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Teerthraj Gajpantha
is very auspicious for jains. It is believed that seven Balbhadra (saints)
of Jain Sect known as Vijay, Achal, Sudharma , Suprabh,
Nandi, Nandimitra and Sudarshan got salvation here. They
took along with them eight crores of Yadav Kings to salvation from his place. In
the temple there are Shweta Charan of Sudarshan, Nandi and Nandimitra Balabhadras. Further down there are Shweta Charan of Suprab, Sudharma, Gajkumar, Achal and Vijay Balbhadra.
In Shantinath Charit there is a references of Gajdhwaj
Hillock at this place which shows that Gajdhwaj and Gajpanth are one and the same
names of the small hillock. In the ancient literature there is
a reference of the vicinity of Anjangiri hillock near
Gajadhwaja.
A beautiful 194 inches tall statue in gray colour sculpture of Bhagwan Parshwanatha was found
here during an excavation. Seth Shobharam Bhagwandas from Pune helped in reinstallation of this statue.
Near to this temple there are two cave temples.
At the foot of the Gajadhwaja Hill, there is a beautiful
garden and the Samadhi ( shrine) of Kshemendra Kirti. There is also a temple which has Mahaveer statues in four directions.
The staircase to the Gajadhwaja Hillock goes from this temple.
There are two caves on a hill in Anjaneri area which is 16
kms.from Gajpantha. In one of the caves, the 3 feet high Padmasan
idols of Bhagwan Mallinath is engraved and 5 idols are engraved on the other. In the foothill temple the shell inscripation of 12th century had a five feet idol of a Tirthankara.
Other Places: In the north of Mhasrul
village there is an old caravansary (Dharmashala) surrounded by a fortification.
There is a Jain Chaityalaya a temple of 100 years old in its vicinity. This temple
houses a 25 inches tall statue of Bhagwan Mahavira in Padmasana
Mudra. In the left side of the statue of Bhagwan
Mahavira there is Adinath’s statue in Padmasana Mudra. Also there are 31 other statues, which include seven Balbhadras and one Gajkumar statue. In front of the temple is a big tower which carries four sculptures of Mahaveer
Jain. Near by in the premises there is a Saraswati
temple and Mehta Dharmshala developed at the instance of Bhattarak Kshemendra Kirti.
Fair: Every year on the 14th day of Magh
an annual gathering is organised here to celebrate Jalayatra and Gajaratha ceremonies. |
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