Shri Shankeshwar Tirth

In ancient scripture, this tirth is referred to as Shankhapur. Ashadhi Shravak fell, in the grip of dreadful miseries of life. Damodar Swami, the ninth Tirthankar said "Parshvanath will be the twenty-third Tirthnkar in the avasarpinikala (the descending half of the wheel of time). You will be his Ganadhar (prime disciple) named Aryaghosha and attain salvation there. He, then, became fully absorbed in praying to Bhagawan Parshvanath and worshipping His idol. The idol of Bhagawan Parshvanath then began to be worshipped in various ways in the world of Gods, in the world of hellish beings and on earth. The history of the temple :- (1) In the year 1155 of the Vikram era, Sajjan Shah built the Shankeshvar temple on the banks of the Rupenriver. (2) In the year 1286 of the Vikram era, Vastupal Tejpal renovated this temple under instructions of Shri Vardhamansurisharji Maharaj Saheb. There were 52 idols in the temple. (3) In the year 1302, King was awe-inspired by inconceivable grandeur of the idol and inspired by Shri Uktasuri Maharaj Saheb, he renovated this temple and made it comparable to a God’s residence. (4) In the fourteenth century of the Vikram era, this temple was destroyed by Muslims. (5) In the sixteenth century of the Vikram era, under the inspiration of Vijaysensurishvarji Maharaj Saheb, the splendid new temple with 52 idols, was built. (6) In the year 1760 of the vikram era, the sangha built the new temple and got the idol reinstalled. Since then, this vast and beautiful temple with a 52 idols and passage for going round it.stands there. Besides, the original sanctuary, this temple has an open square, a decorated square, a vast square and two assembly halls. Even if volumes of books are written, they cannot fully describe the miracles of this temple. The idol of Bhagawan Bhidbhanjan Parshvanath is in small temple to the right of the chief idol and the idol of Bhagawan Ajitnath is in the small temple to the left of the main idol. The idols of Nagraj Dharanendra, Shri Padmavatidevi, Parshva Yaksha and Shri Chakreshvaridevi are there to protect the tirth, to remove the obstacles of the worshippers and to fulfill their wishes. On the tenth day of the month of Posh (the tenth day of the dark half of the month of Magasar) and during the Diwali days, thousand of pilgrims come here to observe a two-day long fast. At present, Shri Shankeshvar tirth is under renovation at the cost of crores of rupees. The doors of the small temples on the passage for going round the temple will be enlarged and the height of their summits will be raised.