Shri Navkhanda Parshvnath (Shri Bhuvan Parshvnath) Jain Derasar, Lambi Oty, Khambhat, District - Anand (Gujarat)

Shwetamber Jain Temple in Khambhat, Anand Shree NavKhanda Parshwanath BhoiraPado, Khambhat also known as Shri Bhuvan Parshawnath The summitted Jain temple of Shree NavKhanda Parshwanath is located at the end of the BhoiraPada. Shreeyut Girdharlal Hirabhai has given a list of all temples in Khambhat in the preface of JayTihuan Stotra (જયતિહુઅણ સ્તોત્ર) composed in Vikram Samvat 1947. In this list, they have mentioned Shree NavKhanda Parshwanath as Shree Bhuvan Parshwanath. In Vikram Samvat 1673, poet Shree Rushabhdas composed Trambavati Tirthmala. In there, Bhoira Pada is referred to as Bhuira Poli. In those times there were 3 Jain temples in this area. In these temples, Shree Sammal Parshwanath temple is described in the below lines of the poem: ભુઈરા કેરી પોલિ ભરેલી..... ......................................... ખૂંણઈ દેહરું જગવિખ્યાત બઈઠાં સાંમલ પારસનાથ પંનર બ્યંબ તસ સાથિ , હો || 9 || There is an article inscribed on the right wall of the praying hall. In this article, this temple is said to be ancient and made of wood. The article is as below: “સંવત 1637 વર્ષે માધ વદી પાંચમી શની સ્તંભતીર્થે શ્રી ભોંયરિંગપાંડે શ્રી પાર્શ્વનાથ મંદિરે શ્રી સંઘેન શ્રી અજિતનાથ બિંબ કારાપિતા બૃહદ તપાગચ્છે ભટ્ટારક શ્રી હિરવિજય સૂરિભિ પ્રતિષ્ઠિતમ” During the Vikram Samvat 1637 year, Shree HirVijaySuriji was in Khambhat. This is verified from Surishwar and Samrat book page 28. In Vikram Samvat 1637, HirSuriji came to Borsad. Due to his arrival, many events were celebrated here. He did his Chaturmas in Borsad for this year. Sanghvi Udaykaran, a resident of Borsad also had installed an idol of Shree ChandraPrabha Swami by his hands on Maha Sud 13th day of Vikram Samvat 1638. In the praying hall of this temple, there are shrines in the right wall with marble idols of Acharya Shree VigyanSuri, Shree Gautam Swmai and Acharya Shree NemiSuriji. These idols were installed in Vikram Samvat 2027. The installation date and time was mentioned by Acharya Shree VijayanandSuriji. The installation was done in the presence of him, Acharay Shree VijayKasturSuriji Maharaj, Shree Vijay YashoBhadraSuriji Maharaj and Shree DevSuriji Maharaj along with other monks. This temple which is made of marble has beautifully carved pillars in the main praying hall. These carvings have been covered in glass boxes. In the dome of the main praying hall has wooden carvings of various Tirthankars. The praying hall has SiddhaChakra Yantra and Shetrunjay on one side and Girnarji and Ashtapad tirth on other side. Two planks are carved in stone and two are drawn on the wall. There is also a very nice wall art of Sammet Shikharji. Currently, the inner sanctum has 13 idols made of marble / stone. As per the temple’s trustee, the idol of Shree Navkhanda Parshwanath is very old. The idol of Shree Ajitnath which is installed next to the presiding deity had an inscription which cannot be read today. However, during the re-installation of this idol, it was lifted, and this article was read at that time. It was dated around Vikram Samvat 1300. This needs further research. Continuing further, the trustee also said that this idol of Shree NavKhanda Parshwanath was destroyed in 9 pieces. Someone had dreamt that the idol could be re-installed only by the hands of a pious Sheth. It was then decided to do as dreamt, and the nine pieces were joined as a miracle. The picture of the original idol which shows the joints is still there with the Trustee, which was shown. Thereafter the idol was covered in a black protective compound layer. Earlier, while worshipping the idol it used to move. After covering it in the