Ayodhya (UP)

Ayodhya (UP)
Shri Digamber Jain Ayoddhya Teerth Kshetra Committee, Bari Moorti, Raiganj, Ayoddhya, District Faizabad (U. P.) Pin - 224123 Phone—05278 232308, 234001, Mobile 09450523104.

According to Jain scriptures Ayoddhya is an immortal place where all the 24 Teerthankars would keep taking birth and get the salvation from Sammed Shikharji. Due to Hundasarpini kaal only five of the present tirthankars were born there and rest elsewhere. As per Jain scriptures this town was designed by Kuber by the order of Saudharm Indra. At this place Rishabh Deo’s Garbh and Janm Kalyanak took place. Apart from Bhagwan Rishabdev, the other Tirthankar to take birth here were Bhagwan Ajitnath, Abhinandan Nath, Sumatinath and Anant Nath.

Since it was the beginning of the end of the third kaal, it was Lord Rishabh Dev who initiated the Karm-Yug and imparted the knowledge of Asi(weapons), Masi (Art of Writing language), Krishi (Agriculture), Vidya (Dance and Music and Arts), Shilp (Creation and Construction) and Vanijya (Commerce). He invented script and numerology while teaching his daughters, Brahmi and Sundari. This is the place where he taught 72 arts to his sons including Bharat and Bahubali. He also showed the Dharm-Marg (the path of self-perception, self-welfare) by accepting Muni-Deeksha ( to be ascetic) at Prayag (Allahabad). After him, second Teerthankar Ajit Nath, 4th Abhinandan Nath, 5th Sumati Nath and 14th Teerthankar Anant Nath also took birth here. In all 18 Kalyanak Mahotsava have taken place at this place. Ayoddhya is also known for Maryada Purushottam Lord Ram who were also born here. Ayoddhya has been the capital of Ikshwakuvanshi kings. From last Manu to 14 lac generations of Ikshwaku vanshi ruled here.

Tonk of Lord Rishabh Dev
The tonk of Lord Rishabdev is situated at Baksaria Tola, Purana Thana Mohalla of Ayoddhya. It is said that there used to be a Jain temple this place, where later on a mosque was being built in the Mughal Period. At that time Lala Keshari Mal, a resident of Delhi politely informed local Nawab Faizuddin that that the site where the mosque was being built, was the birth place of Bhagvan Adinath. Therefore there should be this temple at that place. On hearing this, the Nawab asked for a proof. Then Lala Keshari Mal said that if that place is dug up, three things would be excavated, viz Ghee Deepak, Swastika and a Coconut. On the order of Nawab, this place was dug up and these three things were found. Then the Nawab ordered his men to stop building the mosque there and allowed a Jain Temple to be built there. Then Jains had built a Tonk there and instead of an idol they put Charans (foot images) there.

Temples & Idols
(1). Glorious Jinalaya with a pinnacle, situated at Mohalla Raiganj has a very captivating 31 Ft. high idol of Bhagvan Adinath in standing posture. In the same premises, there is a Samavsharan Mandir and a Teen (three) Chaubeesee (24) Temple, which are the centre of attraction. There are two high altars on the each side of the idol of Bhagvan Adi Nath. On one side there are idols of Bhagvan Ajit Nath & Abhinandan Nath and on the other side those of Sumati Nath and Anant Nath. These magnificent idols are in standing posture and 5 Ft. high. On another altar, there is an idol of Bhagvan Chandra Prabhu. Ganini Pramukh Shree Gyanmati Mataji initiated the gigantic task of redeveloping all the birth places of 24 tirthankars and in this process Ayodhya is the prominent one and not only the temple but all the tonks are being redeveloped and temples being constructed there.

(2). A temple around 300 years old, is situated in Mohalla Katra. In the main altar of this temple, a 2’ 9” high white idol of Bhagvan Adinath is situated in sitting posture. This was established in V.S. 2009. On each side of this idol, the idols of Bhagvan Ajitnath (V.S. 1548) and Sumatinath are established. There are other idols also at this place. There are three idols in second altar and among them it is Bhagvan Abhinandan nath’s idol which is considered the most prominent. It was established in V.S. 1224. In the lobby, in front of this altar, a Tonk is situated, where Bhagvan Sumatinath’s foot images are established. These foot images were renovated by lala Keshari Mal Agarwal, a resident of Delhi in V.S. 1781. Third altar is that of Bhagvan Adinath, here a 9 Ft. high very beautiful idol of Bhagvan Adinath in standing posture is established. It has on it’s one side an idol of Bhagvan Bharat and on the other side that of Bhagvan Bahubali both in standing posture and 5’6” in height. All of three idols were established in V.S. 2009. In the last altar, the main idol is that of Bhagvan Parshv Nath, which is 15 Ft in height, there is another idol of Bhagvan Chandra Prabhu, which is 9 feet high. These idols were established in V.S.1548. There is a beautiful pinnacle above this temple.

(3). Tonk of Anant Nath, In Rajghat colony, on the bank of Sarayu river, there is a room where the foot prints of Bhagvan Anant Nath are engraved on a raised platform. The length of footprints is 7.5 inches. There is a pinnacle above the room. Note - In July 2013 a grand sitting postured idol of Bhagvan Anant Nath has been consecrated at this place and a new temple has been built here by Pradyumn Kumar ( Chhoti Shah ) Amar Chand Jain- Tikait Nagar ( Barabanki- U.P. ) on the inspiration of P. Ganinee Pramukh Shri Gyanmati Mataji.

Tonk of Abhinandan Nath- It is near Katra school, here foot images of Bhagvan Abhinandan Nath are established, made of marble. There is also a pinnacle above it. Shilanyas for the construction of a new temple has been done here in July 2013 by Shri Virendra Kumar Jain - Tikait Nagar.

Tonk of Adi Nath - This tonk is situated near Purana Thana Mohalla. A new magnificent temple has been built at this Tonk in the year 2011 by shri Kailash Chand Jain Sarraf -Chowk Sarafa, Lucknow by the inspiration of P. Mataji.

Tonk of Ajit Nath - It is having old Charans of Bhagvan Shri Ajit Nath. Shilanyas for the construction of a new temple has also been done here in July 2013 by Shri Komal Chand Jain-Mahmoodabad ( Dist.Sitapur-U.P.) by the inspiration of P.Mataji.

In the redevelopment of all these Tonks the major contribution is of Swasti shri Ravindra Kirti Swamiji- Peethadheesh of Jambudweep-Hastinapur & President of Ayodhya Teerthkshetra Committee.