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In the quaint village near the sea-shore, the Tirth dedicated to Bhagwan Amijhara Parshwanath stands tall with a magnificent 175 cm high, white-colored idol in the Padmasana posture.
Gandhaar, once a thriving city in the Middle Ages, was adorned with numerous Jain temples. Despite its current status as a small village, it remains renowned as a Jain pilgrimage site. The city, historically known for its prosperity as a port and business center, faced adversity in 769-770 A.D. when the king of Sind attacked, resulting in the destruction of temples and conversion into mosques. During the 17th century, Gandhaar regained prominence as a flourishing Jain center, with King Akbar inviting Jagatguru Shri Hirvijaysurishvarji to Fatehpur-Sikri during Chaturmaas.
Amidst the destruction, the temples of Mahaveer Swami and Amijhara Parshwanath stood resilient. Rajiya Vajiya of Khambhat renovated the Mahaveer Swami temple in V.S. 1500, and in V.S. 1659, Acharya Shri Vijaysensurishvarji installed the captivating idol of Amijhara Parshwanath. Despite the city's tumultuous history, this idol, known as "Amijhara Parshwanath" due to the oozing of nectar (Ami), stands as a testament to resilience. Additionally, it is recognized as "Gandhariya Parshwanath."
Other temples within the compound include one dedicated to Mahavir Swami and three others. The natural beauty surrounding the temple complements its spiritual ambiance, with fine paintings adorning the walls depicting sacred places like Shatrunjay Mahatirth, Girnar, and Sametshikhar.
For pilgrims, Pakhajan is the nearest railway station, 13 km away, and the temple is 45 km from Bharuch and 65 km from Kavi. Bus services and private vehicles facilitate transportation. Dharamshala and Bhojanshala facilities cater to the needs of visitors, while an upashraya provides additional accommodation.
The scriptures, including "365 Shri Parshva Jin Naammala" and others, highlight Amijhara Parshwanath's significance. Temples dedicated to Amijhara Parshwanath are found across India, including locations like Khambhat, Dua, Sanand, Girnar Tirth, Aaspur, Junnar, Sangli, Gariyadhar, Shri Shatrunjay Tirth, Amijhara, Koliwada na Naka, Mundra, Vadali, Sojitra, Jiravala Tirth, Kalikund Parshwanath temple in Santacruz, Mumbai, and Kesariya Nagar Temple in Palitana.
The custodian of this sacred site is the Shri Gandhaar Jain Derasar Trust, reachable at Post: Gandhaar – 392 140, Taluka: Vagara, District: Bharuch, State: Gujarat, India, with a contact number of 02641 – 232345.
