Shri Vanthali Teerth located in Gujarat is a Jain pilgrimage centre. The temple is dedicated to Lord Sheetalnath, the tenth Jain Tirthankara. The teerth kshetra has been the birth place of Sajjan Shreshthi, a minister of King Siddharaja who is credited with repairing and renovating the Girnar teerth kshetra.
History of Shri Vanthali Teerth
According to history Shri Vanthali Teerth dates back to the ancient times. Earlier the city of Vanthali was known as `Vamanasthali.` It is said that a flag could be seen fluttering in the town which was a sign of the popularity of the Jain Shreshthis. The idol of Lord Sheetalnath was unearthed from the local Gandhi garden here. As per a reference Sajjan Shreshthi, a minister of King Siddharaja had renovated the Girnar Jain Teerth with the income earned from Sorath. When
Siddharaj, the emperor of Gujarat came to know about he was enraged. He immediately headed towards Sorath to punish him. However on his way a Jain Shreshthi showed his interest of donating lakhs of rupees. Upon reaching Sorath the king came to know that the temple of Girnar was named as `Karnavihar` in memory of his father name. This highly impressed the king. He was very pleased with his minister and pardoned him for his deed.
Temple of Shri Vanthali Teerth
The Temple Shri Vanthali Teerth houses the idol of Lord Sheetalnath. The temple has been magnificently decorated with intricate artistic designs. The creative temple work boast about the skills of the craftsmen. Three idols of Jains in Kayotsarga posture can be seen in the portico of the Suryakund. Two Jain temples have been built here that houses many ancient Jain idols that have been ceremoniously installed. The idol of Lord Shantinath also looks very attractive and appealing to the eyes.
The Temple of Shri Vanthali Teerth organises many annual gatherings and functions. There are provisions for dharamshalas or rest houses for the pilgrims. These are well equipped with all modern facilities. Being situated on the bank of holy Ganga River the temple is enclosed by scenic beauty that mesmerises and enthrals the pilgrims. The calm and tranquil environment and the surrounding greenery make it a suitable place for religious activities. The kshetra is well connected to road, rail and air. Taxi services and bus services are easily available here. The nearest bus stop is located at Vanthali. The nearest railway station is located at Junagadh at a distance of 30 km. The closest airport is located at Rajkot.
