Parshvanath Jain temples, Varanasi

Parshvanath Jain temples, Varanasi is a group of three Jain temples located in Bhelupur, Uttar Pradesh.

Parshvanath Jain temples, Varanasi
Śvētāmbara Jain Temple Bhelupur, Varanasi
Religion
Affiliation	Jainism
Sect	Digambar, Śvētāmbara
Deity	Parshvanath
Festival	Mahavir Jayanti
Location
Location	Bhelupur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Geographic coordinates	25°17′58.3″N 82°59′59.8″E
Temple(s)	3

History

According to Jain literature, Varanasi was ruled by King Aśvasena, the father of Parshvanatha, in 9th century.^[1][2] Varanasi is as one of the holiest Jain pilgrimage centres and believed to be birthplace of four Tirthankar — Parshvanatha, Suparshvanatha, Chandraprabha and Shreyansanath. This is considered as one of the holiest pilgrimage places.^[3][4] Bhelpur is believed to be birthplace of Parshvanath, the 23rd Thirthankara,^[5] hence, a place for three kalyanak - Chyavan, Janma, and Deeksha.^[6][7][8] Mahavira also delivered sermons at Varanasi and Sarnath.^[9]

Vividha Tirtha Kalpa, composed by Jinaprabha Suri in the 14th century CE, gives a detailed description of this temple.^[10]

Description

The temple has a 75 centimetres (2.46 ft) black-coloured digambar idol of Parshvanatha dating back to 9th-11th century and a 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) white Śvetāmbara idol of Parshvanatha.^[4][7] It is in Bhelapur about 5 km from the center of Varanasi city and 3 km from the Banaras Hindu University. It belongs to both sects of Jainism and is a tirtha or pilgrimage centre for Jains.^[11]

• 
  Parshvanath Digambar idol
• 
  Parshvanath Digambar temple
• 
  Parshvanath-Padmavati temple
• 
  Main vedi inside Parshvanath-Padmavati temple

See also

• Chandrawati Jain temple
• Sarnath Jain Tirth
• Hastinapur