ACHALAMJain tirthas of Kutch
Kutch is the home of the Achalgachchh samaj, and its derasars carry centuries of samaj history: Bhadreshwar on the coast, the five tirthas of Abdasa, and the 72 Jinalaya near Mandvi.
Bhadreshwar (Vasai) tirth
Bhadreshwar in Mundra taluka is the oldest Jain tirth of Kutch. Tradition dates it to the time just after Bhagwan Mahavir. It was greatly renovated in the 13th century by Jagdusha, the merchant famous for feeding people in a great famine. The central shrine stands at the end of a courtyard surrounded by 52 small shrines (devkulikas), in a plan like the Dilwara temples of Mount Abu. It was repaired after the earthquakes of 1819, 1844 and 1875, and rebuilt after the earthquake of 26 January 2001.
The Abdasa panchtirthi
Five villages of Abdasa taluka in western Kutch have grand derasars, most of them built by Kutchi Oswal sheths:
- Suthri: the tirth of Shri Ghrit Kallol Parshvanath.
- Kothara: Bhagwan Shantinath, consecrated on Maha Sud 13, VS 1918, by Acharya Ratnasagarsuri of Achalgachchh. It is called the most artistic derasar of the group, with a high fort-like plan. A sheth of Kothara built the Keshavji Nayak tunk on Shatrunjay.
- Jakhau: a derasar complex near the coast.
- Naliya: Bhagwan Chandraprabh Swami, consecrated in VS 1897, built at the wish of Sheth Narsi Natha.
- Tera: Shamla Parshvanath, a black stone image; first built in the 17th century and rebuilt in 1895 by the Mistris of Kutch.
72 Jinalaya tirth
The 72 Jinalaya tirth stands at Talwana, near Koday in Mandvi taluka: 72 white marble derasars around a central derasar, in a large green campus with a dharamshala. It was built in memory of Achalgachchhadhipati Acharya Gunsagarsuri, and the samaj panchang keeps its varshganth (VS 2052) on Vaishakh Sud 7 (Wed, 12 May 2027).
Dhaja days of every derasar
The ACHALAM app and this website list the dhaja day of 276 derasars in Kutch and beyond, so families can plan their visit. See all dhaja days.
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Questions people ask
Which are the Abdasa panchtirthi?
Suthri, Kothara, Jakhau, Naliya and Tera, five villages of Abdasa taluka in Kutch.
Who renovated Bhadreshwar?
The merchant Jagdusha, in the 13th century. It was rebuilt again after the 2001 earthquake.
Where is 72 Jinalaya?
At Talwana, near Koday in Mandvi taluka, Kutch. It was built in memory of Achalgachchhadhipati Acharya Gunsagarsuri.
Who consecrated the Kothara derasar?
Acharya Ratnasagarsuri of Achalgachchh, on Maha Sud 13, VS 1918.
ACHALAM
All tithis, pachchakhan times and parva reminders are in the free ACHALAM app.
Sources: Achal Gaccha (Wikipedia) · Aryarakshitsuri (Wikipedia) · Kalyansagarsuri (Wikipedia) · Achalgach, CVO DJM · Palitana temples (Wikipedia) · Girnar Jain temples (Wikipedia) · Bhadreshwar Jain Temple (Wikipedia) · Kothara and Naliya tirth, jainsite.com. Something not right? The samaj office can write to us at [email protected].