Parshvanath Jain temples, Varanasi is a group of three Jain temples located in Bhelupur, Uttar Pradesh. Bhelupur is traditionally identified by Jains as the place associated with three kalyanakas of Parshvanatha—conception, birth and renunciation.
History According to Jain literature, Varanasi was ruled by King Aśvasena, the father of Parshvanatha, in 9th century. 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. Bhelpur is believed to be birthplace of Parshvanath, the 23rd Thirthankara, hence, a place for three kalyanak - Chyavan, Janma, and Deeksha. The Jain association of Bhelupur is also supported by archaeological remains from the area. Heritage studies of Varanasi record the discovery of Jain images at Bhelupur dating principally from the 9th to 11th centuries CE. These sculptures provide archaeological evidence for a medieval Jain presence at Bhelupur, independent of the traditional association of the site with the life of Parshvanatha. Mahavira also delivered sermons at Varanasi and Sarnath.
Vividha Tirtha Kalpa, composed by Jinaprabha Suri in the 14th century CE, gives a detailed description of this temple. The reference in the Vividha Tirtha Kalpa demonstrates that Varanasi was established within Jain pilgrimage literature by the 14th century.
Archaeological remains Archaeological discoveries at Bhelupur provide important evidence for the history of Jainism at the site. A number of Jain sculptures recovered from the area have been assigned principally to the 9th–11th centuries CE. The surviving medieval sculptures predate the present temple structures and indicate that Bhelupur had already developed as a Jain religious centre during the early medieval period. Among the sculptures associated with the site is the black stone image of Parshvanatha now worshipped in the Digambara temple. The image measures approximately in height and has been assigned to the 9th–11th centuries CE.
Description The temple has a black-coloured digambar idol of Parshvanatha dating back to 9th-11th century and a white Śvetāmbara idol of Parshvanatha. The presence of separate Digambara and Śvētāmbara shrines reflects the importance of Bhelupur as a pilgrimage centre for both major Jain traditions. It is in Bhelupur 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 tirtha or pilgrimage centre for Jains.
The pilgrimage complex includes the Parshvanatha Digambara temple, the Śvētāmbara temple and a Parshvanatha–Padmavati temple. Sacred footprints associated by tradition with Parshvanatha are also preserved at Bhelupur.
Religious significance Bhelupur forms part of the wider Jain sacred geography of Varanasi. Jain tradition associates the city and its surroundings with four Tirthankaras: Parshvanatha at Bhelupur, Suparshvanatha at Bhadaini, Chandraprabha at Chandrawati and Shreyansanatha in the Sarnath–Singhpuri area. For Parshvanatha, Bhelupur is particularly associated with conception, birth and renunciation. His attainment of kevala jnana, however, is associated in Jain tradition with Ahichchhatra, rather than Bhelupur.
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See also Chandrawati Jain temple Sarnath Jain Tirth Hastinapur
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