Shri Navsari Parshvnath Jain Shwetamber Tirth, Madhumati Colony, Navsari (Gujarat)

Mulnayak: Nearly 33 cms. high brown – coloured idol of Bhagwan Navsari Parshvanath in the Padmasana posture. There is an umbrella of 7 hoods over the head of the idol. This Parshvanath is also known as “Chintamani Parshvanath”.
Historicity: Navsari is an ancient and very prosperous city. The jewellery business of Navsari is world famous. More than 700 years ago, Navsari was a very famous and popular city of the jain community. Tejpal Shresthi, the younger brother of Minister Vastupal, had gone on a pilgrimage to the city of Soparak. After worshipping Bhagwan Adinath in Soparak, he halted in Navsari on his way back. He was attracted by the place and he had a desire to build a huge temple in Navsari. He built a beautiful and gorgeous 52 Jinalay and installed the idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath as the Mulnayak. This Parshvanath came to be known as “Navsari Parshvanath”.

During the Muslim invasion, the idol of Bhagwan was kept hidden and it is believed that this temple was converted into a mosque. This idol is believed to be of the period of King Samprati or maybe more older than that. There is a story behind the origin of this idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath. It is said that one night Goddess Padmavati came in the dreams of a Shravak residing in Navsari and told him about this  idol. She asked him to take this idol and install it in a temple. The next morning the Shravak went to the said place and dug there. On seeing this beautiful and alluring idol, he was overjoyed and his happiness knew no bounds. This news spread far and wide and people started gathering there.There was fresh Chandan and flowers on the idol. Nectar was flowing from the idol. Who had put the flowers and Chandan on the idol and from where was the nectar coming was the question on everybody’s lips. This idol was installed in a two storeyed temple.

On the top floor there is an ancient and alluring idol of Bhagwan Jiravala Parshvanath. Siddhachakra Bhagwan made of marble in the year V.S.1631 is also there. In the temple of Bhagwan Adinath, the artistic pictures should definitely be seen. This idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath is very influential and miraculous. It is
said that at night the sound of music and dance can be heard in the temple. Navsari is the birth place of Mahatapasvi Acharya Shri Kumudchandrasurishvarji. Many men and women have renounced the world and taken Diksha from here.
Other Temples: There is a beautiful temple of Bhagwan Vasupujya Swami in Mahaveer Society.
Scripture: A mention of Navsari Parshvanath is made in “Tirthmala”, “Vastupal Charitra”, “Shashwat Tirthmala”, “Prabandh Panchshati”, “Suryapur Chaityaparipati”, “Shri Sankheswar Parshvanath Chaand”, “108 Naamgarbhit Shri Parshvanath Stavan”, “Shri Parshvanath Naammala”, “Shri Parshvanath Prabhu ke 108 Naam ke Chaand” etc. There is an idol of Navsari Parshvanath in Kalikund Parshvanath temple in Santacruz, Mumbai.