Ludrawa Patan Jain Tirth - Bh. Shantinath

Jaiselmer, Rajasthan

Location : 295 Kilometers From Jodhpur In Rajasthan, India

Railway Station : 15 Kilometers From Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Jaisalmer is world famous for its specialised art. This is that center of art where finest engravings are seen not only in the temples but also on the mansions belonging to citizens. Not only this, the houses of even the common citizens are ornamented with art. On seeing the city it becomes apparent that the residents of this place had heartfelt love for art. The arches and the domes of the temples of this place are the fines examples of art. At the same time ceilings and balconies of the houses of rich people and traders are excellent examples of very fine perforations and engravings.

Not only from the viewpoint of art, but also as a museum of the oldest books, Jaisalmer has been much talked about. Among the libraries here, even the manuscripts penned on palm leaves hundreds thousands years ago, are available, besides the Jain scriptures written in letters of gold. These libraries also contain a unique collection of the ancient style paintings. The library at Jaisalmer is considered to be one of the most excellent libraries in the world.

Although the population of Jaisalmer is not so large today, but references indicate that once there were the houses of 2,700 elite Jains here. The saints and the poets have highly praised the glory of Jaisalmer pilgrimage in their writings.

Jaisalmer pilgrimage was constructed in the 13th century. The idol of the master of the pilgrimage, Lord Parshwanath, measures 105 cm., the consecration whereof was solemnised by the auspicious hands of Acharya Shree Jinkushal Suri. Mention has been found that Shree Jinpati Suri had caused the consecration to be done here in samvat 1263. As per the instruction of Acharya Shri Jinraj Suri, the renovation and salvation work on the temple began in samvat 1459. In Samvat, Shree Jaisingh Narsingh ranak got it reconsecrated by Acharya Shree Jinvardhan Suri.

On the fortress, there are, besides this temple, seven more temples, and there are five temples in the city which were built in the sixteenth-seventeenth century.

This temple built in Jaisalmer, in view of fine engraving, is an example of lively architectural creation conforming to the universalization and multidimensional sentiment of the Jains. The pillars, the arches and the gateway of this place are miracles in themselves. The Sculptors have left not a single piece of stone where some form of art is not visible. In the temples of Jaisalmer, unique art forms of pillars-arches-puppets-dances-dramas have been engraved. The kind of excellent samples of the art of Western Rajasthan which can be seen here, are nowhere else to be found. On having a glimpse of the art of this place, the viewers are reminded of Abu-Delwada, Ranakpur and Khajuraho, and they are compelled to fix their gaze. The Jaisalmer stone is considered to be very hard, despite this, the kind, of fine engraving the sculptors have done, ought to be cited as an example in the history of sculptural art. Besides the temple, the engravings done on buildings viz. the haweli (palatial house) of the Patwas, Saalam Singh's haweli, Nathmalji's haweli are also no less important. These have been discussed even in foreign countries. Factually, Jaisalmer is that place where the viewers and the tourists come across the lively models of art at every nook and corner. The tops of the temples, which are built with yellow stones look like summits of gold.

In the vast library of Jaisalmer the 800-year-old shawl as well as other personal effects of the first Dada Shree Jindutt Suri is still preserved. It is believed that these items couldn't be burnt down at the time of the performance of the last rites of Dada Gurudev. It was a great miracle for the devotees. The devotees of the Guru kept this shawl preserved in the book museum which the viewers see even today with a sense of surprise. Several influential saints, viz. Acharya Shree Jinvardhan Suri, Mahopadhyaya Samay Sundar et al visited this place. With the active co-operation of prosperous businessmen like Seth Shree Sandasa and Jagdhar, Jaisalmer has today become a legacy of the entire country. There was a time when the journey to Jaisalmer was considered to be very hazardous but it is not so now. Everyday hundreds and thousands of tourists may be seen here scrutinising and enjoying the sculptural art.

Lodravpur : Lodravpur is situated at a distance of 15 Kilometers from Jaisalmer and 10 Kilometers from Amarsagar. Once it had been a very prosperous capital city of the Laudra Rajputs. This is the place where the oldest university of India was established but as a result of the conflict between Jaisalji and Rawal Bhojdev, Laudrapur today remains as ruins. Jaisalji entered into a truce with Muhammed Ghori and invaded Laudrava, the capital of Bhojdev Rawal. Bhojdev and thousands of warriors were killed in the battle. The soldiers of Ghori converted Laudrav into ruins. Laudrav temple was damaged too. However, the idol of Shree Parshwanath which is installed at the Jain-pilgrimage Jaisalmer is factually the same which was established at Laudrapur pilgrimage before the battle.

Thirooshah got this great templerebuilt. Regarding the idol which remains installed here today as the principal deity, it is said that some top grade sculptors who were proceeding towards Multan, received a divine message in their dream that the idol which they were taking to Multan, should be bequeathed to Lodravpur pilgrimage. Thiroo Shah had received the idol after amply rewarding the sculptors. According to another belief, after salvaging the Lodravpur pilgrimage, Thirooshah had set out with a pilgrim-party for the pilgrimage of Palitana. While returning back he had brought this idol from Patan. The chariot on which the idol had arrived here, remains preserved here even today whereas some people maintain that this chariot belongs to those sculptors who were proceeding to Multan. A stone plaque engraving informs that the idol was consecrated by the lotus hands of Acharya Shree Jinrajsuri on Migsar Shukla Dwadashi in Vikram Samvat 1673. This idol of the principal deity Shree Sahasraphana Chintamani Parshwanath which glorifies this pilgrimage is the oldest rare idol in the country which is ornamented with a thousand cobra-hoods.

Although the work of renovation has been completed recently, the real credit of building and preserving this pilgrimage goes to Thiroobhai Shah. From near and around Laudrapur up to distant places, the ruins of thousands of buildings remind us of the ancient history. This very beautiful pilgrimage established in a peaceful environment amidst the sandy mounds of the desert, is like a blooming wish-fulfiller Kalpvriksha.

Unprecedented samples of the architectural art can be seen within the temples presincts. The gateway as well as the campus of the temple are extremely beautiful. At the summit of the temple there are the remains of a Kalpvriksha about which it is said that it is really a wish-fulfiller. For the preservation and beautification of this tree, the management has placed an attractive cover on it. The pillars, ceilings and spires of the temples here are exqutsite examples of finest engravings.

The presiding deity of the temple is also considered to be extremely miraculous and influential. Besides the common travellers and tourists, highly placed commanders of the Indian army also come here to pray and to worship. It is popularly believed that the reigning deity fulfills the wishes expressed in his name. Here the Nagraj (serpent god) is also sometimes seen.

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From : World Renowned Jain Pilgrimages Reverence & Art
By : Mahopadhyaya Lalitprabh Sagarji
Aavas : Mahaveer Bhawan, Jain Bhawan

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
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