Shri Rishabh Dev Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra is situated in the village – Dhulev of district – Udaipur (Rajasthan), Udaipur is famous as Lake City in the world. This place is now famous as ‘Rishabh Dev’ due to the glory & miracles of the idol of Bhagwan Rishabh Dev (Adinath). This Kshetra is known as ‘Kesariaji’ also because of the tradition of worship of the idol by saffron (Kesar). Due to the black color of idol this is famous in local & tribal public as ‘Kalia Baba’. This place is situated at the bank of river ‘Koyal (Kumarika)’ surrounded by the hills of Arawali Mountain Range. This ancient temple has great significance among various ancient temples of northern India having 52 magnificent spires on it. The idol of principal deity Bhagwan Rishabh Dev has no sign on the base of it; it proves the idol very ancient. This is also supposed that this idol was reverenced by Acharya Vidyanand in 8th – 9th century. Some ancient petrographs are also found here, that proves that this Kshetra was renovated time to time due to the precepts of Bhattarkas by Digambar devotees.

First, the most ancient petrograph belongs to V. S. 1431. According to this, the temple was reconstructed by ‘Poonja’ & ‘Kota’ – sons of ‘Shah Harda’ being impressed by the precepts of Bhattarak Dharm Kirti.

Second petrograph belongs to V. S. 1572, according to this being impressed by the preaches of Bhattarak Yash Kirti, a Mandapa & Nav Chauki was constructed in village Dhulev.

Third one belongs to V. S. 1753. According to this petrograph, during the period of Bhattarak Surendra Kirti, a temple of Bhagwan Rishabh Dev was constructed & reverenced by the family of ‘Bhojasa’ – the son of ‘Sanghavi Aalha’ and a ‘Dev Kulika’ situated in the southern part of temple was also constructed.

Fourth petrograph belongs to V. S. 1863, is fixed in northern wall of rampart of the temple. It says that at the time of Bhattarak Yash Kirti, fort was constructed & reverenced by ‘Vaje Chand’ of Sagwora.

In this way the expansion & development of this temple took place time to time according Digambar tradition.

Atishaya: - So many sayings are popular about this idol. It is said that this miraculous & artistic idol of Bhagwan Rishabh Dev was brought here from village Khoonadary. According to the ruins found there, in ancient time it seems that Khoonadary was a prosperous city. In Mughal period due to attacks on Khoonadary and killing of cows taking place, wounds were appeared on this idol as per on the body of cows. So that devotees shifted the idol at safer place. According to one dream this idol was kept in a chemical solution for 9 days, so the wounds of idol may be repaired or filled and idol again may appear beautiful. But on the pursuance by devotees idol was brought out of chemical before 9 days, so some scratches remained unfilled and may be seen yet now. This Bhagwan Rishabh Dev’s idol is miraculous. Local public of any faith comes here for worship and to get their desires fulfilled. Due to the miracles devotees come here from all over the India irrespective of distance.

The main temple of Atishaya Teerth Kshetra Rishabh Dev is very attractive, magnificent and artistic having 52 beautiful spires on it. This ancient temple is famous for it’s architecture. According to Jain’s opinion, as a symbol of Nandishwar Dweep’s 52 temples this temple was constructed having 52 spires. This temple is constructed scientifically according to the art of architecture. From the outside of main entrance one may visit Bhagwan Rishabh Dev installed on an altar in sanctum. Each pillar of this temple shows the proficiency of artists. Vault of ‘Rang Mandapa’ in front of ‘Navchauki’ and vaults of north, south & west are very artistic and worth being seen. Carvings of standing Digambar idols and other Gods & Goddesses are charming to the eyes and may be seen everywhere in the temple.

The main idol of this temple is Bhagwan Rishabh Dev’s; this is black in color, 108 cm. (3½ feet) in height, in Padmasana posture. This is a magnificent, very attractive and artistic idol. Long hair of idol touching to the shoulders shows the stage of deep penance of Bhagwan Rishabh Dev. Two oxen are carved in the center of platform of idol. On this platform, 16 dreams visited by the mother of Teerthankar are also carved beautifully. On the back of principal deity, there are 23 idols – 2 standing & 21 in seating posture carved beautifully on an alloy sheet (Plate of Ashta Dhatu) imparting the message of asceticism to get free from affection & aversion. In the north & south sides of ‘Khela Mandapa’ of this temple attractive idols of ‘Panch Balyati’ (Bhagwan Vasupoojya, Mallinath, Neminath, Parshvanath & Mahaveer Swami) are installed, these are worth being seen. Over the first gate of temple, in ceiling, scene of war between Bharat & Bahubali, later on accepting the asceticism by Bahubali is carved in artful manner on stones. In the backside of temple, there exists an ancient ‘Sahastra Koot Chaityalaya’ having 1008 Digambar idol carved on it artfully. Outside of 52 temples on each pillar Digambar idol are carved and in the back of pinnacles there also exist so many idols carved. Outside the big round path (Pradakshina) outside the 52 Jinalayas in the temple of Bhagwan Parshvanath, 7 idols in standing and 7 in Padmasana posture are installed. These are the idols of 7 great ascetic saints (Munies) bearing ‘Charan Riddhi’ (The power of moving in the sky), surely agreeable. In the upper part of the second gate of the temple, there is an elephant called ‘Marudevi’s elephant’ (Marudevi – the mother of Bhagwan Rishabh Dev). On the both sides of this elephant foot images in white marble are places, these are the foot images of Bhattarakas. In the southern part of the village on the hill near ‘Suraj Kund’ monuments of Bhattaraka Chandra Kirti and others are made. A magnificent umbrella has been constructed as the monument of Bhattaraka Chandra Kirti. On one pillar of this monument artistic idols in standing and seating posture are carved.

(Prakshal – Washing the idol)

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