Gandhar Tirth- Shri Amizara Parshwanath

Close to the Gulf of Khambhat where the river Vishvamitri meets the Arabian Ocean, lies the tranquil town of Gandhar.  Once a busy port, the town has now turned into a quaint sea village dotted by small houses and a Jain temple dedicated to Shri Amizara Parshwanath Bhagwan.

Mulnayak Shri Amizara Parshwanath Bhagwan

The antiquity of this land can be established from the inscriptions excavated from here. The idol of Lord Parshwanath was installed by Acharya Vijay Sensuri, a disciple of Akbar Pratibodhak Acharya Shri Hirvijaysurishwarji Maharaja in Vikram Samvat 1664. The deity is fondly known as Amizara Parshwanath because holy liquid (“Ami”) exuded from the idol years ago.

Gandhar Jain Tirth

The beautiful idol of Lord Amizara Parshwanath

The port of Gandhar witnessed several invasions by the pirates from Khambhat in the beginning of the 18th century. It is said that earlier Jains had a vast population in this area and along with the jinalay of Shri Amizara Parshwanath Bhagwan, a temple of Lord Mahavir was constructed here, which sadly lies in ruins today due to the loots organised by the pirates. Due to several invasions, the population of Jains witnessed a decline, 

Shri Parshwanath Bhagwan, Gandhar Tirth

Shri Mahavir Swami Bhagwan, Gandhar Tirth

Later, this temple was renovated by Harakunvar Shethani in Vikram Samvat 1810. In  Vikram Samvat 1969 Acharyadev Shri Vijay Ramchandrasurisvarji also took diksha in this sacred place.

Aangi of Lord Amizara Parshwanath

Today this quaint tirth is a perfect for a spiritual getaway where one can find the the mesmerizing divinity of Lord Amizara Parshwanath in the lap of nature.

How to Reach: Gandhar is 37 kms from Bharuch town. One has to travel via Vagara, which is 20 kms from Bharuch. Gandhar is at a distance of 76 kms from Vadodara. Nearest railway station is Parvajan on the Bharuch Kaavi route.

I would like to thank Yash Koradia & Saurabh Mehta for their photographic contribution to this post