History of Ahikhestra:
In ancient time this place was famous as ‘Sankhyavati’ but later on
after protection of Bhagwan Parshvanath from ‘Upsarg’ by serpent hoods of
Dharnendra & Padmawati, this place became famous as ‘Ahichchhatra’. Ahichchhatra
is one of the ancient cities of India.
This city was the capital of ‘Panchal Janapada’. This Panchal Janapada is one of the 52 Janapadas established by Bhagwan Adinath. During next period there was partition of Panchal Janapada into Northern Panchal and Southern Panchal. The ‘Kampila’ remained capital of Southern Panchal and Ahichchhatra remained capital of Northern Panchal. During ‘Mahabharata’ period the Northern Panchal was ruled by King ‘Drona’ and Southern Panchal was ruled by King ‘Drupada’. According to one of the inscriptions discovered from the cave of Pabhosa Kshetra near Kaushambi the one name of this place was ‘Adhichakra’ also. From the 2nd century to 6th century this place remained famous as Ahichchhatra. We found name Ahichchhatra on ‘Yaksha Statue’ & ‘Clay Stamp of Gupt period’ discovered during excavations.
The ancient Ahichchhatra was spread in large area and its ruins are still found around the city Ramnagar. According to the Chinese traveler ‘Hventsang’ this place was spread in the area of 3 miles and many Stupas were also constructed here.
This city was the capital of ‘Panchal Janapada’. This Panchal Janapada is one of the 52 Janapadas established by Bhagwan Adinath. During next period there was partition of Panchal Janapada into Northern Panchal and Southern Panchal. The ‘Kampila’ remained capital of Southern Panchal and Ahichchhatra remained capital of Northern Panchal. During ‘Mahabharata’ period the Northern Panchal was ruled by King ‘Drona’ and Southern Panchal was ruled by King ‘Drupada’. According to one of the inscriptions discovered from the cave of Pabhosa Kshetra near Kaushambi the one name of this place was ‘Adhichakra’ also. From the 2nd century to 6th century this place remained famous as Ahichchhatra. We found name Ahichchhatra on ‘Yaksha Statue’ & ‘Clay Stamp of Gupt period’ discovered during excavations.
The ancient Ahichchhatra was spread in large area and its ruins are still found around the city Ramnagar. According to the Chinese traveler ‘Hventsang’ this place was spread in the area of 3 miles and many Stupas were also constructed here.
The main attraction here is the Jain temple with an idol of Bhagwan
Parshwanath, seated in Padmasana posture. There are many Jain idols and
inscriptions,among these idols, the green colored idol of Tikhal Baba
has special significance. Apart from this, the various ruins and remains
excavated are of archeological value. Every year in the month of
Falguna, a grand fair is arranged here.
About Ahichchhatra Parshvanath :
Shri Ahichchhatra Parshvanath Atishaya Kshetra Digamber Jain Mandir is a center
of religious consciousness and it is present in peaceful area surrounded by
natural beauty. About 2800 years ago Bhagwan Parshvanath attained ‘Keval Gyan’
here through deep ‘Tapashcharan’. It is this sacred land only where ‘Samvar
Dev’, the opponent of Parshvanath tried to create hurdles in his meditation and
when ‘Dharnendra’ saw that ‘Samvar Dev’ is distracting Bhagwan Parshvanath then
in order to show his devotion towards him.
Dharnendra raised him on his hood (Phan) and Padmawati spreaded her hood above Parshvanath and thus the hurdle of Samvar Dev proved a failure (or became unsuccessful). At that very moment Parshwanath got enlighten by ‘Keval Gyan’ and ‘Gyan Kalyanka’ was celebrated devotionally by various gods and folk people. Later on the very first Samavsharan of Bhagwan Parshvanath was held here by Kuber on the order of Indra Dev and his ‘Divya Dhwani’ (Spiritual Precept) was delivered here.
Dharnendra raised him on his hood (Phan) and Padmawati spreaded her hood above Parshvanath and thus the hurdle of Samvar Dev proved a failure (or became unsuccessful). At that very moment Parshwanath got enlighten by ‘Keval Gyan’ and ‘Gyan Kalyanka’ was celebrated devotionally by various gods and folk people. Later on the very first Samavsharan of Bhagwan Parshvanath was held here by Kuber on the order of Indra Dev and his ‘Divya Dhwani’ (Spiritual Precept) was delivered here.
