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{{short description|Śvetāmbara Jain temple in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Shri Godiji Parshwanath, Mumbai
| native_name = {{ubl
|{{native name|hi|श्री गोडीजी पार्श्वनाथ|italics=no}}
|Śrī Godījī Pārshwanāth
}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Jainism]]
| image = File:Godiji temple.jpg
| image_size = 270
| caption = Shri Godiji Parshwanth temple, [[Mumbai]]
| map_type = India Maharashtra
| map_size = 250
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|18|58|30|N|72|49|33|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| location = [[Pydhonie]], [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| elevation_m =
| elevation_footnotes =
| deity = [[Parsvanath]]
| sect = [[Śvetāmbara]]
| festivals = Posh Dashmi (Parshvanath Birth occasion), [[Mahavir Jayanti]], Paryushan, Diwali, Maun Ekadashi
| temple_quantity = 1
| established = 1812
| website =
}}
'''Godiji Parshwanath''' ({{langx|hi|श्री गोडीजी पार्श्वनाथ}}) is the name given to several images of the [[Tirthankar]]a [[Parshva]]nantha in [[India]], and to the temple where it is the main deity (mulanayaka). Parshwanath was the 23rd Tirthankara who attained nirvana in 777 BCE. All these images and temples belong to the [[Śvetāmbara]] sect of [[Jainism]].

The original image, about {{convert|1.5|ft}} high, was at Gori in [[Tharparkar]] district of [[Pakistan]]. The original temple still stands, but is empty.<ref>Gori jo Mandar: Desert rose, By Aakash Santorai, Published: 2 February 2011, Express Tribune Pakistan, http://tribune.com.pk/story/109991/gori-jo-mandar-desert-rose/</ref> It is in village of Gori between Islamkot and [[Nagarparkar]].
Other Godiji temple is located in small village named Kosana in the Jodhpur District Rajasthan donated by the Nagarseth Sri Hastimal Ji Nahar.<ref>As Mumbai Jain temple wraps up celebrations, silence shrouds its predecessor in Pakistan, Yashwant K. Malaiya, 18 May 2012 http://tribune.com.pk/story/380436/as-mumbai-jain-temple-wraps-up-celebrations-silence-shrouds-its-predecessor-in-pakistan/</ref>

==Godiji Parshwanth Temple in Mumbai==
{{Multi image
| align = left
| image1 = godiji.jpg
| caption1 = Godiji Parshvanath idol
| width1 = 125
| image2 = Godiji - Interior - main hall.jpg
| caption2 = Intricate carving inside the temple
}}

Among the images that bear the name Godiji Parshwanth, the best known is Godiji Parshvanath in the Pydhonie locality of Mumbai.<ref>On seventh heaven in Pydhonie, Times Of India, 21 Jun 2003, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/On-seventh-heaven-in-Pydhonie/articleshow/34209.cms</ref>

Seth Amichand of Khambhat settled in Mumbai and constructed a [[house temple|griha jinalaya]].<ref>श्री गोड़ीजी तीर्थ, मुनि विमलसागरजी महाराज, 2012, Shatabdi Gaurav Hindi Fortnightly, http://www.shatabdigaurav.com/t_godiji_parshwanath.html {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120913114006/http://www.shatabdigaurav.com/t_godiji_parshwanath.html |date=2012-09-13 }}</ref> The temple was moved in 1803 to Pydhonie locality because of a fire.

