
A Dādābāḍī is a type of
shrine
A shrine ( "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred space">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...: ''escri ...
, usually located near a
Jain temple
A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings ge ...
, and dedicated to one of the four Dādā Gurus revered by the
Kharatara Gaccha
Kharatara Gaccha is one of Śvetāmbara Murtipujaka Gacchas. It is also called the Vidhisangha (the Assembly) or Vidhimarga (Path of Proper Conduct), as they regard their practices as scripturally correct.
History
Kharatara Gaccha was founde ...
sect of the
Śvetāmbara
The Śvetāmbara (; also spelled Shwetambara, Shvetambara, Svetambara or Swetambara) is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the Digambara. ''Śvetāmbara'' in Sanskrit means "white-clad", and refers to its ascetics' practi ...
Jains
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and ...
.
[''The Jains'', by ]Paul Dundas
Paul Dundas (23 May 1952 – 5 April 2023) was a Scottish Indologist, an honorary fellow in Sanskrit language and Head of Asian studies at the University of Edinburgh. His teachings and research focused extensively on understanding Jainism, Bu ...
. London; New York : Routledge (2002), pg. 142. The most notable shrines are in
Ajmer
Ajmer () is a city in the north-western States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ajmer district and Ajmer division. It lies at the centre of Rajasthan, earning it the ...
,
Malpura
Malpura is a town with municipality in Tonk district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Malpura is known for its Dadabadi, built by the Khartargach Sect of Shewtambar Jain in memory of 3rd Dada Gurudev Shri Jinkushalsurishwarji.Also known for its ...
and
Mehrauli
Mehrauli is a neighbourhood in South Delhi, Delhi, India. It represents a constituency in the legislative assembly of Delhi. The area is close to Gurugram and next to Vasant Kunj.
History
Mehrauli is one of the seven medieval cities that ...
. The four Dādā Gurus are Jinadatta Sūri (1075-1154 CE), Jinachandra Sūri Maṇidhārī (1140-1166 CE), Jinakuśala Sūri (1280-1332 CE) and Jinachandra Sūri II (1541-1613 CE).
Descriptions and lore
Ajmer
Ajmer is the "samadhi sthal" (memorial resting place) of the first Dādā Guru, Jinadatta Sūri.
Two idols are inside: one of
Parshva, the 23rd
Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (; ) is a saviour and supreme preacher of the ''Dharma (Jainism), dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a ''Tirtha (Jainism), tirtha'', a fordable passage across ''Saṃsā ...
, which is made of seven metals and includes footprints believed to be his; and one of
Vimalnath
Vimalanatha was the thirteenth Jain Tirthankara of the present age (Avasarpini). According to Jain beliefs, he became a Siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Vimalanatha was born to King Kratavarma and Queen Shyamadev ...
, the 13th Tirthankara. The shrine has a "teerth kshetra" (pilgrimage center) that was established in the 12th century.
Malpura
The dādābadī at Malpura is the one that receives the most visitors. It is dedicated to the Dādā Guru Jinakushala Sūri, who attained
Samadhi
Statue of a meditating Rishikesh.html" ;"title="Shiva, Rishikesh">Shiva, Rishikesh
''Samādhi'' (Pali and ), in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, is a state of meditative consciousness. In many Indian religious traditions, the cultivati ...
(the heavenly abode) in Deraur (now in
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
), prior to which he stayed at Malpura gathering followers. It is believed that he appeared to one of those followers after his death to give him his insight and wisdom, while standing on a stone that still bears his footprint.
Mehrauli
The dādābadī in ''Mehrauli'',
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...
, is the place where the second Dādā Guru Manidhari Jinachandra Sūri ji was cremated.
According to the legend, while on his deathbed, he told his followers that when he died the "Mani" (magic jewel) embedded in his forehead would fall out and should be placed in a bowl of milk. He also instructed them that his body should not be kept anywhere while preparing for the funeral. Everyone was so sad, however, that they forgot his instructions and set his body on the ground. When they tried to move it again, it wouldn't budge. Even elephants were used, but all attempts failed and the last rites had to be performed right there, at the spot where the shrine now stands.
File:Malpura Dadabadi.jpg, Dadabari in Malpura
File:Ajmer_India.JPG, Dadabari in Ajmer
File:Dada_Gurus_of_Kharatara_Gaccha.jpg, Dada Gurus of Kharatara Gaccha; Jinadatta Suri (centre) Jinakushal Suri (right) and Jinachandra Suri Manidhari (left)
File:Jain_Temple_located_in_Dadawadi.jpg, Jain Temple inside Dadawadi, Jalgaon
Jalgaon () is a city in the state of Maharashtra, India. The city is located in North Maharashtra in the subregion of Khandesh, and serves as the administrative headquarters of its namesake district, the Jalgaon district. In the subregion of ...
File:Dadabari, Mehrauli - side view.jpg, Dadabari, Mehrauli
See also
*
List of Jain temples
Jain temples and ''Tirtha (Jainism), tirtha'' (pilgrimage sites) are present throughout the Indian subcontinent, many of which were built several hundred years ago. Many of these temples are classified according to Jain s ...
References
Further reading
* ''Three Apabhraṁśa works of Jinadatta Sūri, with commentaries''. Edited with introductory notes and appendices by Lalchandra Bhagawandas Gandhi. Baroda, Oriental Institute (1967)
External links
Jainteerth.com: A guide to Jain teerths in India. (English)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dadabadi
Jain temples in Rajasthan