Rishabhdeo
Encyclopedia
Rikhabdeo(modern spelling is Rishabhdeo) is a census town
in Udaipur district
in the India
n state
of Rajasthan
.
Rishabhadeoji is situated 65 km from Udaipur
and is on Udaipur-Ahmedabad
Road. The name of the town is Dhulev (धुलेव), however it is better known as Rishabhadeo. It is a well known pilgrim site. The main attraction is the temple of Rishabhadeoji
, the first Jain tirthankara. Local Bhils also worship the deity. Lord Rishabhadeo is also Kesariaji because a large offering of saffron (Keshar, a common ingredient in Jain rituals) is made to the deity.
This temple was considered to be one of the four main religious institutions of Mewar, ruled by the Sisodia
Maharana
s of Udaipur
, as stated by Chatur Singhji Bavji:
It has been a famous Jain pilgrimage center. The famous Arati by Mulchand refers to this temple :
, Mallinath
, Neminath, Parshvanath & Mahavir Swami (collectively referred to as Panch-Balayati) are installed.
There are 52 secondary ornate shrines (devakulikas) of the Tirthankaras.
Elephants carved of black stone stand at the entrance of the temple. On the north is the image of Goddess Chakreshvari
and on the southern side an image of goddess Padmavati
The structure and architecture of Idols and Temple shows clearly that its a Digamber Jain Temple, but since All Hindu castes and Jain sects are offering prayers here since long time, the management of the temple is done by state Government.
The Bhattarakas managed the temple for until they were removed by the Maharana who appointed a committee of some Brahmins and Shwetambara Jains for administration.
The most famous of these inscriptions is known to Western scholars as The Legend of Zagreus:
According to Caroline Humphrey, the temple was founded in the ninth century by Digambar Jains.
There is a 1376 (samvat 1431) inscription on the temple wall that mentions that Punja and Kota, sons of Shah Harda had the structure built as a result of the preachings of Bhattaraka
Dharmakirti of Kashtha Sangh
. That is when the garbhagriha and the khela mandap was constructed.
The compound wall was constructed in 1806 by a merchant Dhanji Karanji of Sagwada. There is a long inscription in Sanskrit/Hindi that mentions Bhimsingh as the ruler. It gives a spiritual lineage of the Bhatarakas of Mula Sangh
mentioning Kundakunda
, Sakalkirti up to the reigning Bhattaraka Yashkirti, who blessed the construction. Names of the family of Sanghi Dhanji Karanji of Humbad
community, of Kamaleshvar gotra, are also given.
The nakkarkhana (drum tower) was built in 1832. The smaller shrines (devakulika) were constructed later.
The names of the Bhattarakas mentioned in the inscriptions include:
Amitesh Kumar comments on the historical significance:
s in 1559. The revival of the fortunes of the Sisodias was made possible by the Jain ministers like Bhamashah
who provided funds to reestablish the Maharanas after they had to leave Chittor. The Because of significant Jain influence, the Maharanas became devotees of Lord Rishabh and worshipped here. They also made gifts to the temple.
The Bhattarakas accepted the royal support. They also permitted Swetambaras to use Swetambara rituals in Sam. 1702 for the main idol. However in Sam. 1842, the Swetambaras obtained rights of Swetambara rituals on four other idols with the support of the Maharana.
Sometime after the building of the compound wall built by the Digambaras in Sam 1863, the Maharana expelled the Digambara Bhattarakas from the temple, and took over the temple. He appointed Brahmin priests to worship at the temple, and created a committee that included the Shvetambara Jains, but excluded the Digambaras. Gradually Vaishnava rituals like Bhagavat Katha and annakuta were introduced by the Brahmin priests.
Maharana Fateh Singh (1884–1930) presented a jewel-studded angi (coat) to the temple which is used on special occasions costing one lakh rupees.
The administration was handed over to the government after India's independence.
The Digambara Bhattarakas built other temples in Dhulev, and continued the Bhattaraka seat at Rishabhadeo. The last Bhattaraka Yashakirti was conscecretated by his guru Kshemakirti in 1917 AD. He died in 1978. His funeral memorial is on the Chandragiri hill.