black protective compound layer it is now firm at its place. Assistance of Sheths from Ahmedabad was taken to complete this work of covering the idol with a layer. About 27 years ago, this black protective layer was applied again. Today, this black stone idol is covered in this black protective layer and hence one cannot see the joints. There was one more renovation work done between Vikram Samvat 2048 and 2051. In short, the famous temple of Shree NavKhanda Parshwanath is present from before Vikram Samvat 1637. This ascertaining of the date is done based on the article written on the wall which dates to Vikram Samvat 1673. There is more research work needed on this. However, we are assured that this temple must have existed before Vikram Samvat 1637. This temple was also known as Shree Sammal Parshwanath around Vikram Samvat 1637. And this same temple is now famous as Shree NavKhanda Parshwanath. This temple is also referenced in the Khambhaiti Tirthmala written by MatiSagar in Vikram Samvat 1701 as the temple in BhoiraPada. The lines from this Tirthmala is as below: ભુંઅરઈ પાડઈ શાંતિ મૂરતિ બાવન જિન શુ ગાજએ છસઈ બત્રીસ શાંતિનાથિ સાતસઈ એકવીસ સાંમલઈ The list of temples in BhoiraPada created in Vikram Samvat 1900 has this temple referenced as Number 69. Shree Sammal Parshwanath, with its original name as Bhavad Parshwanath. In the JayTihuan Stotra book written in Vikram Samvat 1947, its preface has the reference of this temple in BhoiraPada in Serial Number 64 enlisted as below: ભોંયરાપાડો 64. નવખંડા પાર્શ્વનાથ અથવા ભુવન પાર્શ્વનાથ 65. ચંદ્રપ્રભુ સ્વામી In the Jain Shwetambar Directory created in Vikram Samvat 1963, the temple of Shamala Parshwanath of BhoiraPada has been referenced as a terraced building. At that time 11 idols made of marble existed in this temple and that the building status of this temple was good. A footprint is also mentioned to be installed in this temple. In the History of Khambhat and Chaitya Paripaati created in Vikram Samvat 1984, this temple has been referred to as Shree NavKhanda Parshwanath. In this year, the number of marble idols in the temple was recorded as 11. Page 49 of this book has the reference as below: ...... આગળ જતાં ખૂણામાં નવખંડા પાર્શ્વનાથનું દેહરું આવે છે. સુઘડતા પ્રશંસનીય છે. બિંબ મનોહર છે. વ્યવસ્થા લાખાભાઈ અમીચંદ હસ્તક છે. In the Jain Tirth Sangrah written in Vikram Samvat 2010, this temple has been referenced as a terraced building. 11 marble idols were mentioned to be present in this temple. It also says that the building was in good state. The temple was being managed by Sheth Bhailal Nemchand. Today this temple is managed by Shree Champaklal Bhailal Kapadia (Shah). They stay in CholaVada. There is a compound when you enter the main gate. The length of the temple is bigger than its width. Upon entering the temple, once can see the pleasant black idol of Shree NavKhanda Parshwanath with a Parkiar depicting AshtaPratiharya. The temple has two praying halls. There is another article which was found in Vikram Samvat 2027 while doing the re-installation of the idols. Based on this information, we can confirm that the idol of Shree Ajitnathji was found in BorPipala area and all the idols including that of Shree Ajitnath, except for the presiding deity was installed on Thursday, Vaishakh Sud 11th day of Vikram Samvat 2027. Words of Praise: ગુણરત્નરોહણ ભુવન મોહન ભુવન પારસનાથજી, તુજ મૂરતિના મલકાટથી મોહી રહ્યા સુરનાથજી, મને મુક્તિ પગથારે ચઢાવો નાથ પકડી હાથજી, શ્રી ભુવન પ્રભુ પાર્શ્વને ભાવે કરું હું વંદના Mantra for Chanting: ૐ હ્રીં અર્હં શ્રી ભુવન પાર્શ્વનાથાય નમ: Address: Shree Bhuvan (NavKhanda) Parshwanath Shwetambar Jain Tirth, Bhoira Pado, P O Khambhat, District Anand, Gujarat 388 620 Phone: 02698 220 117