The
tirtha is situated in the midst of a lake on the outskirts of the Pavapuri
Village, 10 kms. from the Pavapuri Road railway station. It is like the
sacred spot of the emancipation ofShri Mahavi rSwami, the last of the Tirthankaras,
who raised the sinners high. In the water-temple we have foot-steps of Shri
MahavirBhagavan, black in complexion and 18 cms. in size. This spot is the
land of the last preaching and emancipation of Shri Bhagavan. A fragrance
of sacredness can therefore be experienced in the atmosphere. It is also
believed that the first preaching of Bhagavan Mahavir took place here. A
new and
beautiful temple of Samavasarana is constructed here. Again, this is the
place of the first meeting of Indrabhuti Gautama with Mahavir Bhagavan:
and being influenced by his personality he got himself in the fold ofShri
Prabhuand became his firstGanadhara. On this sacred spot, in the midst of
the lake full of lot uses, the scene of the temple naturally brings to our
mind the holy impressions ofShri Mahavir Swami. Mahavir Bhagavan delivered
here sermons constantly for sixteen days and then attained Nirvana- emancipation.
On every day of emancipation every year, on the Dipavali day, a fair of
devotees is held here. Besides the water-temple and the temple in the village,
there are temples of old Samavasarana, of Mahetabkunvar, new Samavasarana
and of Shri Jinayashasuri, also as guru-temple. The idol in five metals,
installed by Shri Abhayadevasuriji, is pleasant to view. In the Jain Scriptures,
this sacred Pavapuri town is known as "Madhyama Pava." This is
because there were three towns of the name "Pava" as "Apapapuri".
Yet it seems that this came to beknown as "Pavapuri". To-day,
the ancient town Pavapuri is divided into two villages - "Pava"
and "Puri". A distance of one mile separates the two; the tirtha
of the Jainas is in Puri. |