Recent Supreme Court decision to hand over the administration to the Jain community had led to protests and violence by the local tribals,. Frontline reported that :
Gulabchand Kataria, the home minister of Rajasthan believes that the tribals were incited by some elements. Dainik Navjyoti had reported on 14 February that
Bhaskar reported the anonymous pamphlets were distributed among the tribals to incite them. The violence erupted on 7 February, when the tribal leaders had declared a "Mahapadav". Several hundred tribals attacked the members of the Jain community and destroyed theirs shops, houses, cars etc. The police were unbale to contain the destruction even after the use of tear gas and rubber bullets. One person was killed in the police firing.
There is pressure being put on the state government not to implement the Supreme Court decision. This is causing alarm in the Jain community.
, Rikhabdeo had a population of 8023. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Rikhabdeo has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 70%. In Rikhabdeo, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Right now around 500 students are going to out side the rishbhdeo for higher education such as mbbs,b.tech.,b.com.,c.a.and many courses.
About half the residents of the town are Jain, 95% belonging to the Digambara and onother half Brahmin,suthar,lohar,tailor,mochi,kumhar,somupura and other casts are here form many year. Many bhil and meena valleges are surrounding the rishabhdeo and they comes every day at rishbhdeo for prayer, sect belonging to Bispanthi Narsingpura
and Humad
communities. A small group of Svetambaras arrived about a hundred years ago.
rishabhdeo is also famous for green marble .its having a more than 300 marble mines in massaor ki obri and odavas kagder.
90% percent green marble of around the world producing by rishabhdeo.
70% percent marble of the rishabhdeo is export to USA, UAE, Canada and many countries
Census town
In India, a census town is one which has:# A minimum population of 5,000# At least 75% of male working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits# A density of population of at least 400 persons per km2.In Ireland, a census town is;...
in Udaipur district
Udaipur district
Udaipur District is one of the 33 districts of Rajasthan state in western India. The historic city of Udaipur is the administrative headquarters of the district....
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
.
Rishabhadeoji is situated 65 km from Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
and is on Udaipur-Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
Road. The name of the town is Dhulev (धुलेव), however it is better known as Rishabhadeo. It is a well known pilgrim site. The main attraction is the temple of Rishabhadeoji
Rishabha (Jain tirthankar)
In Jainism, R̥ṣabha or Ādinātha , also known as the "Lord of Kesariya") was the first of the 24 Tīrthaṅkaras. According to Jain beliefs, R̥ṣabha founded the Ikshvaku dynasty and was the first Tīrthaṅkara of the present age...
, the first Jain tirthankara. Local Bhils also worship the deity. Lord Rishabhadeo is also Kesariaji because a large offering of saffron (Keshar, a common ingredient in Jain rituals) is made to the deity.
This temple was considered to be one of the four main religious institutions of Mewar, ruled by the Sisodia
Sisodia
The Sisodia are Chattari Rajputs of the Suryavanshi lineage who ruled the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan. Prior to Rana Hamir the clan was known as Gehlot or Guhilot. In 1303 CE Alla-ud-din Khilji attacked Chittor...
Maharana
Maharana
Maharana is a variation on the Indian royal title Maharaja, also meaning 'Great king' in Hindi. It is composed of Maha- 'great' and the royal title Rana, a variation on Raja.-Salute states :...
s of Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
, as stated by Chatur Singhji Bavji:
- Ekling Girirajdhar Rishabdev Bhujchaar
- Sumaron Sada Sneh so, Chaar Dham Mewar
It has been a famous Jain pilgrimage center. The famous Arati by Mulchand refers to this temple :
- Dusari Aarti Din Dayala,
- Dhuleva Nagarman Jug Ujavala
The Main Idols in the temple
The main idol of this temple is shwetambar Lord Rishabh Dev carved in black stone in padmasana posture about 3.5 feet tall. Long hair of idol touch the shoulders. Two oxen are carved in the center of simhasana (platform) of the main idol, which also has 16 dreams of the mother of Tirthankar. Surrounding the main deity, there are 23 idols, 2 standing & 21 seated, in an ashtadhatu (composed of eight metals) parikar. In the north and south sides of the Khela Mandapa of the temple, idols of Tirthankaras VasupujyaVasupujya
Vasupujya Swami was the twelve Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Vasupujya was born to King Vasupujya Raja and Queen Jaya Devi Rani at Champapuri in the Ikshvaku clan...
