Rishabhdeo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Rikhabdeo | |
| State - District(s) |
Rajasthan - Udaipur |
| Area | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
8023 - |
Rikhabdeo (modern spelling is Rishabhdeo) is a census town in Udaipur district in the Indian state of Rajasthan.
Rishabhadeoji is situated 65 km from Udaipur and is on Udaipur-Ahmedabad Road. The name of the town is Dhulev, however it is better known as Rishabhadeo. It is a well known pilgrim site. The main attraction is the temple of Rishabhadeoji , the first Jain tirthankara. Local Bhils also worship the deity. Lord Rishabhadeo is also Kesariaji because a large offering of saffron (Keshar, a common ingredient in Jain rituals) is made to the deity.
This temple was considered to be one of the four main religious institutions of Mewar, ruled by the Sisodia Maharanas of Udaipur [1], as stated by Chatur Singhji Bavji:
- Ekling Girirajdhar Rishabdev Bhujchaar
- Sumaron Sada Sneh so, Chaar Dham Mewar
Contents |
[edit] The Main Idols in the temple
The main idol of this temple is Lord Rishabh Dev carved in black stone in padmasana posture about 3.5 feet tall. Long hair of idol touch the shoulders. Two oxen are carved in the center of simhasana (platform) of the main idol, which also has 16 dreams of the mother of Tirthankar. Surounding the main deity, there are 23 idols other 2 standing & 21 seated, in an ashtadhatu (composed of eith metals) parikar. In the north and south sides of the Khela Mandapa of the temple, idols of Tirthankaras Vasupujya, Mallinath, Neminath, Parshvanath & Mahavir Swami (collectively referred to as Panch-Balayati) are installed [2].
There are 52 secondary ornate shrines (devakulikas) of the Tirthankaras.
Elephants carved of black stone stand at the entrance of the temple. On the north is the image of Goddess Chakreshvari and on the southern side an image of goddess Padmavati.
[edit] History
The temple has a long history. The temple has about 65 inscriptions in the building and on several of the Tirthankara idols [3]
There is a 1376 (samvat 1431) inscription on the temple wall that mentions that Punja and Kota, sons of Shah Harda had the structure built as a result of the preachings of Bhattaraka Dharmakirti of Kashtha Sangh. That is when the garbhagriha and the khela mandap was constructed.
The compound wall was constructed in 1806 by a merchant Dhanji Karanji of Sagwada. There is a long inscription in Sanskrit/Hindi that mentions Bhimsingh as the ruler. It gives a spiritual lineage of the Bhatarakas of Mula Sangh mentioning Kundakunda, Sakalkirti up to the reigning Bhattaraka Yashkirti, who blessed the construction. Names of the family of Sanghi Dhanji Karanji of Humbad community, of Kamaleshvar gotra, are also given.
The nakkarkhana (drum tower) was built in 1832. The smaller shrines (devakulika) were constructed later.
The names of the Bhattarakas mentioned in the inscriptions include:
- Bhattaraka Dharmakirti
- Bhattaraka Jasakriti
- Bhattaraka Kshemakriti
- Bhattaraka Vijaratna
- Bhattaraka Yashkirti
- Bhattaraka Devendrakriti
- Bhattaraka Tribhuvanakriti
- Bhattaraka Surendrakriti
Amitesh Kumar comments on the historical significance:
- यहाँ लगे शिलालेखों से ज्ञात होता है कि निजमंदिर तथा खेला मंडप विक्रम संवत् १४३१ में बनाये गये, जबकि नौचौकी तथा एक मंडप का निर्माण सन् १५१५ (विक्रम संमत् १५७२) में हुआ। मंदिर के चौतरफा बना पक्का कोट सन् १८०६ (वि. सं. १८६३) का है तथा नक्कारखाना सन् १८३२ (वि. सं. १८८९) में बनाया गया। देव कुलिकाओं का निर्माण इसके बाद हुआ। इसके संबंध में उपलब्ध शिलालेख नदी तट गच्छ की उत्पत्ति तथा उक्त गच्छ के आचार्यों की क्रम परंपरा का उल्लेख करती है। अतः जैन इतिहास में इसका विशेष महत्व है। यहाँ पर उपलब्ध शिलालेखों के अध्ययन से यह निष्कर्ष निकलता है कि मंदिर तथा देवकुलिकाओं का अधिकांश भाग काष्टासंघ के भट्टारकों के उपदेश से उनके दिगम्बरी अनुयायियों ने बनवाया था।[4]
[edit] The temple and the Maharanas of Udaipur
Udaipur became the capital of the Sisodias in 1559. The revival of the fortunes of the Sisodias was made possible by the Jain ministers like Bhamashah who provided funds to reestablish the Maharanas after they had to leave Chittor. The Because of significant Jain influence, the Maharanas became devotees of Lord Rishabh and worshipped here. They also made gifts to the temple.
The Maharanas took over the administration of the temple because of some disputes and appointed a brahmin priest and a committee. The administration was handed over to the government after India's independence.
[edit] The temple dispute
The Jain community appealed to the Supreme Court to have its rights restored. On January 4, 2007, the Supreme Court of India ordered that the administration be handed over back to the Jain community within four months [5] .
Recent Supreme Court decision to had over the administration to the Jain community had led to protests and violence by the local tribals [6], [7]..
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Rikhabdeo had a population of 8023. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Rikhabdeo has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 70%. In Rikhabdeo, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Other local attractions
Nearby places worth visiting include Pagyaji, Chandragiri, Bhim Pagalya, Bhattarak Kirti Bhavan and the Peepli temple.
[edit] References
- ^ Mewar History: The State of Mewar and concept of Kingship, Trusteeship http://www.mmcfindia.org/mewar_history.asp
- ^ Shri Rishabh Dev Teerth Kshetra http://www.jainteerth.com/teerth/Rishabh%20Dev.asp
- ^ मेवाड़ के दर्शनीय स्थल, ॠषभदेव, अमितेश कुमार, http://tdil.mit.gov.in/CoilNet/IGNCA/rj066.htm#rishabh
- ^ मेवाड़ के दर्शनीय स्थल, ॠषभदेव, अमितेश कुमार, http://tdil.mit.gov.in/CoilNet/IGNCA/rj066.htm#rishabh
- ^ Bhaskar News, Jan 17, 2007
- ^ Fresh violence rocks Udaipur town, IBN Live, February 09, 2007 http://www.ibnlive.com/news/cops-fire-on-udaipur-protest-1-killed/top/33164-3.html
- ^ Army alerted, Hindu, Feb 09, 2007, http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/09/stories/2007020916490500.htm
