Pavagadh - Jain Tirth - Bh. Parshwanath

Pavagadh, Panchmahal, Gujarat-389360

Main Idol : White - colored idol of Bhagawan Parshvanath in the padmasana posture.

Location : The Nearest Railway Station is the Station of Pavagadh on the Vadodara - Ratlam railway. Pilgrims have to ascend on foot the path of the hill. The path is nearly five kilometers long. The foot of the hill is know as the Pavagadh station and the Champaner town. There are Digambara Dharmashalas and Bhojanashalas at the foot of the hill.

History : This sacred place belongs to the times Ramchandra, the king of Ayodhya. The Greek geographer Tolemi, who journeyed to India in the year 140 A. D. regarded this temple as an ancient and holy place. In the year 1540 of he Vikram era, Mohammed Begdo, the Muslim sultan, heavily impaired this temple. Later on, on the thirteenth day of the bright half of the month of magh of the year 1937 of Vikram era, this temple was formally installed under the auspices of the Digambar Bhattarak, Kanakakirti Maharaj. There was a time when this temple was regarded as holy as the Shetrunjaya temple. On the thirteenth day of the bright half of the month of Magh every year, a fair is held here and a flag is hoisted on this Digambar temple. There is a reference that Lav and Kush, the sons of Ramchandraji, the king of Ayodaya and a number of monks also prasctised penance here and attained salvation. This place is, therefore, known as Siddhkshetra. There are ruined of ancient temples and artistic relics of extraordinary craftsamnship are found here. Natural beauty can be enjoyed only by direct observation. The caves of Pavagadh are worth seeing.

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