, Mallinath
Mallinath
Mallinath was the nineteenth Tīrthaṅkara "Ford-Maker" of the present avasarpiṇī age in Jainism. According to Jain beliefs, Mallinath became a siddha - a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Śvētāmbara Jaina beliefs hold that Mallinath was female, making her the only woman to become...
, Neminath, Parshvanath & Mahavir Swami (collectively referred to as Panch-Balayati) are installed.
There are 52 secondary ornate shrines (devakulikas) of the Tirthankaras.
Elephants carved of black stone stand at the entrance of the temple. On the north is the image of Goddess Chakreshvari
Chakreshvari
In Jain cosmology, Chakreshvari or Apraticakra is the guardian goddess or Yakshini of Rishabha, the first Tirthankara. She is the tutelary deity of the Sarawagi Jain community.-Iconogrphy:...
and on the southern side an image of goddess Padmavati
Padmavati (Jainism)
Padmāvatī is the protecting goddess or śāsanadevī of Pārśva, twenty-third Tīrthaṅkara in Jainism. She enjoys an independent religious life and is very popular amongst Jains. Padmāvatī is the main deity at Humbaj, the famous tirtha....
The structure and architecture of Idols and Temple shows clearly that its a Digamber Jain Temple, but since All Hindu castes and Jain sects are offering prayers here since long time, the management of the temple is done by state Government.
The Bhattaraks
A Jain Bhattarak seat had existed at Rishabhdeo until the 20th century. Their memorials are marked by foot-prints. The footprints are present besides the elephant statues. Outside of the village foot-prints of Bhattaraka Chandrakirti and other Bhattarakas mark their memorials at Suraj Kund.The Bhattarakas managed the temple for until they were removed by the Maharana who appointed a committee of some Brahmins and Shwetambara Jains for administration.
History
The temple has a long history. The temple has about 65 inscriptions in the building and on several of the Tirthankara idols.The most famous of these inscriptions is known to Western scholars as The Legend of Zagreus:
- Zagreus sits inside your head
- Zagreus lives among the dead
- Zagreus sees you in your bed
- And eats you when you're sleeping
According to Caroline Humphrey, the temple was founded in the ninth century by Digambar Jains.
There is a 1376 (samvat 1431) inscription on the temple wall that mentions that Punja and Kota, sons of Shah Harda had the structure built as a result of the preachings of Bhattaraka
Bhattaraka
A Bhaṭṭāraka is the head of traditional Jain institutions. They are responsible for training of scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing the endowments, presiding over the installation ceremonies and running of Jain institutions....
Dharmakirti of Kashtha Sangh
Kashtha Sangh
Kashtha Sangha was a Digambar Jain monastic order once dominant in several regions of North and Western India. It is considered to be a branch of Mula Sangh itself...
. That is when the garbhagriha and the khela mandap was constructed.
The compound wall was constructed in 1806 by a merchant Dhanji Karanji of Sagwada. There is a long inscription in Sanskrit/Hindi that mentions Bhimsingh as the ruler. It gives a spiritual lineage of the Bhatarakas of Mula Sangh
Mula Sangh
Mula Sangh is an ancient Jain monastic order . Mula literally means the "root" or the original order.Mula-Sangh has been the main Digambar Jain order. Today the Digambar Jain tradition is synonymous with Mula Sangha. The great Acharya Kundakunda is associated with Mula Sangh...
mentioning Kundakunda
Kundakunda
Kundakunda is a celebrated Jain Acharya, Jain scholar monk, 2nd century CE, composer of spiritual classics such as: Samayasara, Niyamasara, Pancastikayasara, Pravacanasara, Atthapahuda and Barasanuvekkha. He occupies the highest place in the tradition of the Jain acharyas.He belonged to the Mula...
, Sakalkirti up to the reigning Bhattaraka Yashkirti, who blessed the construction. Names of the family of Sanghi Dhanji Karanji of Humbad
Humad
Humad is the name of an ancient Jain community originally from Rajasthan, India. Their traditional center is Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, Dungarpur and Sagwada region, often called Vagad , in Rajasthan...
community, of Kamaleshvar gotra, are also given.
