SHRI PARSHWANATH DERASAR, BHILADIYAJI

SHRI PARSHWANATH DERASAR, BHILADIYAJI

This famous Jain pilgrimage centre is situated in Banaskantha district, at a distance of 22 kms from Deesa and 55 km from Palanpur (on the Palanpur-Radhanpur Highway). The site has great archaeological importance.

In the past, this pilgrimage centre was known as Bheempalli. Surrounded by forests, it was a bustling town with a large population of Jains and very beautiful Jain temples. There were 125 Jain temples, and an equal number of wells and step wells. Behind one such Jain temple lay the Raj Gadhi, which is now in complete ruins. It is believed that the Jain population left this town shortly before it was burnt in a fire, at the insistence of a Jain muni. They then settled in what is today known as Radhanpur.



Bheempalli lay in ruins for a long time. Another city was built over it in V.S.1872. While building the new city, many old excavations came to light including the Jain temple. What was astonishing was the discovery of the statue of Shri Parshwanath Bhagwan, which was totally intact and completely untouched by the fire and destruction. It is said that this very old and sacred statue of Shri Parshwanath Bhagwan dates back to Samprati Maharaja's time around 1324 AD.

With the permission of the Jain munis, this miraculous statue of Shri Parshwanath Bhagwan was installed in a new Jain temple amidst great pomp and grandeur. The temple has been restored in 2007 AD.



The town of Bheempalli was first renamed Trambavati and later Bhiladiyaji.

According to legend, this place was named Bhiladiyaji because Shrenik Kumar had married a Bhil girl here.



It is connected by rail - the Palanpur Gandhidham train and the Rajasthan Jodhpur train stop here.

There are two spacious Dharamshalas to cater to the needs of the hundred of devotees who arrive every day, where meals are provided to all.

SAMOR MATA MANDIR, KAKAR

SAMOR MATA MANDIR, KAKAR

The Samor Mata Mandir is 5 kms from Vada, which is on the Radhanppur-Palanpur highway.

Approximately 2000 years ago, what we today call the Kakar village was a huge city and a prime trade center. At that time it was a Yatradham of a Devi, Navdurga. There was a large stone well here with steps leading down to the water.



Kakar was then ruled by the Hindu king Mansingh. Religion had a deep impact on the villagers who had installed a golden image of their Kuldevi for worship in every home.

In 1553 VS, Mohammad Ghazni attacked India. Hindu temples were being getting destroyed, and idols and images of Hindu gods and goddesses were being ruined. The villagers of Kakar saw this as a threat to their religion and were very worried about the safety of the images of their Kuldevi installed in their homes.

Raja Mansingh, an ardent Hindu and a clever king, called all the leaders from the villagers and instructed them to immerse all their idols in the ancient large stone well, so that they do not get damaged or fall into the hands of people of different religions.

Sometime after this incident, when the threat of foreign invasion diminished, the villagers relaxed to a great extent and wanted to bring back their Kuldevi images. But the water levels in the well had risen greatly and it proved difficult to remove the immersed idols from the well. Raja Mansingh again came to their rescue. He instructed the villagers to pray to the old Devi whose temple lay next to the well, as well as to their Kuldevi. They had to then take Mangal Feras around the well, and according to their individual customs, they had to untie their Kanakn Doras and offer Naivedh. Since everybody's images of the kuldevi were immersed, they were all also told to offer a coconut in the well. The villagers were convinced by the king's suggestions and implemented them. The kuldevi images were retrieved. On seeing this, Raja Mansingh named this devi 'Samuh Mata', which became Samor Mata in time. The devotees of this Mata have great faith in her. If somebody is sick in the family or they have any problems, the devotees take an oath before their Devi. If their wishes are fulfilled and their problems are solved, they come here for the Darshan of the Mata and offer Naivedh.

Dev Ni Mori

Dev Ni Mori

Photos Map data ©2010 Google - Terms of Use Map Satellite Hybrid Back Map data ©2010 - Terms of Use Map Satellite Hybrid Dev ni Mori Near Shamlaji, Dist:Sabarkantha

Dev Ni Mori, Near Shamlaji, Dist:Sabarkantha The remains of a Buddhist monastery belonging to 3rd-4th century AD have been unearthed from Devni Mori, about two km from Shamlaji. The presence of a stupa and monastery has reconfirmed that during the early centuries of Christian era, there had been a strong presence of Buddhists in Vadnagar. Excavating of the stupa brought to light an inscribed casket which contained relics of Budhha. The inscription clearly mentions that the casket contains bodily relics of Buddha. By road: Ahmedabad (125km) By rail: Himmatnagar Railway Station on Ahmedabad – New Delhi railway line, 47 km from Shamlaji By air: Nearest airport is Ahmedabad (125km) Local Transport: Non-metered auto rickshaws