Kashi Jain Tirth - Uttar Pradesh

Jain scriptures have mentioned Kashi and its capital Varanasi on several occasions. During the medieval age many Jain temple of varied have constructed and several idols were installed in them. Jain customs have identified 24 tirtmark area of whom 4 were born on the land of Kashi. Owing to this tradition, perhaps Kashi has special significance in Jain traditions. Supasharvnath and Pasharvanath temples are found in the great abcentance in kashi because Kashi was birth place of these saints.

The jain temples belong both to the Shwetamber and Digamber Sect. The idol are sculpurel from black as well as white marble. Metal idols have also been installed in the Jain temple of Kashi.Personal sarways have plaied the time frame from the 883 A. D. to 1963 for the constradition of the temples.

The most ancient Jain temples of Khasi is those located in Bhelupur. Pasharvanath temple founded in 883 A. D. of Hrishabhnath. This is a very big stable.

Many Jain idols of 10th and 11th century have found where along with Jain Tirthankaras Jain couples have also been seen. Two tirthankar idols of the 10th century are located in the Sheetla Temple of Prahlad ghat and the wall of stair case at Lalita ghat. In both these instances the idols are without clothes. The Sheetla temple idol has been identified as that of Tirthankar. Hrishabhnath on the basis of the shoulder length locks of the saint.

Two Jain couple idols of the 10th century A. D. can be seen at the Sheetla temple in the Prahlad ghat. Idols of Jain couple of Khajusaho, Deograh and Mathura have also acquired great popularity. Jain couple idols have normally shown couple idols have normally shown couple in a tree shade in intopentent postures with one hand show. 'Abhay' or 'varmathra' the other hand hold a child. 4 Tirthanker idols of 1096 A. D. also situated in the Bhelupur Digambar temple. All the above idols have been carved from black marble.

Jeevraj papdiwal of Rajsthan has installed two 'Yakshi' idols at the Bhelupur temple in true Digamber tradition. In one statue Padmawati yakshi in Digamber tradition in sitting with folded legs in the other one she had adopted the 'Maharajleela san' posture. Four-armed padmawati has been shown with an umbralla of 3 snake hoots. Above this a smaller statue of a meditating Pasharvanath covered with an umbralla of 7serpent hoods. Close by the yakshie's traditional convergence the cook has also topicated. Yakshi has been topicated in the lotus. Posture with 3 of hands holding and the 4th holding ankush (a piercing weapon). In the other instance, lotus and rosary are only identifiable. At Bhadanini these iron Shwetamber and three Digamber sect temple established between 1768 A. D. to1895 A. D. Many idols are located their.

At Bhadaini 3 Shwetamber idols of Supassharvanath carved in marble can be seen. The idols are in 'Dhyan Madura'. The centered idol has the deal of 1768 carved on its back. Although no serpent hood umbrella is carved but the script clear by maintains the name of Supassharva nath. Pashavawati idols name the doli of 1816 A. D. cavrs of them.

The other Digamber Jain temple at Bhadaini is devoted to Suppassharvanath. This temple established in 1895 A. D. Almost 10 idols of various tirthas Kavas covered in black and white marble can be seen have the idoles are separate alters. One same alters the of 1906 A. D. and 1963 are also carved.

In this temple some small Yaksha couple idols are also shower along with a small statue of Neminath. Parent day temples of the Jain, seat show almost all the thirthanker and they have been established and they have established between the 10th and 20th century.

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