Sri Bhodesar jain temple, Tharparkar

Address

Sri Bhodesar jain temple Bodhisar Temple 3 Nagarparkar, Tharparkar district, Sindh, Pakistan

Diety

Bhodesar

Introduction

Bhodesar is situated north-west of Nagarparkar beneath the Karoonjhar Hills. The place was formerly known as Bhodesar Nagri and is said to be a prosperous and affluent city of those days, The foundation of Bhodesar is supposed in 515 CE. Nearby the mosque the ruined Jain temple is located. The temple is built on a high platform and reached by a series of steps carved into the rock. Huge stone slabs constitute grand columns carved with objects of Jain worship. The building is in a dilapidated condition, The remaining walls are instable and partially collapsed, the formerly installed idols vanished long time ago and some parts of the building had been dismantled brick by brick by the locals who used the bricks to construct and repair their homes. There are two other Jain temples in Bhodesar supposed to have been built in 1375 CE and 1449 CE built of kanjur and redstone, finely carved and adorned with corbelled domes. The date of construction of the ruined Jain temple is controversial. According to some local traditions the temple was founded in the 9th century CE but a more likely date is the the 14th or 15th century CE. The city of Bhodesar was once inhabited by Sodhas and Khosas, who were dreaded bandits and the people of the country were scared of them.