History of Jainism

SR No.: 006741
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: U K Sharma
Publisher: D K Print World
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 304
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 10 MB

Page 262

240
History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā Jaina Gali, Mathurā; (10) Śrī 1008 Jambūsvāmi Digambara Jaina Siddhakşetra temple, Chaurasi, Mathură. 33
The principal Jaina temple in Mathurā stands in the Keshopur locality. 34 The site is called Chaurasi, 35 and the temple is also popularly called Chaurasi.36 The site where this Jaina temple stands is called Sri 1008 Jambūsvāmī Digambara Jaina Siddhaksetra, Chaurasi by the Jainas.37 F.S. Growse felt that this site is called Chaurasi for some unexplained reasons.38 But the Jainas hold that it was at this site that Jambūsvāmī attained nirvana at the age of eighty-four years and it was probably due to this happening that this site came to be known as Chaurasi.39
The Jaina temple at Chaurasi, Mathurā was built by Mani Ram,40 sometimes in the nineteenth century. 41 Mani Ram enshrined in it an image of tīrthařkara Candraprabha. 42 Sometime about the middle of the nineteenth century,43 Mani Ram's grandson Seth Raghunath Das,44 brought a large marble statue of tīrthařkara Ajitanātha from Gwalior. 45 It is the aforesaid image of Ajitanātha which occupies the pride of place in the Jaina temple at Chaurasi, Mathurā. 46 It is said that Jambūsvāmi practised penance at this
33. Introductory Booklet, pp. 1-6. 34. MDM, p. 12; DGM, 1911, p. 82. 35. Ibid., p. 13; ibid., p. 83; Introductory Booklet, p. 1. 36. Ibid., p. 13; ibid., p. 83. 37. Introductory Booklet, p. 1. 38. MDM, p. 13. 39. Introductory Booklet, p. 1. 40. MDM, p. 13; DGM, 1911, p. 83; Introductory Booklet, pp. 1-2. 41. Ibid., pp. 12-13; ibid., pp. 82-3. 42. Ibid., p. 13; ibid., p. 82. 43. DGM, 1911, p. 82 44. MDM, p. 14. 45. Ibid., p. 13; DGM, 1911, p. 82; Introductory Booklet, pp. 2-3. 46. Ibid.; ibid. ; ibid., p. 3.