Its 200th anniversary was celebrated on 15 April – 12 May 2012.<ref>Grand celebrations on cards as Jain temple completes 200 yrs, 24 Mar 2012, Daily News and Analysis, http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_grand-celebrations-on-cards-as-jain-temple-completes-200-yrs_1666662</ref> A stamp commemorating this celebration was released by Milind Deora, the then Minister of State for Communications and IT, on 17 April 2012. A four volume directory of ancient manuscripts was also released.<ref>ગોડીજી ગૌરવ પર્વના જ્ઞાનમહોત્સવમાં થયો જ્ઞાનધર્મનો જયજયકાર, 22 April 2012, Gujarati Midday, http://www.gujaratimidday.com/mumbai-local/mumbai-local/godaji-jinalaya-10 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329004449/http://www.gujaratimidday.com/mumbai-local/mumbai-local/godaji-jinalaya-10 |date=29 March 2014 }}</ref> The temple organised a [[community feast]] for 800,000 individuals. Sweets accompanying an invitation were sent to over 1,34,000 families, and every Jain temple in Mumbai was invited to mark the grand celebration.<ref>Mega celebrations mark Jain temple bi-centenary, Quaid Najmi, 15 April 2012, http://twocircles.net/2012apr15/mega_celebrations_mark_jain_temple_bicentenary.html</ref>

==The original Gori Temple in [[Tharparkar]]==
{{Main|Gori Temple, Nagarparkar}}

{{multiple image
| image1 = Gori Mandar.jpg
| caption1 = The [[Gori Temple, Nagarparkar|original Gori Temple]] with 52 domes, [[Nagarparkar]]
| image2 = Symbolic & Historical Artwork in Goddi Temple.JPG
| caption2 = Painted ceiling representing Jain mythology
}}

For several centuries, the temple at Goripur was a celebrated Jain [[Tirtha (Jainism)|tirtha]]. It forms part of the collection of worship sites that comprise the [[Nagarparkar Temples]]. An account of its building is contained in "Gaudi Parshvanath Stavan" by Pritivimala, composed in Samvat 1650 and "Shri Gaudi Parshvanath Stavan" written by Nemavijaya in Samvat 1807.<ref>Bhanvarlal Nahta, Shri Gaudi Parchvanath Tirth, Muni Jinavijaya Abhinandan Granth, Ed. Dalsukh Malvania, Jinavijayaji Samman Samiti, Jaipur, 1971, p. 263-275</ref>

According to Muni Darshanvijaya,<ref>Jain Paramparano Itihas, Munishi Darshanvijaya, Jnanavijaya, Nyayavijaya, Charitra Smarak Granthamala, Ahmedabad, 1960, p. 739-743</ref> it was installed by Seth Godidas of Jhinjhuvad and was consecrated by Acharya [[Hemachandra]] at [[Patan, Gujarat|Patan]] in Samvat 1228. It was brought to Patan and was buried underground for safekeeping during a period of disturbance. It was rediscovered in 1375–76 and was stored in the stable of the local ruler.

According to the old texts, a merchant Megha Sa from [[Nagarparkar]] acquired the image by paying 125 dramma or 500 pieces (taka) and brought to Nagarparkar, where it was formally reconsecrated by Acharya Merutunga Suri of [[Anchala]] [[Gachchha]]. Later, according to instructions he received in a dream, he settled a new town at Godipur and constructed a temple in samvat 1444, thus establishing the Godi Parshvanth Tirth. The construction was supervised by an architect from [[Sirohi]]. The shikhar of the temple was completed by his son Mahio.

The tirth became famous and was visited by the Jains from afar.

It was visited by Stanley Napier Raikes in 1854.<ref>Stanley Napier Raikes, Memoir on the Thurr and Parkur districts of Sind, Education Society's Press, Byculla, 1859. p. 83, Appendix B,</ref> Raikes met local Jains to compile recent history and consulted a Jain Yati Goorjee Kuntvujajee at Bodhesar, who had manuscripts describing the history of the temple.

In 1716, the local chief Soda Sutojee moved the image from the temple to a fort. The image used to be buried underground at a secret location for safekeeping, and used to be taken out time to time with great celebration. Raikes write that thousands of monks and hundreds of thousands of ordinary people assembled for the fairs held in 1764, 1788, 1796, 1810, 1822 and 1824 for the idol's exhibition.<ref>Footloose: The lost idol of Gorecha —Salman Rashid, Daily Times, Pakistan, 27 June 2008, http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C06%5C27%5Cstory_27-6-2008_pg3_5</ref> In AD 1832, the chief Soda Poonjajee, who was the only person who knew the location of the image, was captured by the ex-Ameers and died in captivity. The image was never seen again.

