History of sultan parshvanath bhagwan
Here is a simple, tradition-based history of Sultan Parshvanath Bhagwan.
1. Who is Sultan Parshvanath?
- Sultan Parshvanath is a miraculous idol (pratimā) of Bhagwan Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankar.
- The idol is especially famous in the Jain tirth at Sidhpur (Gujarat).
- “Sultan” is an upadhi (special title) given to this particular idol because of a miracle that happened during Muslim rule.
You can read the detailed story here
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2. Place and form of the idol
- The idol of Sultan Parshvanath:
- It is installed in a temple near Alwa ka Chauraha, Sidhpur.
- Sidhpur was earlier called Śrīsthāl, on the bank of river Saraswati.
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3. Historical background of the tirth
- In Vikram Samvat 1184, King Siddharaj Jaisingh built a grand Jain temple complex called “Sidhvihar” / “Rajvihar” with 24 small temples of Tirthankars.
- His minister Alingdev built another temple called “Choumukh Vihar” and installed an idol of Parshvanath there.
- This same idol is believed to be the one now known as Sultan Parshvanath.
- The idol itself is considered very ancient – from the time of King Samprati (famous Jain king after Samrat Ashok).
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4. Why is it called “Sultan” Parshvanath?
During the period of Muslim rule, a ruler (described in Jain tradition as Alauddin Khilji) entered the temple and wanted to break the idol.
The Jain devotees:
- Begged him not to destroy it, saying this is not just a stone, but a seat of divine power.
- Promised to prove the divine presence through a miracle.
- They sang bhajans in Deepak Rāga (a musical mode traditionally linked with lighting lamps).
Then, according to Jain tradition:
- Ninety‑nine lamps filled with ghee lit up on their own.
- A cobra (Dharnendra dev) appeared in front of the Sultan as a divine protector of Parshvanath.
- Seeing this, the Sultan became fearful and stopped the destruction, and the temple and idol were saved.
From that time people started calling this idol:
> “Sultan Parshvanath” > – the Parshvanath whom even the Sultan did not dare to harm.
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5. Later history
- Over time, Sidhpur remained an important Jain center, with many temples and Tirthankar idols.
- The temple of Sultan Parshvanath has been renovated several times, including a major renovation in V.S. 2015 by the Jain Sangh.
- Today it is respected as:
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6. Spiritual significance (in simple words)
- Sultan Parshvanath Bhagwan reminds us that:
This whole history is accepted in the Śvetāmbara Jain tradition as a tirth-kathā (pilgrimage legend) of Sidhpur’s Parshvanath.