72 Jinalaya, Mandavi, Bhuj.
As per our ‘package’, the itinerary for the second day included a visit to the famous Bhuj Museum, followed by a visit to Vijay Vilas Palace, and finally, a trip to the private Mandvi Beach. Lunch and high tea were also included. After that, it was back to The Tent City.
Departure time for the bus was 8:30 AM, so it was a bit early breakfast and a golf buggy ride to the bus parking. With some fast thinking and faster footwork, I managed to secure front seats for our group. In the bus, we were handed over water bottles and a bag containing soft drink tetra packs and snacks. The bus departed on time.
We passed through Bhuj city. Our guide informed us that the approach road to the museum was closed due to concretisation work. So, to make up for missing out on the Museum, they were going to show us 72 Jinalaya, a famous Jain pilgrimage place.
72 Jinalaya is located in the village of Talwana in Mandavi Rural Taluka.
First view is of a grand three-storied, three-arched, and beautifully engraved main gate of 72 Jinalaya. Supporting main pillars are huge and adorned with temple-like engravings with beautiful statues inside. The gate is a beautiful work of engraving art worth admiring. Surprisingly, there was no boundary wall.
Large barren area, which I suppose was meant for parking, but it was not paved, and there were no markings of any kind. Our driver just parked it in that unmarked area.
After the gate, the paved path leads to the main temple, but before that, there is a circular junction with four paths leading away; one path goes toward the guest houses, etc. The straight path leads to the main temple, and the paths to the left and right lead to Guru Mandirs. The Guru mandirs are dedicated and are, in fact, samadhi mandirs of revered spiritual gurus. The one in white marble is dedicated to Acharyabhagawant Gunasagar Surishwarji Maharaj, who was the pioneer and inspiration behind the entire 72 Jinalaya Tirth. The other guru mandir, made of red sandstone, is dedicated to His Holiness Kailas Sagar Surishvarji.
The main complex consists of 72 temples dedicated to 24 Tirthankars of the past, 24 Tirthankars of the present and 24 Tirthankars of the future. The main temple is dedicated to Adiswar Bhagwan (Lord Rishabhdev).
The temples are built of pristine white marble. Pillars, arches and walls are all beautifully engraved with floral designs and statues of gods and goddesses. Every inch of the pillars and the arches/ torans is the finest example of engraving artwork in floral and geometric patterns. The beauty of the inlay work with colourful precious and semiprecious stones in exquisitely carved designs on the flooring will rival even the famed engravings of the world-famous Taj Mahal.
A notice displayed there informed the visitors that photography was prohibited inside the temple. I was feeling sad as I could not record the exquisite beauty of the temple as a remembrance of our visit to this marvel in marble. However, it was at this time that a group of Jain pilgrims came for a visit, they carried out obeisance and puja and later posed for photos with the main temple in the background. This also allowed me a chance to take some photos and carry the memories of this beautiful place.
The riveting beauty of the engravings and inlay work with precious and semiprecious stones done by the master craftsmen in building the temple in pristine white marble was worth every minute spent there.
Definitely worth a visit.
Jain Piligrims taking photos/
72 Jinalaya.
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