The temple was later damaged in the battle between Colonel Tyrwhitt and a local Sodha chief, who had taken shelter at the temple.

The temple was inspected the Archaeological Survey of India in 1879.<ref>Reports regarding the archaeological remains in Kurrachee, Hyderabad, and Shikárpur collectorates, in Sindh, with plans of tombs, Volume 8 of Archæological Survey of Western India, Archaeological Survey of India, Govt. Central Press, 1879, p. 29</ref> The report refers to it having been built in Samvat 1432.<ref>Essai de bibliographie Jaina: répertoire analytique et méthodique des relatifs au Jainisme, By Armand Albert Guérinot, E. Leroux, 1906</ref> An inscription of 1715 was noted mentioning repairs made.<ref>Revised lists of antiquarian remains in the Bombay Presidency: Government central press, 1897, James Burgess, Henry Cousens, p. 222</ref>

Jain Muni Vidyavijayaji visited Sindh in 1937.<ref>Mari Sindhyatra, Muni Vidyavijayaji, Shri Vijayavardhamanasuri Jain Granthmala, v. 53, 1943 AD, p. 13-15</ref> He notes that the temple was empty, and had decayed. A local Bhil served as a guard. At that time there were still many Jain families in towns near Nagarparkar. During India's partition in 1947, the Jains left and the temple became inaccessible to the Jain community.

'''Gori Temple Architecture''': The Gori temple was constructed in the classical medieval style. The main structure (mula prasad) with a shikhara is surrounded by 52 subsidiary shrines (devakulikas), just like the [[Dilwara Temples#Vimal Vasahi Temple|Vimala Vasahi]] at [[Mt. Abu]]. It is termed Dvi-Saptati or Bavan Jinalaya by Nandalal Chunilal [[Somapura]] in the Sanskrit text Jina Prasad-Martanda.<ref>Shilpacharya Nandalal Chunilal Somapura, JinaPrasad-Martanda, Dakshkumar Nandalal Somapura, Palitana, 1993, p. 343-345</ref>

== In popular culture ==
[[File:Stamp of India - 2012 - Colnect 392494 - Godiji Temple Mumbai.jpeg|thumb|upright=0.5|Stamp of Godiji temple issue in 2012]]

In 2012, a stamp was issued in 2012 to commemorate temple completing 200 years of construction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commemorative Postage Stamp Of India |url=https://postagestamps.gov.in/CommemorativePostageStamps.aspx |website=Indian Postage Stamps |publisher=[[India Post]] |access-date=7 March 2023 |archive-date=14 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914032623/https://postagestamps.gov.in/CommemorativePostageStamps.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Descendants of the builders==

According to traditional accounts, compiled in early 20th century by Yati Ramlal Gani,<ref>Mahajan-Vamsh-Muktavali, Upadhayay Shri Ramalaji Gani, Pub. Shisyakshem Amar Balchandra, Bikaner, 1921, p. 21-24</ref> the members of the Gothi clan of [[Oswal]]s are the descendants of Megha Sa. They now live in various part of India.<ref>Mangilal Bhutoria, Itihas Ki Amarbel Oswal, Priyadarshi Prakashn 1992, p. 226</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Nagarparkar#Jain Temples of Nagarparkar and nearby region|Jain Temples of Nagarparkar and nearby region]]
* [[Jainism in Pakistan]]
* [[Jainism in Rajasthan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015006/http://omstamps.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=24_62&product_id=12012010 Stamp issued by India Post]}}
* District Tharparkar Official Site https://web.archive.org/web/20120321200415/http://tharparkar.gos.pk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=88
* Official site, Shri Godiji Parshvanath Maharaj Jain temple (SGPMJ) Pydhonie, Mumbai, http://www.godiji.org/

{{Jainism Topics}}

[[Category:Tharparkar District]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Jain temples in Pakistan]]

Godiji - Revision history

Victorxsi at 05:39, 1 August 2025