In the quaint village of Barej, nestled in the Porbandar district of Gujarat, stands a remarkable shrine housing an 83 cms. high black-colored idol of Bhagwan Bareja Parshwanath in the Padmasana posture. Crafted from sand, this captivating idol has a unique allure.
Barej, an ancient village in Saurashtra, has its roots intertwined with a fascinating tale. During a sea voyage, a businessman's convoy of ships mysteriously came to a halt. Seeking the cause, he discovered a beautiful idol of Bhagwan Parshwanath. Overjoyed, he transported this enchanting idol to Barej village, where he erected a splendid temple to enshrine it as the Mulnayak Bhagwan.
The idol came to be known as "Bareja Parshwanath" in honor of the village's name. The current temple, a testimony to timeless devotion, was erected by Seth Bhimji Kalyanji of Porbandar in V.S. 1900. The revered Acharya Shri Jineshvarsurishvarji consecrated the idol in V.S.1905 on the 3rd day of the dark half of the month of Magh. This ancient Tirth holds a miraculous, alluring, and amazing idol.
For those seeking spiritual guidance, Porbandar railway station is conveniently situated 42 kms. away from Barej Tirth. Mangrole is at a distance of 36 kms., and Junagadh is 46 kms. away from Barej.
The timeless saga of Bareja Parshwanath echoes in scriptures such as "Sashvath Tirthmala," "365 Shri Parshva Jin Naammala," "Shri Sankheswar Parshvanath Chaand," "Shri Godi Parshvanath Stavan," "Shri Parshvanath Naammala," and "Shri Parshvanath Sankhya Stavan." The spiritual resonance extends to Jiravala Tirth, where an idol of Bareja Parshwanath stands as a testament to divine reverence.
