Antiquity of 108 Parshwanath Namavali by Krupali Virag Shah

Many people wonder why the various lists of 108 Parshwanath Tirths differ from each other when they read the Vandana, Stotra, or other books. To answer these questions, I consulted numerous books, both ancient and modern. I compiled information from the 108 Parshwanath Vandana, Stotra, Stavans, Naammala, Chaitya Paripati and other texts related to Shri Parshwanathji. The Naammala was particularly helpful for understanding the geography and history of various Jain pilgrimage sites.

Different books include a Namavali (list of names) of the 108 Parshwanath Tirths, detailing their locations Some of these still exist today with the same names and locations; others have evolved over time, with changes in names and locations. Some have been relocated and are now under the governance of different religious groups, and some have been lost with time without a trace.

I have personally visited over 500 Jain Tirths, 128 of which are associated with Shri Parshwanathji, as primarily mentioned in the Namavali of 108 Parshwanath Tirths. Lord Parshwanath, the 23rd Tirthanker, is revered under different names in various places. These names carry specific significance, often derived from the village name or the story behind the idol. Although there are 1008 names of Shri Parshwanathji, not just 108, it is clear that each name corresponds to different locations It is common to find Shri Parshwanathji as the Mulnayak (main deity) in ancient Tirths. The Tirths listed in the Namavali of 108 Parshwanath, attract more pilgrims compared to other Tirths, which is beneficial for their maintenance. Without pilgrims, these Tirths could become neglected and desolate

Many Tirths have been destroyed, and during invasions, their idols were moved to safer locations, often buried nearby. Over time, some Tirths lost their visitors due to difficult geographical locations and accessibility. Natural calamities, such as earthquakes and floods, may have also contributed to their destruction The original 108 Parshwanath Namavali differs significantly from the present one.

While the names of the Tirths may have changed, their importance remains. We should respect all Tirths equally and contribute to their preservation. According to the ancient 108 Parshwanath’ Namavali, there are many unknown Tirths alongside the known ones like Palitana, Girnar, Ratlam, Diu, Vadnagar etc. The Namavali mentions ‘Gopachal,’ now located near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, where a large idol of Lord Parshwanathji in the padmasana posture is enshrined. This idol has survived numerous attacks by non-believers.

Vadnagar, for instance, is considered the first foothill of Palitana, according to ancient records. In the past, the Palitana hill extended up to Vadnagar. An ancient Jain temple exists at the base of this area, where an idol of Lord Mahavir Swamiji, from the time of King Samprati and other idols are housed in the Hathiwala Derasa’. Nearby there is a temple dedicated to Lord Adishwarji, where an ancient idol of ‘Sahastrafana Parshwanathji’ is enshrined, possibly listed in the original 108 Parshwanath Namavali

A few years ago, a complete Jain temple with 52 peaks was discovered in Umta village near Vadnagar, along with over 74 idols of Jain Tirthankers. These idols were later distributed among the Digamber and Shwetamber sects, who built a new temple at the site and installed some of the idols there.

It is possible that some villages were known by different names in ancient times and were renamed during the rule of non-believers. For example, the village ‘Hadli’ may have also been called ‘Vadali’, where the ancient idol of Shri Amizara Parshwanathji is enshrined. Similarly, there is a village named ‘Hadali’ in Punjab, Pakistan. Kantipur is located in Nepal.

The 108 Parshwanathji Namavali by Shri Meghvijay Upadhyayshri mentions a Tirth of Shri Dudhadhari Parshwanathji near Vadali. Ellora is also included in this Namavali, where a colossal idol of Lord Parshwanathji is situated This is a Digamber Tirth, and it is possible that this idol is the one referenced in the book.

The ancient Tirth ‘Gangani’ may refer to ‘Ghanghani, ’ near Jodhpur, which has an ancient idol of Shri Chintamani Parshwanathji. Historical records indicate that a golden idol of Lord Parshwanathji was installed by King Chandragupta but was buried underground to protect it from invasions. This suggests that Gangani Parshwanathji may have been included in the 108 Parshwanath Tirths.

Bibipur, now known as Saraspur in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, was once home to a temple of Shri Chintamani Parshwanathji, built by Shantinath Sheth The temple was destroyed during invasions, but the idols were relocated to another temple in Ahmedabad (Jagvallabh Parshwanath temple, Kalushini pol).

The ancient Namavali also mentions Shri Dada Parshwanath at Vadodara, while the current 108 Parshwanath Namavali places the Shri Dada Parshwanath idol in Beda, Rajasthan. There is a possibility that entire villages ceased to exist due to invasions, resulting in the looting, destruction, or burial of temples and idols.

The book 108 Parshwanath Chaitya Paripati by Shri Panyas Kalyansagar provides valuable information on Tirths like Vadali, Vataprad, Gogunda, and Chambleshwar, which still exist today. The Shwetamber and Digamber sects have a dispute regarding the management of Shri Chambleshwar Parshwanath. Shri Panyas Ratnakushal Vijay M.S.’s 108 Parshvanath Sankhya Tirthmala also offers relevant information.

Shri Kavi Durlabhchand Gulabchand's 108 Parshvanath Sankhya Tirthmala mentions Tirths like Khamana Parshvanath, Jagannath Parshvanath, Chellan Parshvanath, and Tiwari Parshvanath, which are either no longer extant or are worshiped by other religions.

The 108 Godi Parshwanath Stotra lists places like Diu, Tiwari, Uthamana, Mehmdavad, Amod, and Kapadvanj Tirths exist in these locations, and idols of lord Parshwanath are present, but they are not mentioned in the current 108 Parshwanath Namavali. For example, Mehmdavad once had a temple of Shri Chintamani Parshwanath, destroyed by invaders.

The 108 Parshwanath Namavali has evolved over time, with some Tirth locations being added or removed. Idols have relocated, as seen as in the case of Shri Ghiya Parshwanath, originally in Patan, Gujarat, now enshrined in Manasmandir, Shahpur, Maharashtra.

Despite these changes, devotion and faith in Lord Parshwanath have remained steadfast The passage of time and destruction from invasions have made it challenging to trace the origins of many ancient Jain temples and artefacts, as their histories are often intertwined with broader historical and political events in the region.

Krupali Virag Shah is a working professional at a renowned university in Gujarat. She has adhered strictly to Jain principles since childhood. Two of her cousins took Diksha and became Jain nuns She also maintains a blog focused on Jain Tirthyatra, particularly the 108 Parshwanath Tirthyatra and other sacred sites, since 2018. Recently, she published a Gujarati-language book titled Soneri Sansmarano (Golden Memories) about her pilgrimage experiences. She is deeply interested in Jainism, including its history, Tirthas, ancient idols, and architecture.