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| 23 rd TEERTHANKAR PARASNATH |
Atishaya (Miracle): -
1. The attempt of distracting Bhagwan Parshvanath by
Kamath, proving this attempt as failure by Dharnendra - Padmawati and attainment
of ‘Keval Gyan’ by Bhagwan Parshvanath and these are lot of evidences available
in Jain literature and stories that number of miracles have happened here from
time to time makes this place as Atishaya Kshetra. The Kathanak (Life Story) of
Acharya ‘Paatra Kesari’ is main among these evidences.
Paatra Kesari is great Jain Acharya born during 6th – 7th century. He was Brahmin and used to reside in Ahichchhatra. The Avanipal was King of Ahichchhatra at that time. In his roil court 500 Brahmins scholars got discussion on philosophical matters and Paatra Kesari was main scholar in them. Once all the scholars organized literary & philosophical discussion at Parshvanath Mandir of Ahichchhatra. At the time when these scholars reached at Parshvanath Mandir, the ‘Muni Charitra Bhushan’ who were seated there were reciting ‘Devagam Stotra’ of ‘Acharya Swami Samantbhadra’ and ‘Paatra Kesari’ was devotionally listening to the recitation of Devagam Stotra and was getting cleared about the doubts of his mind. When recitation was finished the Paatra Kesari requested the Muniraj to recite the Devagam Stotra once again and than he returned to his house. At home Paatra Kesari started thinking deeply about the elements of Devagam Stotra. After thinking deeply about it he realized that Jain Darshan is more truthful (True to life). Paatra Kesari had doubt related to ‘Anuman Praman’ (Guess Evidence) and he was not getting cleared about this doubt. He was feeling quite restless. At that time Devi Padmawati appeared in front of him and told him that he will be able to get answer of his question from the idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath. Next day Paatra Kesari reached to temple and he was quite surprised to see that one stanza (Shloka) written in Sanskrit language was present on the idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath and after reading that stanza he got his doubt cleared.
Afterwards he became follower of Jainism and became Jain Muni. Because of his excellent talent he is regarded as one of the prominent scholar among other main Acharyas of Jain Philosophy.
2. Once Vasupal was the King of Ahichchhatra. He got constructed an attractive ‘Sahastrakut Chaityalaya’ and established the idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath in it. On the order of king, a painter (Lepkar) was called for coating (Lep) the idol but as the painter was non-vegetarian so whatever coat he used to put on idol, used to get fall during night. When king came to know about this fact, discontinued that painter and on his place another painter was appointed. Surprisingly the devotional feelings were arouse in the mind of that painter and he accepted some rules from Muni and after worshipping the Bhagwan Parshvanath with full devotion he started applying coating on the idol and this coating became as strong as ‘Vajra’.
3. There is one temple with high spire at this place. One altar of ‘Tikhal Wale Baba’ is also present in this temple. The green colored emerald stone idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath and his foot images are also present inside this altar. It is said that the wall on which ‘Tikhal’ is constructed was built by invisible hands. In fact construction of this wall was nothing but miracle because till night there was no such wall but in morning everybody was astonished to see this newly built wall. The hands who built this wall are still present here and they fulfill the desires of devotees of Bhagwan Parshvanath – the Tikhal Wale Baba.
4. The one ancient well is also here and during 1857 in first freedom fight the caretaker of temple (Mali) took the idol of temple and remained hidden inside this well along with idol for many days. Due to the presence of idol inside the well the water of well got heeling property and lot diseases can be cured by just drinking water of this sacred well. The test and color of water present in four corners of this well is different. The water of well is testy and sweet. One pond is also here and it is said that by taking bath in this pond one can get rid of skin diseases.
5. It is also said that a pair of snakes visits in main temple and after giving ‘Pradakshina’ to the altar of ‘Tikhal Wale Baba’, this pair goes back and does not harm anybody present in that temple. Not only this, many times sounds of bells and other instruments is also heard during night.
