Terror of Bhils strikes at Ancient Popular Jain Heritage in Mewad region/ Rajasthan-Udaipur

Shri Kesariyaji Jain Tirth , after Supreme Courts Order to handover Tirth to Jain Community which was illegally occupied by Bhils / Adivasis/ Pandas of that region. These Bhils have created riots at Rishabnagar in Udaipur on supreme courts decision & situation is so worst that Jain families staying there due to threat to their life were forced to leave city . To control situation army soldiers may be called & situation at Rishab nagar is like a curfew.

Bhagawan Rushabdev Bhagwan At kesariyaji Tirth

Jain Community has always been tolerant towards other religions & never laid any objections on Non-jain pilgrimages to Darshan of Jain Temples. Because of tolerance pandas / bhils were never stopped to do darshan of Kesariyaji Jain Tirth & no one objected on Pandas presence in Jain Tirth & Region.

Kesariyaji Teerth is situated in Risabhadev Town in Rajasthan-Uadipur. The temple is dedicated to the first Tirthankar Adinath/ Rishabdev Bhagvan. The temple contains 52 pinnacles. The temple boasts of fine artistry and sculptures.Devotees offer Kesar (saffron) in reverence to the god. The deity is often referred to as Kesariyaji due to the Kesar (Saffron) offered to the god. Since centuries, there is a custom of giving saffrom to God as a gift. Sometimes so much saffron is plastered on God, that God looks saffron - colored. People, therefore, call God Kesariyanath.The governing body of this temple is Shri Adhikarishri Bhandar Dhulevshri Risabhdev Mandir Trust.

There are many beliefs regarding the antiquity and history of this splendid, miraculous and extraordinary idol. This idol was in Lanka. It was very much worshipped in the times Bhagawan Munisuvrat Swami (20th Tirthankar) . Ramchandraji took it to Ayodhya. Then it was in Ujjain. In course of time, it appeared under a banyan tree outside Vatpradnagar. It was worshipped for some years. Again it appeared under a tree at distance of one kilometer from the village. This is the Chief Tirth of Jains in the Mevad State. A fair is held here every year on the eighth day of the dark half of the month of Fagan.On the Rishabdev-Kalyanpur road, quite close to the Kesaryia complex, there is a place of worship called Pagliyalli where there are said to be actual footprints of Lord Rishabdev.A big fair is held annually in the month of Chaitra (Mar/Apr) on the birthday of Lord Rishabdev. A fair is held in the township on the birthday of Lord Rishabdev.

Maharana Fateh Singh decorated the image with a golden coat studded with precious stones consisting more than a lakh of rupees.Temple was repaired in the 14th and 15th centuries. The icon is 1 m. high, in a sitting position, carved in black marble. On special occasions the image is clothed with the angia (garment), which Maharana Fateh Singh (1884-1930) presented to the temple. The temple houses twenty-two statues of TIRTHANKARAS and fifty-two statues of Devas Kulikas.

As tolerance Jain Community never stopped other religion visitors to do darshan. Lot of Vaishanavs & Bhil Communities are regular worshippers to Temple. They are too strong devotees of Tirth but They call Kesariyaji (Adinath) as Kala Baba (Black Lord) because Idol of Adinath is made up of black colour. Jain Community never thought same will become one day a big problem. Jain community has no objection & will never have of other religion devotees doing darshan of Jain Tirths but taking control of same illegally as their religion Tirth is ethically/ Morally incorrect.

Jain community always respects everyones beliefs & emotions.

In past due to conflicts between Shwetambar & digamabar community , matter went to court & till so many years case was pending. Inbetween Pandas took control of tirth , deteriorating Tirth , constructing few idols of Lord Shiva in Temple area.

Today because of fight of Shwetambars & digambars segment Control of Sammed Sikhar Tirth ( Nirvan Bhumi of 20 Tirthankars) is with Government & a committee is appointed with a Non-jain as Chairman.

Similarly As tolerance we never stopped other religion devotees to Visit Girnar Tirth of Neminathji MokshBhumi ( Approx. 6500 years old jain Tirth) & today Pandas have started creating problems at Girnar too from past so many years with illegal occupations at Girnar Tirth.