Jamnagar Ma Nemnathjini Prabhavik Prachin Murti

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jamnagar ma Nemnathjini Prabhavik Prachin Murti" by Nagindas S Shah:

This book highlights the grandeur of Jain temples in Jamnagar, specifically focusing on the temple of Lord Neminath located in Kaji's Chakla. The central theme is the history and significance of the ancient and highly influential idol of Lord Neminath enshrined within this temple.

The narrative begins with Seth Muhansingh, a wealthy merchant of Jamnagar whose trade routes extended to various ports, requiring him to undertake frequent sea voyages. During one such journey to Dwarka, after unloading his cargo and loading saltpeter, Seth Muhansingh instructed his sailors to prepare the ship for departure.

As the sailors were raising the anchor, they felt it had caught onto something in the water. Upon investigation, they discovered an idol attached to one of the anchor's flukes. Though it was dark, Seth Muhansingh suspected it was a statue of a Jin (a liberated soul in Jainism). He was astonished by this discovery. He postponed the departure until the next morning and spent a restless night contemplating the idol.

The next morning, in the first light of dawn, Seth Muhansingh clearly identified the idol as belonging to Lord Neminath. He performed the prescribed rituals and then, with the idol's face positioned correctly, set sail for Jamnagar, carrying the precious discovery in his ship laden with saltpeter.

Upon reaching Jamnagar, the idol was brought into the city with great fanfare. Seth Muhansingh kept the idol in his home and worshipped it with devotion. One day, his heart was filled with a desire to consecute the idol in a proper Jain temple (Shikharbandh Derasar) and to build such a temple for this purpose.

Construction of the temple began on an auspicious day. However, a peculiar phenomenon occurred: whatever construction was completed during the day was found to be demolished by midnight. This happened repeatedly, causing Seth Muhansingh great distress. He consulted astrologers, yogis, priests, saints, and ascetics, and followed their advice, but the recurring destruction of the building continued, halting the progress of the temple.

Deeply concerned, Seth Muhansingh sought the counsel of the highly learned Acharya Bhagwant Surishwarji Maharaj of the Achalgachha sect, who was visiting Jamnagar at the invitation of Seth Tej Singh Shah. Seth Muhansingh explained his predicament to the Acharya. The Acharya, after hearing his story, asked him to return the next day.

That night, Acharya Bhagwant Surishwarji Maharaj meditated and invoked the presiding deity of the Achalgachha sect, Mahadevi Shri Mahakaliji. The goddess appeared and inquired why she had been summoned. The Acharya explained that he wished to understand why Seth Muhansingh's wish to build a temple for Lord Neminath was not being fulfilled.

Mahadevi Shri Mahakaliji revealed the idol's profound history: During the era of Lord Krishna, Lord Neminath himself resided. Vasudevji and Baldevji (Balbhadraji) regularly worshipped Lord Neminath. To ensure continued worship, they commissioned the idol of the living Lord Neminath and installed it in a home-temple, with consecration ceremonies performed by Lord Neminath's Ganadhar (chief disciples). This made the idol exceptionally powerful and miraculous. Balbhadraji also performed the daily rituals and adornments of the idol.

Centuries later, Dwarka faced a devastating natural calamity – a fierce storm and tidal waves, accompanied by a forest fire, led to its destruction. The idol of Lord Neminath was swept away by the surging waters and sank to the seabed. There, the idol was worshipped by Susthideva, further enhancing its divine power.

The goddess then explained that since the idol was originally created for a home-temple and consecrated according to its specific rituals, it has a presiding deity associated with home-temples. Therefore, to place this idol in a Shikharbandh (tall-spired) temple, a temple similar to a home-temple should be built, and the consecration performed within it. Otherwise, the idol would not be able to reside in a Shikharbandh temple. After conveying this information, Mahadevi disappeared.

The next day, Seth Muhansingh met with Acharya Bhagwant Surishwarji Maharaj, who informed him about the conversation with Shri Mahakali Devi. Overjoyed by this explanation, Seth Muhansingh, following the Acharya's guidance, began construction of a temple without a spire.

Upon completion of the temple, the idol of Lord Neminath was consecrated with a grand ceremony on Vasant Panchami (Samvat 1648). The text concludes by stating that this highly influential and auspicious idol of Lord Neminath still resides in the temple to this day.