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Development & Impact of Jainism in India & Abroad
Venerable (pujya ) Shri Atamaramji Mharaj interpreted it as " after 23 years of nirvana of Shri Mahavirswami, a jain gentleman (shravak) by name Devchand had constructed Parshvanath Jain Temlple at Bhadreshvar. It has been interpreted as per legendary talk. And if anyone gives me tne proper meaning of it I will be happy".18 Bhadravatinagarinis more ancient than Mahabharat time. It was the capital of king Yuvanashav. But no reliable evidences have been found to support it. So in the year v.s.23 the idol of Shri Parshavnath was installed as the main idol (mulnayak ). Kanak Chavda of Patan ruled over this area in the year v.s.618.There after it was the regime of Solanki dynasty, and they were the followers of jain religion. During the invasion by Mohamad Gazani for protection they had taken asylum ( shelter ) in the Kanthkot district.
There had been many ups and down (falls and rise) of this Bhadreshvar tirth.Sometimes by natural calamity and sometimes by human terror it had faced demolition. And on the other side by the efforts of Munishri Khantvijayji and other such ascetic saints and donors like Seth Jagadushah, it was reestablished from time to time. According to a Gujarati stone incarnation,it was renovated during the period v.s.1939-1950.The office was named as "Vardhman Kalyanji ". It was also decided to hold annual fair on every 8th day of bright half of the month of Fagan ( Fagan sud asatmi ).In his book "Pranstormala " munisri Hansavijayji states since v.s. 1934 the fair is held on Fagan sud panchmi. This change in the date has been incorporated after the personal visit to the place. 19
On the base of the seat of the idol, there is an inscription in a script, which is similar to modern script. It reads as "sa 622 na varshe ". A symbol of Lion is found at its centre. And Shri Ratilalbhai Deasi very specifically and clearly state that "It is not with trunk of elephant or a of a lion with wings, but it is similar to the one in sitting posture".20
In the cella (garbhgrih) on a marble umbrella which is above the pabasan of the main idol,an inscription reads as "Shri Ghelabhai and Sha Ganasibhai of Navavas has built this". A stone incarnation of 41 lines in Sanskrit gives in brief the information from about 2500 years back to 100 years back v.s.1934 -1939. 21
On getting the inspiration from the discourse by Yati Shri Sumatisagarji and Yati Shree Vinaysagarji, both of Achalgachh, a native of Mandavi and widow of Late Sethshri Mensi Tejasi, Smt.Mithibai had renovated this temple in the year v.s.1934 -1939. She had spent 50,000 Koris ( currency of that time ).In the same way during the period v.s.1901 - 1917,inspired by devotion towards Yati Shri Khantivijayji of Mandvi,Mhaharoshri Deshalji, with the dedicated efforts of the others,the jain sangh (community), renovated the temple.And after the death of Deshaljibawa, Maharao Pragmalji also took keen interest in this work.22
On the dark Friday on 26th January, 2001 A.D. i.e on Maha sud 2, v.s.2057, the devasting earthquake demolished the temple and it rendered it unre refaorable. So, under the guidance of Pujya Acarya Shri Vijaykalapurnasuriji, the jain sangh (community) rebuilt the temple. By the firsthand visit it was noticed that the whole temple had not crumbled and the idols were not damaged. The original idols were not damaged. The idol of mulnayak Samalliyaji Parshavnath,which was installed by Kapil Kevali in the year v.s.23, has been installed on the lefthand side of middletemple.
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