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In the heart of the village Varkana stands a revered temple, housing a 30 cms. high, white-colored idol of Bhagwan Parshwanath seated in the Padmasana posture beneath an umbrella adorned with seven hoods.
Embarking on a journey through time, this place, once known as Vankanakpur, Varkanakgarh, or Varkanaknagar, held eminence as a large and prosperous city adorned with numerous Jain temples. Over the ages, the city witnessed the burial of these magnificent temples. The ancient idol of Varkana Parshwanath, discovered by a shepherd buried in the ground, became the focal point for the Jain sangh, leading to the construction of a splendid temple to enshrine the sacred deity. Historical inscriptions from the year 1211 of the Vikram era testify to the antiquity of this sacred site. In the 16th century, under the reign of Maharana Kumbha, a Shresthi of Shrimalpur constructed a beautiful temple, incorporating 52 smaller temples and reinstalling the idol. Rana Jagatsingh of Mewad, on the counsel of Acharya Shri Vijaydevsuri, canceled the pilgrim tax collected during that era. The temple underwent renovation in V.S. 1981, and the idol was reinstalled in the year 2014 of the Vikram era. Bhagwan Varkana Parshwanath is venerated in the twelfth verse of 'Sakal–tirth–vandana' from Rai Pratikramana, and an annual grand fair graces the tenth day of the dark half of the month of Paush. This temple holds significance as one of the temples in the Ranakpur Panchtirthi.
In the tranquil vicinity of Varkana, this temple stands alone, showcasing the exceptional artistry of the idol and the summit sculptures. In V.S. 1707, an artistic Parrikar was added, and the intricately carved pillars bear testimony to the skilled craftsmanship.
For pilgrims and travelers, the nearest railway station is Rani, a mere 3 kms away, while Falna is at a distance of 20 kms. Convenient transportation options include bus services and private vehicles. Facilities such as Dharamshala and Bhojanshala cater to the needs of visitors, and there is also a Jain Boarding School in the vicinity.
Mentions of this sacred temple abound in literary works such as "Anand Sundar Granth," "Vikram Charitra Panchdand," "365 Shri Parshva Jin Naammala," "Shri Sankheswar Parshvanath Chand," "Shri Bhateva Parshvanath Stavan," "Chaityaparipati," and "Tirthmala." Noteworthy is the presence of the idol of Varkana Parshwanath in Jiravala Tirth and the Kalikund Parshwanath temple in Santacruz, Mumbai.
The custodianship of this divine abode is vested in the Shri Varkana Parshwanath Jain Shwetambar Tirth Pedhi, located in Varkana: 306 601, District: Pali, Rajasthan State, India, with contact details at 02934 – 222257.
