Shankheshwar Jain Temple, Gujarat

Address

Ahmedabad,

Gujarat 380004

Moolavar

Introduction

The Shankheshwar Jain Temple is located in the center of Shankheshwar town of Patan district, Gujarat, India. The temple is dedicated to Parshwanath and is an important place of pilgrimage for the followers of Jainism.

Puranic Significance

In ancient scriptures, this Tirtha is referred to as Shankhapur. The story is that Ashadhi Shravak became depressed, and began to ask questions about nirvana, liberation, and salvation. Answering all these questions, Damodar Swami, the ninth Tirthankar, said “Parshvanath will be the twenty-third Tirthankar in the Avasarpinikala (the descending half of the wheel of time). You will be his Ganadhar (prime disciple) named Aryaghosha and attain salvation there”. Shravak then became fully absorbed in praying to Bhagawan Parshvanath and worshipping his idol, which went on to be worshipped in the worlds of gods, demons, and on earth.

In the year 1155 VS (1098 CE), Sajjan Shah built the Shankheshwar Parshwanath Jain Temple on the banks of the Rupen river. In Vikram Samvat 1286 (1229 CE), Vastupala—Tejpal renovated this temple under the instructions of Vardhamansuri. There were 52 idols in the temple. In VS 1760 (1703 CE), the sangha built the new temple and got the idol reinstalled. Besides the original sanctuary, the temple has an open square, a decorated square, a vast square and two assembly halls. The current temple was built in 1811.

Special Features

The Mulnayak, the main idol, nearly 182 centimeters (72 in) high, is a white-colored idol of Parshvanatha in the Padmasana posture. In the Shvetambara tradition, idols tend to derive their name from a geographical region; the Shankheshwar Parshvanatha is one of 108 prominent idols of Parshvanath idols. There are dozens of replica temples and icons of Shankheshwar Parshvanatha. The idol of Bhidbhanjan Parshvanath is in a small temple to the right of the main idol, and the idol of Ajitnatha is in a small temple to the left of the main idol.

Shankheshwar is considered one of the most important Jain tīrtha. Shankheshwar Parshvanath Stavan, a hymn dedicated to Shankheshwar Parshvanath, is one of the most performed Jain prayers. At present, the temple complex is under renovation. The doors of the small temples on the passage for going around the temple are being enlarged, and the height of their summits will be raised.