Shouripur Bateshwar (UP)
Digambar Jain Mandir Bateshwar
Place & Post – Bateshwar, District – Agra (U.P.) Pin – 283104
Phone 05614-234717
Nearby Cities : Agra (Via Fatihabad) 70 km. Kampilji 154 km.
Firozabad (Via Shikohabad) 45 km
Marsalganj (Via Shikohabad) 44 km. Shikohabad 22 km
Shouripur and Bateshwar are two seperate kshetras though situated close by. While Shouripur is a Siddha Kshetra, Bateshwar is an Atishay Kshetra.
About Shouripur Siddha Kshetra :
Shouripur is an ancient Siddha Kshetra situated on the banks of River Yamuna situated near the historical city of Agra in the state of UP. It is the Garbh and JanmaKalyanak place of 22nd Teerthankara ‘Bhagwan Neminath’. ‘Shri Supratishtha Muni’ got ‘Kevalgyan’ and ‘Muni Shri Yama’, ‘Shri Dhanya’ & ‘Shri Vimlasut’ attained salvation from this place.
Very rarely we find a kshetra which is both a kalyanak kshetra and a siddha kshetra as well. Apart from this the samavsaran of ‘Bhagwan Adinath’, ‘Neminath’, ‘Parshvanath’ and ‘Bhagwan Mahaveer’s’ also arrived here. According to Mahapurana & Harivansha Purana the Shouripur has remained famous & prosperous city in ancient times.
This city was established by the brilliant Prince ‘Shoor’, the son of King ‘Narpati’ of Yaduvansh.
The ‘Andhak Vrishni, the king of Shouripur had 10 sons. The eldest among these ten was ‘Samudra Vijaya’ & the youngest was ‘Vasudev’.The ‘Kunti’ & ‘Madri’ were two daughters of Andhak Vrishni.
Bhagwan Neminath (Arishtanemi) the 22nd Teerthanakara was the son of ‘Samudra Vijaya’ and Shri ‘Krishna’ & ‘Balram’ were sons of Shri ‘Vasudev’. Kunti & Madri were married to the King ‘Pandu’ of Hastinapur and whose sons were ‘Karna’ & five ‘Pandavas’. Karna, Udishthar, Bhim & Arjun were sons of Kunti and Nakul & Sahdev were sons of Madri.
Later on due to the fear of invasion by ‘Jarasandha’, the king of ‘Magadha’, all the ‘Yadavas’ left Shouripur & Mathura and they shifted towards south and started residing in ‘Dwarika’ Nagar near the sea. Shri Krishna & Balram are referred as ‘Shouri’ in ancient times because of their relation with the Shouripur.
Acharya Lokchandra, the Guru of famous scholar of philosophy – Acharya Prabhachandra, also belonged to this Kshetra. It is said that the Acharya Prabhachandra wrote the famous text ‘Prameya Kamal Martand’ here, which is supposed a great text on ‘Jain Nyaya’.
The ruins of this place were investigated by famous historian Colonel Tad, General Cunningham & Carlyle during 19th century and proved that Shouripur was wealthy & flourishing city in ancient times. Lot of gems & currency has been found here and this fact has been mentioned in so many books.
The seat of Digamber Jain Bhattarakas was present here up to 19th century and the peoples were deeply affected by their religious teachings, speeches & acquisitions.
Ancient Shouripur slowly & slowly got declined and only ruins are left here. The various Digambar Jain Temples established in Shouripur are the only symbols of historicity present in Shouripur. The ‘Adi Mandir’ was constructed here in year 1667 on the order of Bhattaraka Vishva Bhushan.
Baruva Matha is the most ancient temple of Shouripur, which is constructed on a platform. The quite magnificent Black stone’s Khadgasana idol of principal deity Bhagwan Neminath was reverenced in Veer Nirvan Samvat 2480. This idol is 8 feet high.
There is a spire made of stone above the idol and behind idol there is an artistic halo is present carved in stone. On the feet base (Charan Peeth) the two lions are constructed facing each other and in between these two there is an image of Conch shell.
Shankha Dhwaj Mandir is constructed on the second story. There are 4 altars present in the sanctum of this temple. In central altar idol of principal deity Bhagwan Neminath are installed.
There are two idols of 11th – 12th century installed in this temple and the idols of Bhagwan Parshvanath, Bhagwan Chandraprabhu & Bhagwan Vimalnath reverenced in V.S. 1357 are collectively installed in the second altar of this temple. Many other artistic ancient idols are also installed here.
Panch Mathi is oocated On the left hand side of Shankha Dhwaj Mandir the ancient Tonks & spires (umbrellas) are constructed in one ground which is surrounded by walls from all sides. This place is called as Panch Mathi. The foot images of Muni ‘Yama’ & Muni ‘Dhanya’ are installed here.
About Bateshwar Atishaya Kshetra :
When the land of Shouripur was getting washed away by the waters of river Yamuna and the place was getting more ruined, Bhattaraka Jinendra Bhushanji got constructed one huge temple and Dharmashala at Bateshwar.
This temple was constructed on a ‘Ghat’ (Bathing & Landing place)developed by king Badan Singh of Bhadavar state at that time in V.S. 1838. At present two stories of this temple are below the level of ground.
The very artistic Padmasanath 5 feet high black coloured miraculous idol of Bhagwan Ajitnath, which was brought from Mahoba, is installed here. This idol was got reverenced on Monday of Vaishakh Krishna 7 in V.S. 1224 in the Primal state by the ‘Shravak Shrestha Jalhan’ the father of ‘Aalha – Udal’, the great warriors.
A story is popular here related to this temple. It is said that once the king of Bhadavar enquired about the date from Bhattaraka Jinendra Bhushan and unknowingly he told that it is full moon night but actually it was no moon night.
When Bhattaraka Jinendra Bhushan realized his mistake he hanged a bronze metal plate in the sky with the help of power of Mantra. This bronze metal used to shine like a moon and looked like a moon up to distance of 24 miles.
Next day Bhattaraka Jinendra Bhushan told the truth to king and king felt delighted that such great scholar also resides in his state. King of Bhadavar requested for accepting some reward, firstly Bhattaraka denied all rewards but on more request he asked for the piece of land for constructing Jain Temple.
King became ready to provide a piece of land but due to pressure of opponents of Jain religion the piece of land was made available in between the Yamuna River.
Bhattarakji accepted and he got established the sacred & Mantrified huge slabs of mountain in the middle part of the river and got constructed exquisite temple. This temple is excellent example of ancient architecture because its 2 stories are below the level of ground and 2 stories is visible above the ground.
The miraculous idol of Bhagwan Ajitnath is installed here and lots of stories about the miracles of this idol are quite popular here. It is said that this idol arrived here from Mahoba by sitting in a palanquin (Palki).
Main Temple & Idol :
The miraculous & impressive idol of Bhagwan Ajitnath is installed as principal deity in the main altar of the temple. This idol reverenced in V.S. 1224 by ‘Shresthi Jalhan’ – the father of ‘Aalha & Udal’.
The 4 feet high standing idol of Bhagwan Shantinath is installed in one of altar present in sanctum of the temple. The 3 feet high Padmasanastha black colored idol of Bhagwan Neminath is installed in another room (part) of the temple and it quite pleasant in seeing. Various other ancient & new idols are also worth being seen.