The story you are referring to is found in Jain tradition and folklore and is most notably associated with the miraculous events surrounding certain revered Jain idols (murtis), especially during times of danger or desecration of Jain temples.

One of the most popular versions comes from the history of the Shri Shankheshwar Parshwanath temple in Gujarat. According to Jain legends, when invaders threatened to destroy the temple and its idol, it is said that the idol of Parshwanath Bhagwan miraculously came alive or took on a supernatural form to protect itself and the temple. In some accounts, the idol is said to have spoken, moved, or even disappeared to avoid desecration, only to reappear later.

Another similar story is attached to the Shri Shatrunjaya Tirtha (Palitana), where legends speak of the presiding Tirthankar idol warning devotees of impending danger, or miraculously protecting itself from harm.

These stories are not found in the canonical Jain Agamas, but rather in the tirtha-māhātmya literature (glorification of pilgrimage places), oral traditions, and temple chronicles. They are meant to inspire faith in the sanctity and divine power (chamatkar) of Jain Tirthankara images and to highlight the importance of ahimsa (non-violence) and piety, even in the face of adversity.

Purpose in Jainism: Such stories reinforce the Jain values of devotion (bhakti), the importance of temples as places of spiritual energy, and the belief that the Tirthankaras, though liberated, continue to bless and inspire devotees through their images. However, Jain philosophy maintains that Tirthankaras, after attaining liberation, do not intervene directly in worldly affairs; thus, these stories are understood more as miraculous legends (chamatkar kathā) rather than literal doctrines.

References:

• "Jain Tirtha Mahatmya Granths" (various regional texts)
• "The Jaina Path of Purification" by Padmanabh S. Jaini
• "Jainism: An Introduction" by Jeffery D. Long

If you have a specific temple or story in mind, I can provide more detailed information based on Jain sources.