Shri Bhelupur Tirth
Mulnayak
Nearly 60 cm. high, white colored idol of Bhagawan Parshvanath in the Padmasana posture (A Svetambar temple)
Tirth
It is in the Bhelupur street in Banaras City. Varanasi and Kashi are current names of this city.
Historicity
The history of this place belongs to the times of Bhagawan Adinath. The svayamvar of Sulochana, the daughter of the king of Kashi, was arranged here. This ancient tirth is the holy land of the four Kalyankas - chayanan, birth, diksha and attainment of omniscience - of Parshva Prabhu. In the times of Bhagawan Mahavir, this was the capital of the kings Malla Clan during the historical times, many temples were built here but many times, they became old and were renovated. This tirth is mentioned in ‘ Vividh Tirth Kalpa’ written by Acharya Jinaprabhsurisvarji in the 14th Century. During the last renovation the present idol was installed as Mulnayak in place of the old idol in the Svetambar temple. The old idol is there in the circumference passage. Since this is the Holy Land of influence - manifesting, obstacle - removing, present in person, Bhagawan Pashvanath, the twenty- third Tirthankara, even today, devotees see miracles happening here and there. Shasnadev Dharnendra and Shasandevi Padmavati of Parshva Prabhu lived in this holy region and therefore, every particle of this Holy Land is pure and deserves to the worshiped. It is beyond description.
Other Temples
At present, Digambar and Svetambar temples including this are 25 in all.
Works of art and Sculpture
During the course of digging at many places, ancient thing was found and they are collected and protected in the local Indian Kalabhavans. They prove the antiquity of this place. In this collection, there are also artistic idols of stone and metal.
Guidelines
The nearest railway station of Varnasi is at a distance of 3 kilometers. Bus services and private vehicles are available. For Svetambers and Digambars, Boarding and lodging provisions are adequate.
Trust
Shri Jain Svetambar Tirth Sangha, Bhelupur, Dist : Varanasi, State : Uttar Pradesh, India.