Jains in Khambhat taluka of Anand overjoyed
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, JULY 07, 2004 10:34:49 PM ]
VADODARA: Jains in Khambhat taluka of Anand were overjoyed when
around 65 idols temple were unearthed at a construction site in the
town. Inscriptions on them suggested that they were over 900 years
old.
While, the first statue was unearthed on Sunday, many more
structures, including idols of Jain deity Ambica Devi, were
unearthed on Monday at the site where a mamlatdar office is being
built. Senior community members believed excavation might uncover a
Jain temple belonging to Tirthtankar Nemnath Swami.
Officials have taken the idols in custody and are awaiting a team of
archaeologists. "The structures include that of temple 'Parikar'
and 'Gaadi'. The year inscribed on the plaques range from 1001 to
1130 of the Vikram calendar. This puts the structures at over 900
years old. Also, the idol of Ambica Devi is usually found in temples
of Nemnath Swa-mi.
Hence, further digging can lead to more such revelations," says
Satish Choksi, member of Swetambar Murti Pujak Sangh. "Khambhat is
known for such finds. Three years ago, we had found two such idols.
A major site was unearthed 30 years ago when government officials
were digging a road for gutter line in the Manek Chowk area," he
added.
Coordinator of Jain Academy at the M S University, professor L M
Joshi says, "Parikar is a decorative motif found near places of
worship in Jain temples. Most of the images are of Jain deities like
Yaksh and Yakshini. The structure re-sembles 'Kalakshetra'
decorative temples, usually found in Khambhat and Kavi regions of
the state."
Khambhat has 72 Jain temples and excavation at the site can yield
more idols. "Khambhat has 27 names, including 'Stambhpur'. The
excavation has established a connection with these historical name
as most of the structures unearthed from the site are usually used
in pillars (stambhs) in Jain temples," says Dinesh Za-veri,
representative of Anandji-Kalyanji Trust, which looks after several
Jain temples in the country.
"Many Jain traders had settled when Khambhat was a major trading
hub. Most of the temples were developed in that period. Hence, even
rarest of idols like those of sapphire and nilam are found here."
Senior community members have urged the government to hand over the
place to the community." It is a great matter of faith for us.
It is better if the structure remains in Jain temples. We have
requested several ministers, too," adds Zaveri. "There is a huge
rush of Jains at the site. But, we have taken the images in our
custody till the archaeology experts reach the place," says S I
Patel, deputy engineer.
Anand collector R B Dave confirmed that many Jains have demanded the
idols be given over to the community. "We have to go through a norm
of issuing notification regarding the images and then decide on the
custodian," said Dave.