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This city, known as Dhavalakpur in ancient times, has a rich history dating back to the era of the Pandavas, when it was called Viratnagar. The city is steeped in historical significance and has witnessed the emergence of three sacred pilgrimage sites associated with Bhagwan Parshvanath. One of these is the Kalikund Tirth, which has a fascinating origin story. Bhagwan Parshvanath was meditating in Kausagga Dhyana near the Kali mountain within the Kadambari jungle, situated close to Champanagari. During this time, a significant event occurred involving Mahidar, the elephant, who recollected his past life upon seeing Bhagwan. The elephant collected lotus flowers from a Kund lake and offered them in worship to Bhagwan Parshvanath.
The king of the region, Karkandu, arrived in the jungle after hearing of Bhagwan's presence. However, by the time he reached, Bhagwan had moved to another location. This led to the king's disappointment, while the elephant's devotion was celebrated by the gods. In an effort to console the king, the celestial beings crafted a captivating nine-handed idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath, mirroring the deity's original height. They presented this idol to the king, who was overjoyed by its beauty. Subsequently, the king constructed an opulent temple and enshrined the idol, thereby giving rise to the Kalikund Tirth, named after the Kali mountain (kund means pond).
Over time, this original temple has vanished, but numerous temples and idols of Kalikund Parshvanath are scattered across India. A recent highlight is the Kalikund Parshvanath temple in Dholka, which has garnered significant attention. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, Dholka thrived as a prosperous city with historical significance. Notable historical figures like Dada Gurudev Shri Jinduttsuriji were born here in V.S. 1132 and received their initiation (Diksha) in V.S. 1141 under the guidance of Shri Dharamdev Upadhyay. The construction of the Udayan Vihar temple, featuring the installation of the idol of Bhagwan Simandar Swami by Acharya Shri Vadidevsuriji, marked a significant event.
During the reign of King Veerdhaval in V.S. 1276, Minister Vastupal – Tejpal were appointed as his ministers, leading to the flourishing of Jainism and the creation of numerous Jain literary works. Minister Vastupal constructed a splendid temple dedicated to Bhagwan Adinath and two Upashrayas in the city. An alluring idol of Bhagwan Kalikund Parshvanath was discovered within the basement of Bhagwan Adinath's temple. This idol, believed to be approximately 2,200 years old, is reputed to have been in the city since the 14th century.
Notably, it was recently discovered that Panyas Pravar Shri Rajendravijayji was captivated by the beauty of this ancient idol and aspired to install it in a temple. Subsequently, a grand temple was constructed, and the installation ceremony for this ancient idol took place during a sacred event, overseen by Acharya Shri Kanaksurisvarji. This event also led to Panyas Pravar Shri Rajendravijayji receiving the title of Acharya. The temple also houses ancient and captivating idols of Bhagwan Adinath and Bhagwan Sheetalnath. Adjacent to this temple, in the Dadavadi, Shri Jinadattasurishvarji, a notable Acharya of Khartargachchha, is commemorated.
Further excavations on the temple grounds yielded 34 ancient idols, which are now on display within the Lord Adinath temple. Other temples in the vicinity are equally ancient, preserving a sense of history and spiritual significance. Moreover, a "Mini-Shatrunjay" temple, modeled after the sacred Shatrunjay temple, was constructed on the land behind the Kalikund Parshvanath temple.
The city itself has no other temples, but the surrounding area is rich in historical and spiritual sites. The Kalikund Parshvanath temple is adorned with excellent artistry and features an idol of Bhagwan exuding a sense of serenity and benevolence. The temple's architecture and construction are distinctive and unique. In particular, the depiction of hoods in this idol is different from other idols of Bhagwan Parshvanath.
For pilgrims and visitors, the nearest railway station is conveniently located just 1 kilometer away in Dholka. The temple is situated along the Vadodara – Palitana road, making it accessible from various cities, including Ahmedabad (40km), Palitana (190km), and Vallabhipur (110km). Regular bus services operate from Ahmedabad to Dholka, offering convenient transportation. Additionally, there are facilities such as Dharamshala and Bhojanshala for the comfort of pilgrims.
The temple's significance is underscored by its mention in various scriptures, including "Tirthvandana," "Shri Parshvanath Charitra," "Shri Prabhavak Charitra," and many others, testifying to its historical and spiritual importance.
