Table of Contents
Overview of Sultan Parshwanath Temple in Sidhpur
The Sultan Parshwanath Jain Tirth is located at Alwa ka Chauraha in Sidhpur, Gujarat. The temple’s main deity is a 63 cm tall white marble idol of Bhagwan Sultan Parshwanath in the Padmasana posture.
Historical Background of Sultan Parshwanath
The Ancient City of Sidhpur and Its Temples
Sidhpur, an ancient city on the western bank of the Saraswati River, was known as Shristhal in ancient times. In V.S. 1184, Sidhraj Jaisingh built a grand temple known as “Sidhvihar,” surrounded by 24 small temples. Around the same period, his minister Alingdev constructed the “Choumukh Vihar” temple and installed an idol of Bhagwan Parshwanath, which is believed to be the idol known today as Sultan Parshwanath.
The Miracle of Sultan Parshwanath
During the 16th-17th century, Sidhpur was home to five Jain temples and 190 Thirthankara idols. When Alauddin Khilji attempted to destroy the Parshwanath idol, a miraculous event occurred—99 lamps filled with ghee lit up by themselves, and a cobra (Dharnendra Dev) appeared. After witnessing these miracles, Alauddin spared the temple, and the idol was thereafter known as “Sultan Parshwanath.”
Features of the Sultan Parshwanath Temple
Artistic and Architectural Significance
The Sultan Parshwanath idol is considered to date back to the period of King Samprati. Sidhpur, once a significant pilgrimage center known as “Matragaya,” features temples with intricate architecture. The famous Ranakpur temple, Trilokya Deepak Prasad or Dharna Vihar, was inspired by the Choumukh Vihar temple built by Alingdev.
Visiting the Sultan Parshwanath Temple
Travel and Accommodation
Sidhpur is well-connected by rail and road, with the railway station located just 3 km from the temple. Nearby tirths include Metrana (13 km away) and Taranga (45 km away). The area offers dharamshala and bhojanshala facilities, along with three Upashrayas for spiritual practice.
Scriptures and Historical References
Sultan Parshwanath is mentioned in several Jain scriptures, including “Sidhpur Chaitya Paripati,” “Titthmala,” “365 Shri Parshva Jin Naammala,” “Sankheswar Parshvanath Chaand,” and “108 Naam Garbhit Shri Parshvanath Stavan.”
Contact Information for the Temple
For more details, you can reach out to: Shri Sidhpur Shwetambar Jain Murtipujak Sangh
Post: Sidhpur, District: Patan, Gujarat – 384 151, India.
Phone: 02767-220029, 02767-220109
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