Taranga - Jain Tirth - Bh. Ajitnath

Address : Taranga, Mehsana, Gujarat-384350
Phone : 02751-53411

Location : Taranga, Gujarat, India

Railway Station : Taranga Railway Station And From There The Hill Is At An Upward Road Hike of 9 Kms.

From the Taranga Hill Station, Visnagar is 51 Kilometers away and Mehsana is 70 kilometers away. Bus service and service of private vehicles are available. There are board and lodging provisions for Svetambaras and Digambaras. There are comfortable blocks too.

In the pious land of Gujarat an unpre-cedented coordination of devotion and art has taken place, Taaranga Pilgrimage is a living evidence of this. On arriving at this pilgrimage situated in the lap of the mountains far from the madding crows of the city-life in the calm and quiet environment, the traveller not only feels self-peace, but he also becomes wonder-struck on viewing the art of the temple. Standing outside the temple if one sees around then the rare beauty of the mountains can be viewed. And, if one enters the temple, then the divine image of the Lord seems to speak out.

In the Jain scriptures several names of Taaranga are found viz. 'Taarur', 'Taarawar', 'Taarangiri' etc. Mention has been made in the informative book on Kumarpal written by Acharya Shree Somprabh Suri in Samvat 1241 that, inspired by Bapputacharya, King Vastsraya got the temple of Shree Siddhayika Devi built here. It is learnt from available references that king Kumarpal also got a 'Jinalaya' built here in Samvat 1212.

It is learnt from the stone-scriptures found in the pilgrimage that in 1284 'Sanghpati' (President of the Jain organisation) Vastupal got installed two idols of Lord Aadinath. Although none of those two idols are available today in the pilgrimage campus, the seats of both the idols mentioned in the stone scripture are present in the temple even today. Reference is available of the restoration of this pilgrimage in Samvat 1479 by Shree Govind Shreshthi of Idar. The last repair of the pilgrimage had been done under the inspiration of Acharya Shree Vijay Sen Suri. Besides this, several other persons also got niches and cells and images built in this temple. The main temple is 142 feet high, 150 feet long and 100 feet wide. The vastness of the hall is also worth viewing. The white coloured image of Tirthankar Shree Ajitnath in the lotus posture adorns the temple. This 2.75 metre high ancient image even today scatters its brilliant halo.

On the southern side of the main temple is the 'Koti Shila'. Many a sage had attained salvation by practising self-penance here. Besides the main temple there are 4 Shwetambar temples and 5 Digambar temples. Nearly one kilometer away is the 'Mokshabari Toonk' where the image of Tirthankar Shree Ajitnath is installed. There is the magnificent pedestal of the Lord erected in Samvat 1255.

Along with the vast open square, the well-curved, eye-catching, summit of the artistic, four-storeyed temple made of yellow stone looks beautiful like a God’s residence. It is said that the summit built by Kumarpla was of 32 storey. Possibly, at the time of renovation, the height was reduced. Since the wood used in building this temple was of the Tagar (veleriana hardwickii) wood, it is fire-extinguishing. when set to fire, it does not catch fire but oozes out water. This idol of god is lovely to see. Unprecedented depiction of art can be seen inside the temple premises. The sculptors of Gujarat have presented their unique art in carving out various postures of dancing divine belles, their eyes, noses and other parts of the body. There are hundreds of images of dancers, but every image is different from the other in its art.

This four-storeyed temple has been built with sandal coloured stones. On seeing the lofty spire it appears as if it is spreading the message of world peace as joy in the jungle.

History : Under the inspiration and instructions of Kalikalasarvajna Acharyashri Hemchandracharya, this temple was built in the year 1200 of the Vikram era. Of the 108 names of Siddhachalji, one name is ‘Tarangir’. For this reason, Taranga is regarded as a peak of Siddhachalji. In the centre of the main vast square of the length of 230 ft and the bearth 230 ft., this temple is 50 ft. long, 100 ft. broad and 142 ft. high. It has a perimeter of 639 ft. The 27500 cms. high wooden summit of this temple is beautifully carved. It has seven domes. On the right hand side of the temple, there are foot-idols of Bhagawan Ajitnath and of the 20 wondering Bhagawans and on the left hand side, there are a temple of Gaumukhji, the Samovasaran (the open lecture-hall), and the Jambudvip painting. On the outer platform of the main temple, there are idols of Padmavatidevi and Kumarpal Maharaja. The open square of this temple is ancient and beautiful. The sight of the splendid idol is really fascinating.

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From : World Renowned Jain Pilgrimages Reverence And Art By-Mahopadhyaya Lalitprabh Sagar

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