Derasar

A derasar is a temple for Jain followers. Jain idols of Tirthankaras are worshipped there. Usually they are built from Marble stone. Some famous Jain temples are located in Palitana, Shankeshwar, Samet Shikhar, Vataman, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Derasar is generally made up of the best and whitest available marble. Mainly all derasar are made up of marbles. There are two type of Derasar 1) Shikar-bandhi (One with the dome) and 2) Ghar derasar (Temple in a home where there is no dome) All shikar-bandhi derasar have many marble pillars which are carved beautifully with Demi god posture. The main part of derasar is called “Ghabaro” in which there is the stone carved God idle. One is not suppose to enter the Ghabaro with out taking bath and without wearing puja (worship) clothes and also one has to tie a cloth over the nose and mouth before entering the ghabaro or else they will be fired by the regular pleole coming to temple.

A derasar which is 100 years old is called a Tirth. A derasar is also called a tirth if it has a large facility for food and nightstay. A derasar holds the statues of 3 of the thirthankars: Parshwanath, Rishabdev and Mahavir. They are the chosen idols since Rishabdev is the founder of the religion, Parshwanath is the 23rd thirthankar, and Mahavir is the last thirthankar, who according to tradition had helped write all the scriptures such as the Agams.

Famous Derasars

Palitana: The Palitana temples, are considered the most sacred pilgrimage place (tirtha) by the Jain community. There are a total of 1250 temples located on the Shetrunjaya hills in Western Gujarat, exquisitely carved in marble. The main temple on top of the hill, is dedicated to 1st tirthankar lord Adinath(Rishabdeva).

No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods. The town is considered by many Jains to be more important than the temple covered hills of Jharkhand, Mt Abu and Girnar. Palitana was the capital of a princely state of the Gohil Rajput clan. It is also one of the greatest tourist attractions in Gujarat for foreign tourists.
There are hundreds of other temples (besides those on the Shetrunjaya hills) and guest houses (dharmashalas) in Palitana city. It is believed that every Jain should visit Palitana at least once in his lifetime to get “Bhavya” status (fit to attain nirvan or salvation).

The Shankheshwar temple in is an important pilgrimage destination for the Jains. Image Of Parsvanath. The village where the temple stands was given on a rent – grant by Emperor Shah Jahan to the Nagarsheth of Ahmedabad, named Seth Shantidas. The image of the main Tirthankara Parshvanath belongs to Samvat 1666 while the inscriptions date back to 1656-1686 AD. The cells are built of brick, which have been moulded and not cut to shape.

Apart from the original sanctum-sanctorum, this temple has an open square, a decorated square, a vast square and two assembly halls. Numerous miracles are associated with this temple and the presiding deity of Lord Parshwanath, represented by a six feet high statue in the Padmasana (lotus) position. The sanctum of the presiding deity is flanked by a smaller sanctum with Lord Bhidbhanjan Parshvanath to the right and another sacntum with the Jain Tirthankara Lord Ajitanatha to the left. The statues of Nagraj Dharanendradev, Goddess Padmavatidevi, Parshva Yaksha and Goddess Chakreshvaridevi can also be found in the tample. On the tenth day of the Hindu calendar month of Pausha, the tenth day of the dark half of the Hindu calendar month of Margashirsha, and during the festival of Diwali, thousands of pilgrims observe a three day fast at the temple.

Samet Shikar: Shri Sammet Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand state, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world. As many as 20 out of 24 Tirthankaras attained Nirvana (Salvation) from here.

The special sanctity of the shrine at Parasnath, Samet Shikar, for the Jains arises from the tradition that several Tirthankars (religious saints who are the object of their worship), including Parsva or Parsvanath, attained nirvana on the hill. For each of them there is a shrine (gumti for tuk) on the hill.

2 ½ miles from Madhuban, there are two streams, Gandharva nala and Sita nala. The Jains hold the portion from Gandharva nala up to the summit as very sacred. It is easier to reach Parasnath from its northern side. Motor cars or passenger buses ply along this route from Dumri to Giridih and stop at Madhuban village. The village Post Office is called Parasnath. On the walls of the mulmandir at Madhuban, there is a mural painting depicting all the temples on the Parasnath Hill. The Jains have provided rest houses and temples at the foot of the hill at Madhuban. The actual ascent starts frorn Madhuban. Bihar has a very important place in the history of Jainism. The last of the Tirthan- karas or the pathfinders of Jainism, was Vardhamana, also called Mahavira, and he was born at Kundalpur village, near Nalanda, in the Nalanda district.

Derasars in Australia : The first Jain derasar in Australia was inaugurated under the spiritual guidance & inspiration of Param Pujya Shri Jinchandraji and blessings of Param Pujya Gachchhadhipati Aacharya Shrimad Vijay Jayghoshsurishwarji Maharaj Saheb, in 2008.