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Navsari parshwanath story
Here is the popular Jain kathā of Navsari Pārshwanāth Bhagwān (also called Chintāmaṇi Pārshwanāth) in very simple form:
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1. Navsari – an old Jain centre
- Navsari (Gujarat) is an ancient and prosperous city.
- For many centuries it has been a strong Jain centre with many shrāvaks, business people, and temples.
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2. Tejpal’s desire to build a grand Jain temple
- About 700+ years ago, a great Jain śrāvak named Tejpal Sheth (younger brother of the famous minister Vastupal) was returning from Sopārak after doing darshan of Bhagwān Ādināth.
- On his way back he halted in Navsari. He liked the city very much and felt deep spiritual peace there.
- A strong desire arose in his heart:
- With full shraddhā and wealth, he built a very beautiful and huge 52 Jinalay (a temple with many shrines).
- As Mūl-nāyak (main deity) he installed an idol of Bhagwān Pārshwanāth.
- Because this powerful form of Pārshwanāth was in Navsari, he became famous as “Navsari Pārshwanāth”.
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3. Time of invasion – idol kept hidden
- Later, during Muslim invasions, there was danger to many temples.
- To protect the idol, the Jains hid the Mūl-nāyak Pārshwanāth Prabhu in the ground at a safe place.
- It is believed the original temple was even converted into a mosque, but the idol itself remained protected under the earth by the devs and dharm-shraddhā of the Jains.
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4. Divine dream of Padmāvatī Devī
Many years passed. People had forgotten where the idol was hidden.
- One night, a Jain śrāvak of Navsari saw a divine dream.
- Padmāvatī Devī (the śāsan-devī of Pārshwanāth Bhagwān) appeared and told him:
> “At this particular place, under the earth, lies the ancient and powerful idol of Pārshwanāth. > Bring it out with respect and install it in a temple.”
- The shrāvak woke up with great faith and joy.
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5. Discovery of the idol
- Next morning, with other Jains, he went to the spot shown in the dream.
- They started digging the ground carefully.
- After some depth they saw a very beautiful and radiant idol of Pārshwanāth Bhagwān.
Special points mentioned in kathā:
- The idol was fresh, shining, and covered with chandan and flowers, as if someone had just done pūjā.
- From the idol it is said that amṛit (nectar-like liquid) was gently flowing.
- Everyone was surprised:
- The Jains understood in their heart that this was the krupā (grace) of Pārshwanāth and Padmāvatī Devī, showing that the idol is divya (divine) and very jāgrut (spiritually awakened).
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6. Installation as Navsari / Chintāmaṇi Pārshwanāth
- With great utsav (celebration), the idol was installed in a newly built temple in Navsari.
- The temple became famous as Navsari Pārshwanāth Jain Tirth.
- This form of Pārshwanāth is also lovingly called “Chintāmaṇi Pārshwanāth” – meaning:
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7. Miraculous faith of devotees
Traditional beliefs around Navsari Pārshwanāth:
- The idol is considered very prabhāvī and chamatkārīk (powerful and miraculous).
- Many shrāvaks feel that by doing:
- There is also a popular belief that at night, devs come and offer their own worship, and the subtle sound of divine music and dance can sometimes be heard (this is part of traditional kathā, told to increase bhakti, not for fear or show).
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8. Spiritual message of this kathā
What do we learn from the Navsari Pārshwanāth story?
- Bhakti with shraddhā never goes waste
- Even if the idol was hidden for many years, devs protected it and finally brought it back through a dream.
- Tirth and mūrtis are preserved by dharm-bhāv
- Invaders can damage buildings, but the true tirth lives in the devotion and right conduct of Jains.
- Pārshwanāth’s compassion is always active
- As “Chintāmaṇi”, he reminds us that the real removal of worries comes from: - Following ahimsā, satya, asteya, aparigraha, - Reducing rāg–dvesh, - And walking towards samvar–nirjarā (stopping and shedding karmas).
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If you want to read a simple life‑story of Bhagwān Pārshwanāth (his janma, dīkshā, keval‑jñān, etc.), you can see it here