Paatra Kesari is great Jain Acharya born during 6th – 7th century. He was Brahmin and used to reside in Ahichchhatra. The Avanipal was King of Ahichchhatra at that time. In his roil court 500 Brahmins scholars got discussion on philosophical matters and Paatra Kesari was main scholar in them. Once all the scholars organized literary & philosophical discussion at Parshvanath Mandir of Ahichchhatra. At the time when these scholars reached at Parshvanath Mandir, the ‘Muni Charitra Bhushan’ who were seated there were reciting ‘Devagam Stotra’ of ‘Acharya Swami Samantbhadra’ and ‘Paatra Kesari’ was devotionally listening to the recitation of Devagam Stotra and was getting cleared about the doubts of his mind. When recitation was finished the Paatra Kesari requested the Muniraj to recite the Devagam Stotra once again and than he returned to his house. At home Paatra Kesari started thinking deeply about the elements of Devagam Stotra. After thinking deeply about it he realized that Jain Darshan is more truthful (True to life). Paatra Kesari had doubt related to ‘Anuman Praman’ (Guess Evidence) and he was not getting cleared about this doubt. He was feeling quite restless. At that time Devi Padmawati appeared in front of him and told him that he will be able to get answer of his question from the idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath. Next day Paatra Kesari reached to temple and he was quite surprised to see that one stanza (Shloka) written in Sanskrit language was present on the idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath and after reading that stanza he got his doubt cleared.
Afterwards he became follower of Jainism and became Jain Muni. Because of his excellent talent he is regarded as one of the prominent scholar among other main Acharyas of Jain Philosophy.
2. Once Vasupal was the King of Ahichchhatra. He got constructed an attractive ‘Sahastrakut Chaityalaya’ and established the idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath in it. On the order of king, a painter (Lepkar) was called for coating (Lep) the idol but as the painter was non-vegetarian so whatever coat he used to put on idol, used to get fall during night. When king came to know about this fact, discontinued that painter and on his place another painter was appointed. Surprisingly the devotional feelings were arouse in the mind of that painter and he accepted some rules from Muni and after worshipping the Bhagwan Parshvanath with full devotion he started applying coating on the idol and this coating became as strong as ‘Vajra’.
3. There is one temple with high spire at this place. One altar of ‘Tikhal Wale Baba’ is also present in this temple. The green colored emerald stone idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath and his foot images are also present inside this altar. It is said that the wall on which ‘Tikhal’ is constructed was built by invisible hands. In fact construction of this wall was nothing but miracle because till night there was no such wall but in morning everybody was astonished to see this newly built wall. The hands who built this wall are still present here and they fulfill the desires of devotees of Bhagwan Parshvanath – the Tikhal Wale Baba.
4. The one ancient well is also here and during 1857 in first freedom fight the caretaker of temple (Mali) took the idol of temple and remained hidden inside this well along with idol for many days. Due to the presence of idol inside the well the water of well got heeling property and lot diseases can be cured by just drinking water of this sacred well. The test and color of water present in four corners of this well is different. The water of well is testy and sweet. One pond is also here and it is said that by taking bath in this pond one can get rid of skin diseases.
5. It is also said that a pair of snakes visits in main temple and after giving ‘Pradakshina’ to the altar of ‘Tikhal Wale Baba’, this pair goes back and does not harm anybody present in that temple. Not only this, many times sounds of bells and other instruments is also heard during night.
| Other Temple :- | |||||||||||
| The “Tees Chaubeesee Mandir” having 11 spires was reverenced in the year 2002. There are
total 720 (24 X 3 X 10) idols of 24 Teerthankaras of all past, present &
future, are installed in this temple, which belong to 5 ‘Bharat’ & 5 ‘Airavat’
Kshetra. The one idol among these idols is 13.5 feet high and it is idol of
Bhagwan Parshvanath. This temple is magnificent and superb in beauty. The huge beautiful and pleasant column of dignity of white colored stone is also constructed in this Kshetra and on the four sides of its spire the four beautiful idols of Bhagwan Parshvanath are installed. A little distance further from the Atishaya Kshetra Mandir there is one ancient Jain temple with high spire constructed in the village. The 4 feet high, black colored, Padmasanastha miraculous idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath is installed in this temple. The one stanza (Shloka) is inscribed on the serpent hood of the idol. It is because of this stanza the doubt of ‘Acharya Paatra Kesari’ was cleared. The one spire (umbrella) is present near the miraculous well. The foot images of Acharya Paatra Kesari are present on the altar built under this spire (umbrella). It was Paatra Kesari who followed Jainism along with his 500 scholars. | |||||||||||
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