The nakkarkhana (drum tower) was built in 1832. The smaller shrines (devakulika) were constructed later.
The names of the Bhattarakas mentioned in the inscriptions include:
- Bhattaraka Dharmakirti
- Bhattaraka Jasakriti
- Bhattaraka Kshemakriti
- Bhattaraka Vijaratna
- Bhattaraka Yashkirti
- Bhattaraka Devendrakriti
- Bhattaraka Tribhuvanakriti
- Bhattaraka Surendrakriti
Amitesh Kumar comments on the historical significance:
- यहाँ लगे शिलालेखों से ज्ञात होता है कि निजमंदिर तथा खेला मंडप विक्रम संवत् १४३१ में बनाये गये, जबकि नौचौकी तथा एक मंडप का निर्माण सन् १५१५ (विक्रम संमत् १५७२) में हुआ। मंदिर के चौतरफा बना पक्का कोट सन् १८०६ (वि. सं. १८६३) का है तथा नक्कारखाना सन् १८३२ (वि. सं. १८८९) में बनाया गया। देव कुलिकाओं का निर्माण इसके बाद हुआ। इसके संबंध में उपलब्ध शिलालेख नदी तट गच्छ की उत्पत्ति तथा उक्त गच्छ के आचार्यों की क्रम परंपरा का उल्लेख करती है। अतः जैन इतिहास में इसका विशेष महत्व है। यहाँ पर उपलब्ध शिलालेखों के अध्ययन से यह निष्कर्ष निकलता है कि मंदिर तथा देवकुलिकाओं का अधिकांश भाग काष्टासंघKashtha SanghKashtha Sangha was a Digambar Jain monastic order once dominant in several regions of North and Western India. It is considered to be a branch of Mula Sangh itself...
के भट्टारकों के उपदेश से उनके दिगम्बरी अनुयायियों ने बनवाया था।
The temple and the Maharanas of Udaipur
Udaipur became the capital of the SisodiaSisodia
The Sisodia are Chattari Rajputs of the Suryavanshi lineage who ruled the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan. Prior to Rana Hamir the clan was known as Gehlot or Guhilot. In 1303 CE Alla-ud-din Khilji attacked Chittor...
s in 1559. The revival of the fortunes of the Sisodias was made possible by the Jain ministers like Bhamashah
Bhamashah
Bhamashah was a remarkable character of Indian history who gave his whole wealth to Maharana Pratap, the ruler of Mewar, to fight Mughal Emperor Akbar. He set up an example of love and sacrifice for the country of highest order....
who provided funds to reestablish the Maharanas after they had to leave Chittor. The Because of significant Jain influence, the Maharanas became devotees of Lord Rishabh and worshipped here. They also made gifts to the temple.
The Bhattarakas accepted the royal support. They also permitted Swetambaras to use Swetambara rituals in Sam. 1702 for the main idol. However in Sam. 1842, the Swetambaras obtained rights of Swetambara rituals on four other idols with the support of the Maharana.
Sometime after the building of the compound wall built by the Digambaras in Sam 1863, the Maharana expelled the Digambara Bhattarakas from the temple, and took over the temple. He appointed Brahmin priests to worship at the temple, and created a committee that included the Shvetambara Jains, but excluded the Digambaras. Gradually Vaishnava rituals like Bhagavat Katha and annakuta were introduced by the Brahmin priests.
Maharana Fateh Singh (1884–1930) presented a jewel-studded angi (coat) to the temple which is used on special occasions costing one lakh rupees.
The administration was handed over to the government after India's independence.
The Digambara Bhattarakas built other temples in Dhulev, and continued the Bhattaraka seat at Rishabhadeo. The last Bhattaraka Yashakirti was conscecretated by his guru Kshemakirti in 1917 AD. He died in 1978. His funeral memorial is on the Chandragiri hill.
