrimage campus, the seats of both the idols mentioned in the stone scripture are present in the temple even today. Reference is available of the restoration of this pilgrimage in Samvat 1479 by Shree Govind Shreshthi of Idar. The last repair of the pilgrimage had been done under the inspiration of Acharya Shree Vijay Sen Suri. Besides this, several other persons also got niches and cells and images built in this temple. The main temple is 142 feet high, 150 feet long and 100 feet wide. The vastness of the hall is also worth viewing. The white coloured image of Tirthankar Shree Ajitnath in the lotus posture adorns the temple. This 2.75 metre high ancient image even today scatters its brilliant halo.
On the southern side of the main temple is the Koti Shila'. Many a sage had attained salvation by practising self-penance here. Besides the main temple there are 4 Shwetambar temples and 5 Digambar temples. Nearly one kilometer away is the 'Mokshabari Toonk' where the image of Tirthankar Shree Ajitnath is installed. There is the magnificent pedestal of the Lord erected in Samvat 1255.
TM
The front portion of the temple
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