Sankeshwar

Sankeshwar
Address: Road No. 2, Patel Colony Sheri Number 2 Rd, Patel Colony, Jamnagar, Gujarat 361008

The main idol is of Bhagwan Parswanath which is nearly 6 feet tall in white marble in padmasana posture.

In ancient inscriptions, this tirth is referred to as Shankhapur. Ashadhi Shravak fell in the grip of dreadful miseries of life. Questions arose in his mind - "When shall I attain nirvana? When shall I be free from the bondage? When shall I be liberated ? When shall I attain salvation? " Answering all these questions, Damodar Swami, the ninth Tirthankara said "Parshvanath will be the twenty-third Tirthankara in the avasarpinikala (the descending half of the wheel of time). You will be his Ganadhar (prime disciple) named Aryaghosha and attain salvation there. He, then, became fully devoted in praying to Bhagawan Parshwanath and worshipping His idol.

In the year VS 1155, Sajjan Shah built the Shankheshvar temple on the banks of the Rupen river. There were 52 idols in the temple. In the year VS 1302, King was inspired by inconceivable grandeur of the idol and he renovated this temple. In the fourteenth century of the, this temple was destroyed by Muslims invaders. In the sixteenth century the splendid new temple with 52 idols, was built. In the year VS 1760 the Sangha built the new temple and got the idol reinstalled. Since then, this vast and beautiful temple with a 52 idols stands there. Besides, the original sanctuary, this temple has an open square, a decorated square, a vast square and two assembly halls.

The idol of Bhagawan Parshvanath is in a small temple to the right of the chief idol and the idol of Bhagawan Ajitanatha is in the small temple to the left of the main idol. The idols of Dharanendradev, Shri Padmavatidevi, Bhagwan Parshvanath's Yaksha and yakshini and Shri Chakreshvaridevi can also be found.

source: Adapted from www.jainheritagecentres.com