Jain Heritage and Beyond

Author(s): Shailesh Shah
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK

Page 71

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hday Alingrama Arziliegend new एसोसिएसन ओठ सुकेका
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One day Manek Shah went for a pilgrimage trip from UjjanNagri to Shatrunjay. At the border of Gujarat some thieves had attacked him so badly that he died there. But just before his last breath, he took Attham-Tap Pachchakhan. By his great devotion to Shri Adinath Bhagwan's teerth and Attham-Tap Pachchakhan at the time of his death, Manibhadra went to Dev Gati and became Shashan-devta. Due to this he is known to be the protector of the Jain-community and helping the devotees to fulfil their desires.. The idol of Manibhadra Dev is normally located in the outside part of the temple. This is because when the thieves had killed him, his body had been slashed off into three parts which had fallen into three different locations. Till today, devotees pray at these main three locations. Besides these locations, the idols of Manibhadra-Veer Dada are installed during Pratishtha of temples.
२०६१ स
Manibhadra -Veer Dada
Manibhadra's primary name was Manek Shah and he resided in a town called Ujjan Nagri. He was a great personality who was devoted to the Jain religion and doctrines. He had enormous wealth and was also very fond of thirty-six musical instruments. Later, Acharya Hem Vimal Suri named him as Kshetrapal because of his tremendous devotion.
The earlier scriptures like the Sthanagansutra, Uttradhyayansutra, Bhagwatisutra, Tattvarthsutra, Antagadasasaosutra, and Paumacariya have frequent references to the Yaksha. Their reference as Shashan-devtas in the Harivamsapurana (783 A.D.) made the beginning of this concept. Among all the yakshas, Manibhadra and Purnabadra Yakshas have been the most favoured ones. Manibhadra of Northern horde and Purnabadra of Southern horde are mentioned as chief semi-gods. Bahuputrika (having many sons) is named as one of the queen of Manibhadra.
Shri Manibhadra-Veer is worshipped by Indian masses from very old times and his introduction in Jain worship is only a later adaptation. It is an image of six-armed yaksha. The carrier of Manibhadra Dev is Airavat, the white elephant. His face on statues is sometimes depicted as an elephant, and sometimes as Varah. His idols are shown with four arms, and sometimes we also see him with six arms.
There is an idol of Manibhadra Dev in Magarvada (Gujarat) where large numbers of devotees go to get their desires fulfilled. He is known to perform miracles. It is believed that one gets wealth and protection from evil spirits by worshipping him. He likes the sound of temple bells. Manibhadra Dev is highly respected among the Tapagachha sect of Swetambar Jains. Those who want name and fame in the society specially worship him on Ashtami, Chaudas, and Diwali.