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  • History of sultan parshvanath bhagwan
  • author Posted by
    Jain Follower

    History of sultan parshvanath bhagwan

    7 months ago 144

    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:
    - is about 63 cm high - white stone, in Padmāsan posture - has the snake hood (śeṣnāg / dharnendra’s chhatra) above the head
    • It is installed in a temple near Alwa ka Chauraha, Sidhpur.
    • Sidhpur was earlier called Śrīsthāl, on the bank of river Saraswati.

    ---

    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).

    ---

    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:

    1. Begged him not to destroy it, saying this is not just a stone, but a seat of divine power.
    2. Promised to prove the divine presence through a miracle.
    3. 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.

    ---

    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:
    - an ancient tirth, - a place of miracles and protection, especially connected with Dharnendra–Padmavati bhakti.

    ---

    6. Spiritual significance (in simple words)

    • Sultan Parshvanath Bhagwan reminds us that:
    - Jin idols are not mere stone for a shravak; they are a focus for deep devotion and spiritual protection. - True faith (śraddhā) and non-violence towards dharma can soften even a cruel ruler’s heart. - Dharnendra dev’s protection of Parshvanath symbolises how right faith and tapas protect the sādhak.

    This whole history is accepted in the Śvetāmbara Jain tradition as a tirth-kathā (pilgrimage legend) of Sidhpur’s Parshvanath.

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