Shri Tintoi Teerth located in Gujarat is a Jain pilgrimage centre. The teerth kshetra is situated in the centre of the village of Tintoi. The temple is dedicated to Lord Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Jain Tirthankara.
History of Shri Tintoi Teerth
According to history Shri Tintoi Teerth dates back to the ancient times. The teeth kshetra is associated with many miracles and legends. As per a legend a monk once saw in his dream the idol of the lord buried under a ruined house on the Shamalaji hill. He told the Sanghas about it and the the Sanghas of the four village of Tintoi. Dadhaliya, Modasa and Sarodi gathered together and went in search of the idol in the instructed place. There they found the idol of the lord beneath the house. They took the idol and were returning in a bullock cart. On the way the cart stopped at the centre of the Tintoi village. Thus a splendid temple was built here and was ceremoniously installed on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Vaishakh in the year 1828 of the Vikram Samvat Era. Another legend states that earlier nobody was allowed to visit the teerth without paying a tax. For visiting the temple one gold coin called muhar in Hindi had to be paid to the village chief. People, therefore, called the idol, Muhari Parshvanatha. The name of Muhari Parshvanath finds its mention in the Jagachintamani Chaitayavandan Sutra that states about the antiquity of the temple. Here the idol of Lord Parshvanatha is believed to possess miraculous powers and are visited by thousands of Jains and non Jains from far off places. They come here to offer their prayers to the Lord and receive his blessings. It is believed that if prayed with all devotion the Lord fulfils the wishes of the pilgrims.
Temple of Shri Tintoi Teerth
The temple of Shri Tintoi Teerth houses the idol of Bhagwan Muhari Parshvanatha. The temple has been magnificently decorated with intricate artistic designs. The creative temple work boast about the skills of the craftsmen. The walls and pillars of the temple are adorned with specimens of ancient art and paintings. The temple is adorned with three summits, five open squares and two devkulikas. The idol of the Lord is 84 cm in height and is white in colour. It is seated in a padmasana posture and has seven hoods. The idol has been beautifully carved from a single stone and looks very beautiful. The smiling face of the Lord looks very calm and serene. There is also an old library that has many valuable books and manuscripts here. Besides this there is a well planned beautiful lecture hall located here.
The Temple of Shri Tintoi Teerth organizes many annual gatherings and functions that are celebrated with much enthusiasm. There are provisions for dharamshalas or rest houses for the pilgrims that are well equipped with all modern facilities. There are also facilities for Upashrays, Ayambilshala and Jnanabhandar. The temple is surrounded by beautiful natural surroundings. The surrounding greenery and the beauty of the teerth mesmerize and fascinate the pilgrims. The calm and tranquil village environment makes it a perfect place for religious activities. The kshetra is well connected to road, rail and air. Taxi services and bus services are easily available here. One can go to Tintoi from the Shamalaji station which is on the Ahmedabad Udaipur railway line. This sacred place is at a distance of 45 miles from the holy place of Keshariya.
