Template:Infobox religious building Kesariyaji Tirth or Rishabhdeo Jain temple is a Jain temple located in Rishabhdeo town of Udaipur District of Indian state of Rajasthan. The temple is considered an important pilgrimage center by both Digambara and Śvētāmbara sect of Jainism.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn Further, Rajasthan High Court, in its judgment dated 30th March 1966, stated that it was, indisputably, a Śvētāmbara Jain temple.[1]
History
The temple was constructed in 874 CE (VS 931) during the reign of Rawal Khuyan, the ruler of Mewar.Template:Sfn The temple received patronage from rich merchants since its situated on an important trade route from the coast to the state of Mewar. An inscription dated back to 1422 CE, indicates repairs and renovations were made to the temple during the 14th to 15th centuries.Template:Sfn It is also believed to have been worshipped by Ravana in Nandan Vana and having been installed at Ujjain by King Śrīpāla.Template:Sfn Since 14th century, there has been a history of conflict over control of this temple between members of Digambara, Śvētāmbara and Hindus community based on relation with rulers of Mewar.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn However, on 30th March 1966, Rajasthan High Court declared that it was a Śvetāmbara Jain temple.Template:Sfn[1] The Supreme Court of India has conclusively declared that the Rishabhdev/Keshariya Nathji Temple is a Jain temple and not a Hindu temple.[2]
Discovery of idol
The main idol of the temple, popularly known as Kesariyaji, is a Template:Convert black stone idol of Adinatha or Rishabhanatha in lotus position. Template:Sfn
The iconic idol of Lord Rishabhanatha, the principal deity of the pilgrimage temple, was found during an excavation. A Bhil dairy farmer noticed that one of his cows was always dry of milk. When cow belonging used to pour out its milk every day upon a mound near Chandanpur village. It was surprising for the owner of that cow and the villagers. They excavated the mound. The villagers dedicated themselves to building a small hut over the idol where the idol was found. The place is now known as paglia-ji or chharan chatri.Template:Sfn
Architecture
The temple has an ornate architecture.Template:Sfn The temple has a large domical structure as the principal shrine with domical 52 sub-shrine along the axis of principal shrine.Template:Sfn In the parikrama path there are idols of Charbhuja (four armed) Vishnu, Parshvanatha, Somnath Shiva. The pillared porch features Nava chowki (nine seats) with idols of Ajitnatha, Sambhavanatha, Sumatinatha and Neminatha.Template:Sfn The shafts of the pillars are richly carved. The Shikara of the temple is crowned by amalaka.Template:Sfn The temple also features a richly carved torana.Template:Sfn
About the temple
The temple is considered an important pilgrimage center by both Digambara and Śvētāmbara sect of Jainism and Hindus.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn The mulnayak of the temple is a Template:Convert black stone idol of Rishabhanatha, revered by both Vaishnavas and Jains.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Kesariyaji is the name of Rishabhanatha idol inside the temple. The name is derived from the instance of a man of offering kesar (Template:TranslationTemplate:Sfn) equal to his son's weight when his wish of having a child is fulfilled.Template:Sfn According to another legend, a Brahmin once threw a coin at idol saying "if you have any strength you will show it me", the coin flew back hit Brahmin head.Template:Sfn
The idol is considered miraculous and according Jain belief praying to the idol fulfills the wishes of devotees.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The saffron and garland is profusely applied to the idol for worship.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn The replicas of Kesariyaji Rishabhanatha is popular among Śvētāmbara murtipujaka. According to Jain belief, worshipping these local replication idols allow them to directly worship to the original idol.Template:Sfn
In front the principal shrine there is an idol of Marudevi, mother of Rishabhanatha, seated on an elephant corroborating the belief of Marudevi attaining omniscience and moksha while seated on an elephant as per the Śvetāmbara tradition.Template:Sfn[3] However, the statue of Marudevi, seated on an elephant, was added much later, around VS 1711, which corresponds to 1654 CE.[4]
The temple also has a dharamshala equipped with all modern facilities, including bhojanalaya (a restaurant). There is a temple known as Pagliyaji, housing footprints of Rishabhanatha inside a chhatri.Template:Sfn
Conflicts
The nature of the temple has been an issue between Digambara, Śvētāmbara and Hindus.Template:Sfn The Śvētāmbara murtipujaka Acharya Tirthavijaya endeavoured to free Kesariyaji from the control of Brahmin community and returned to Jain.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The temple also houses images of Hindu deities. The temple is also visited by members of the Bhil community. They only worship Hindu idols except for the Rishabhanatha idol. However, Rishabhanatha is worshipped as a Kala-ji or Bhomia, a protective deity of land and soil.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn
Fair
A fair is organised here on the birth anniversary of Rishabhanatha and draws a huge number of devotees.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn A rath yatra is organised from the main temple to Pagliyaji temple.Template:Sfn
See also
References
Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rajasthan High Court. Deewan Singh And Ors., Etc. vs State Of Rajasthan And Ors. on 5 February, 1997.
- ↑ Sheth Anandji Kalyanji (Religious ... vs State Of Rajasthan on 19 August, 2019.
- ↑ Part 12: Marudevī's omniscience and death, www.wisdomlib.org. www.wisdomlib.org(2017-09-21). Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ↑ Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan.
Sources
Books
- The Assembly of Listeners: Jains in Society{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Cambridge University Press(4 April 1991). ISBN 9780521365055
- Framing the Jina: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History{{#if:Cort|, Cort}. Oxford University Press(2010). ISBN 978-0-19-538502-1
- Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India{{#if:Cort|, Cort}. Oxford University Press(2001). ISBN 978-0-19-803037-9
- The Tribes and Castes of the North-western Provinces and Oudh{{#if:Crooke|, Crooke}. Office of the superintendent of government printing(1896)
- Singing to the Jinas: Jain Laywomen, Maṇḍaḷ Singing, and the Negotiations of Jain Devotion{{#if:Kelting|, Kelting}. Oxford University Press(2001). ISBN 9780195140118
- The Culture of India{{#if:Kuiper|, Kuiper}. Britannica Educational Publishing(1 April 2010). ISBN 9781615302031
- Folk Icons and Rituals in Tribal Life{{#if:Kumar|, Kumar}. Abhinav Publications(1984). ISBN 9788170171850
- Abu to Udapiur{{#if:Mehta|, Mehta}. Motilal Banarsidass(1970). ISBN 9788120829848
- Jainism: History, Society, Philosophy and Practice{{#if:Panikar|, Panikar}. Motilal Banarsidass(2010). ISBN 978-81-208-3460-6
- Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography{{#if:Shah|, Shah}. Abhinav Publications(1987). ISBN 81-7017-208-X
- Raj rhapsodies: tourism, heritage and the seduction of history{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Routledge(23 March 2016). ISBN 978-1-3170-7161-7
- The A to Z of Jainism{{#if:Wiley|, Wiley}. Scarecrow Press(2009). ISBN 978-0-8108-6337-8
Web
- 'Intellectual Ahiṃsā' Revisited: Jain Tolerance and Intolerance of Others. Philosophy East and West({Template:Year).
- The Formation of Religious Identities in India. Social Scientist({Template:Year).
- Mandir Shri Rishabhdev Ji. Department of Devasthan, Government of Rajasthan.
- Digmber Jain Mandir. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
External links
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