This
beautiful tirtha is situated at a distance of almost one km. outside the
Bhadreshvar town
standing on a vast seashore. In the temple is installed a very impressive
idol of Shri Bhagavan Mahavir in Padmasana posture; it is white in complexion
and 61 cms. in height. The town was renowned as Bhadravati in old days;
it was an important place of pilgrimage of Jainism. The fabric of story
of the raising of this tirtha is as old as 2500 years. On a vast ground
2'/2 lakh square feet in size, the lovely temple decorated so nicely as
if it were a divine plane, is simply majestic and charming. Its gate of
entrance is small, but so constructed that the DARSHAN of Shri Prabhu is
possible even from outside. In the town of Bhadravati, some 2500 years back,
a devout Jain Shreshthi nourished in his heart a desire, religiously to
install an idol of Bhagavan Parshvanatha, the 23rd tirthankara. 23 years
after the emancipation of Bhagavan Mahavira, he got a majestic Jain temple
constructed and got installed at the auspicious hands of Kapila Kevali.an
idolofBhagavan Parshvanatha and thus gave a concrete shape to his dream.
It is from this time that Bhadravati-Bhadreshvar became a famed tirtha of
the Jainas. In 1314 (V.S.) Shrimali brothers and in 1313-14 (V.S.), the
hero amongst donors Shri Jagadushah got this temple repaired and renovated.
The same was done by Shreshthi Vardhaman Shah and the last repairs and renovation
were undertaken in V.S. 1939 by Sheth Monaji Tejasi who brought about blessedness
by this in his life. The Bhadrashvar temple consists of 52 shrines, 218
pillars, and 53 domes. The idol of Shri Mahavira Swami, in white marble
is serene, symmetrical and yields delight to the mind. |
