Here is a simple history of Shri Bhiladiyaji Parshvanath Bhagwan:
The tirth is in
Bhiladi/Bhildi village (near Deesa, Gujarat).
The main idol is of
Bhagwan Parshvanath, black in colour, in
padmāsan with
seven‑hooded serpent (sapt-phalak) above the head.
It is a
Śvetāmbara Jain tirth.
- Very ancient city – Trambavati / Bhimapalli
In old Jain inscriptions and granths this place is mentioned as:
-
Trambavati – a very prosperous Jain city
-
Bhimpalli (Bhimapalli) – name used in many Jain references
In its peak time it is described as having:
- 125 Jain temples with shikhars
- 125 wells and many step-wells and lakes
- Many idols of Tirthankars and dev-devis
- Important Jain events in old times
From Jain records and inscriptions (13th–14th century Vikram Samvat):
- Several
Acharyas of Tapa Gacchha stayed and did
chāturmās here.
-
Dikshā of many Jain Acharyas took place in this city.
- Idols of
Gautam Gandhar and
Ambikā Devī with old inscriptions were installed here.
- Destruction of the old city
Around
V.S. 1353, as per Jain tradition, Acharya Shri Somprabhsuriji of Tapa Gacchha foresaw that the city would be destroyed.
- He asked people to
leave the city.
- A
new town (Radhanpur) was settled elsewhere.
- The old Jain city was then
ruined and lost under earth for a long time.
- Re‑settling of Bhiladi / Bhildi (modern village)
Many years later, in
V.S. 1872, inspired by
Shri Mehta Dharamchandbhai (Deesa),
- A Brahmin named
Anada (or Anand) resettled the place.
- The new village became known as
Bhiladi / Bhildi.
- Idol of Bhiladiya Parshvanath and its importance
- The idol of
Bhiladiya Parshvanath is
very ancient.
- Tradition says it was
pratishthit by a Shrut-kevali / Kapil Kevali in very early times (i.e. a spiritually very high Acharya).
- Because of repeated destruction and rebuilding of the area, many
old artistic idols and remains are still found in the soil.
- Attempt to move the idol – miraculous incident
A famous local Jain story:
- Before the village was re‑settled, some shravaks from a nearby village tried to
take the Parshvanath idol from the underground cellar to their own place.
- When they lifted it out,
- The idol
suddenly became very heavy / enlarged,
-
Wild bees began to swarm around it.
- Understanding this as a
divine sign that the Bhagwan did not wish to be moved,
- They
immediately put the idol back in its original place.
- From then on, devotees believe this idol to be
very powerful and chamatkārī.
- Later temple construction and renovation
- After resettlement, a
new temple was built and other idols (like Neminath) were also installed.
- A major
renovation (jeernoddhār) and
pratishthā was done in
V.S. 2027 under the guidance of Acharyas like
Acharya Shri Bhadrasurishvarji and others.
- Later, a
large temple complex with 52 small temples around it and
Anjanshalaka–Pratishthā Mahotsav took place in
V.S. 2037.
- Bhiladiya Parshvanath is worshipped as a
very “jagrut” (awake, responsive) Bhagwan.
- Many devotees come with
mannat (vows) and believe their wishes are fulfilled.
- A
yearly fair (melo) is held on
Paush Krishna Dashami (10th day of dark half of Paush).
- One more Jain temple is also present in the village.
You can read a simple, detailed Jain story of this tirth here
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