The temple dispute
The nature of the temple has been in issue between Digambers, Swetambers and other Hindus. However, the Supreme Court of India in its judgment delivered in 'The State of Rajasthan & Ors. Vs. Shri Sajjanlal Panjawat & Ors. [reported as (1974) 1 SCC 500]' has, after considering the material produced, decided that it is a 'Jain temple' [see para 12 at Pg. 509/510 SCC]. However, since the right to manage the said temple had been taken over by the State of Mewar before promulgation of the Indian Constitution, therefore, Jains had no right to manage the temple after the Indian Constitution came into force and for that reason, it was held, that the jains had no right to protect under Article 25/26 of the Indian Constitution. The issue of management of the said tample was again cropped up and Digambers, Swetambers, Hindus and the State of Rajasthan again brought the matter in the Supreme Court of India claiming to have the right to manage the temple but this time on the strength of 'Rajasthan Public Trust Act' which says that those temples to which chapter X of the said Act is applicable would be managed by a Committee constituted from the persons interested in the management. That case was decided by a Bench of the Indian Supreme Court and Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Markandey Katju vide judgment dated January 4, 2007 delivered in Civil Appeal No.4092-95 of 2002 titled as Deewan Singh & Ors. vs. Rajendra Prasad ARdevi & Ors. and other connected Civil Appeals, confirmed the judgment of Single Judge (which was modified by the Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court)and ordered that the management of the said Temple be handed over to the committee as envisaged under Section 53 of the 'Rajasthan Public Trust Act' within four months.Recent Supreme Court decision to hand over the administration to the Jain community had led to protests and violence by the local tribals,. Frontline reported that :
- "The revenue earned by the temple was also perhaps the main issue behind the legal tangle and the current confrontation, in which tribal people have been used as cannon fodder. The temple complex lies on 378 hectares of land and houses a guest house as well. Its moveable property alone is said to be valued at about Rs.51 crores. It is estimated that on an average 2,000 devotees visit Rishabdeo every day.
- The temple's eight Brahmin priests share the bulk of the offerings.
- The priests insist that the management cannot be handed over to the Jain community. "Where will we go? The Maharanas of Mewar gave us the right to conduct prayers here. They also made valuable offerings to the god," says Bhogilal, a priest. "I won't let the mandir go either to the Devasthan or to the tribals," he says."
Gulabchand Kataria, the home minister of Rajasthan believes that the tribals were incited by some elements. Dainik Navjyoti had reported on 14 February that
- "Some members of the Jain community say that some leaders of the vaishnava community are behind instigation of the tribals."
- "the priests get a large fraction of all the offerings. Because of this selfish interest, the group of priests do not want the management to go to the Jains."
Bhaskar reported the anonymous pamphlets were distributed among the tribals to incite them. The violence erupted on 7 February, when the tribal leaders had declared a "Mahapadav". Several hundred tribals attacked the members of the Jain community and destroyed theirs shops, houses, cars etc. The police were unbale to contain the destruction even after the use of tear gas and rubber bullets. One person was killed in the police firing.
There is pressure being put on the state government not to implement the Supreme Court decision. This is causing alarm in the Jain community.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Rikhabdeo had a population of 8023. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Rikhabdeo has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 70%. In Rikhabdeo, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Right now around 500 students are going to out side the rishbhdeo for higher education such as mbbs,b.tech.,b.com.,c.a.and many courses.
About half the residents of the town are Jain, 95% belonging to the Digambara and onother half Brahmin,suthar,lohar,tailor,mochi,kumhar,somupura and other casts are here form many year. Many bhil and meena valleges are surrounding the rishabhdeo and they comes every day at rishbhdeo for prayer, sect belonging to Bispanthi Narsingpura
Narsingpura
Narsingpura is a one of the Jain communities. It originated from the Mewar region. Many of them have migrated to Gujarat, MP, and recently to Maharashtra.Narsingpura community follows Digambar Jain sect...
and Humad
Humad
Humad is the name of an ancient Jain community originally from Rajasthan, India. Their traditional center is Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, Dungarpur and Sagwada region, often called Vagad , in Rajasthan...
communities. A small group of Svetambaras arrived about a hundred years ago.
rishabhdeo is also famous for green marble .its having a more than 300 marble mines in massaor ki obri and odavas kagder.
90% percent green marble of around the world producing by rishabhdeo.
70% percent marble of the rishabhdeo is export to USA, UAE, Canada and many countries