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Parshvanath Jain temples, Varanasi

Coordinates: 25°17′58.3″N 82°59′59.8″E / 25.299528°N 82.999944°E / 25.299528; 82.999944
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Parshvanath Jain temples, Varanasi
Bhelupur Jain temple
Śvētāmbara Jain Temple Bhelupur, Varanasi
Religion
AffiliationJainism
SectDigambar, Śvētāmbara
DeityParshvanath
FestivalMahavir Jayanti
Location
LocationBhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Geographic coordinates25°17′58.3″N 82°59′59.8″E / 25.299528°N 82.999944°E / 25.299528; 82.999944
Temple(s)3

Parshvanath Jain temples, Varanasi is a group of three Jain temples located in Bhelupur, Uttar Pradesh. The temples in Bhelupur were built to commemorate place for three kalyanaka of Parshvanatha.

History

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According to Jain literature, Varanasi was ruled by King Aśvasena, the father of Parshvanatha, in 9th century.[1][2] Varanasi is as one of the holiest Jain pilgrimage centres and believed to be birthplace of four Tirthankar — Parshvanatha, Suparshvanatha, Chandraprabha and Shreyansanath. This is considered as one of the holiest pilgrimage places.[3][4] Bhelpur is believed to be birthplace of Parshvanath, the 23rd Thirthankara,[5] hence, a place for three kalyanak - Chyavan, Janm, and Deeksha.[6][7][8] Mahavira also delivered sermons at Varanasi and Sarnath.[9]

Vividha Tirtha Kalpa, composed by Jinaprabha Suri in the 14th century CE, gives a detailed description of this temple.[10]

About temple

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A beautiful temple dedicated to Parshvanath is built here. The mulnayak of this temple is a 75 centimetres (2.46 ft) black-coloured digambar idol of Parshvanatha dating back to 9th-11th century and a 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) white-coloured Śvetāmbara idol of Parshvanatha.[4][7] It is located in Bhelapur about 5 km from the center of Varanasi city and 3 km from the Banaras Hindu University. It belongs to both sects of Jainism and is a holy tirtha or pilgrimage centre for Jains.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Balgoori 2013, p. 167.
  2. ^ Raychaudhuri 1953, p. 83.
  3. ^ "Varanasi" (PDF). Uttar Pradesh Tourism. p. 17.
  4. ^ a b UP tourism & Jain shrine.
  5. ^ Cort 2001, p. 179.
  6. ^ "kalyanak-bhumi". jainuniversity.org. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  7. ^ a b Singh 2009, p. 32.
  8. ^ Singh 2015.
  9. ^ Dodson 2021, p. 77.
  10. ^ Eck 2013, p. 76.
  11. ^ Singh 2009, p. 33.

Bibliography

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