Exploring 108 Parshwanath | Painter Babu Rishabh
108 Parshwanath: A Memoir of a Person Who Couldn’t Sit Still
"I didn’t plan this journey.
It happened to me.
Some obsessions knock politely. Mine kicked the door open and said, “Pack. We’re visiting 108 Parshwanath.”
No timelines. No grand announcements. Just me, my faith, and a growing inability to live a stationary life.
This year, the obsession intensified. The feet moved faster than the mind. And suddenly, I wasn’t travelling anymore—I was becoming a spiritual nomad.
Last Year: Where the Obsession Took Its First Breath
1. Dokadiya Parshwanath, Somnath
2. Chorvadiya (Hansmukh) Parshwanath, Chorvad
3. Navpallav Parshwanath, Mangrol
4. Baleja Parshwanath, Balej (Porbandar)
5. Ajahara Parshwanath, Una (Near Diu)
6. Kumbhojgiri Jain Tirth — 108 Shri Jagvallabh Parshwanath, Kolhapur
Here’s what this year has looked like so far.
This Year: When the Journey Picked Up Speed (And Depth)
Right at the start of the year, I decided—no excuses, only footsteps.
1. Shri Vaadiji Parshwanath Tirth
📍 Village: Patan
🏙 District: Mehsana
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
Shri Vaadiji Parshwanath is counted among the traditional 108 Parshwanath Tirths of Gujarat. Though not architecturally grand, it represents ancient rural Jain worship, where temples functioned as custodians of faith during times of political instability. Such tirths often safeguarded idols when major cities faced invasions.
✨ Significance: Continuity of Jain worship through simplicity and discipline.
2. Shri Shankheshwar Parshwanath Tirth
📍 Village: Shankheshwar
🏙 District: Viramgam
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
One of the most important Parshwanath pilgrimage sites in India.
Rebuilt in 1098 CE
Renovated by Vastupala–Tejpal (13th century)
Destroyed and reconstructed multiple times during medieval invasions
Mentioned in Jain scriptures and stutis, Shankheshwar represents unyielding spiritual resilience.
✨ Significance: A symbol of survival, revival, and unwavering devotion.
3. Shri Charup Shamala Parshwanath Tirth
📍 Village: Charup (Charup Gam)
🏙 District: Mehsana
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
Charup is historically recognised as an ancient educational and religious centre. The Parshwanath tirth here aligns with traditions of penance, meditation, and scholarly Jain practices rather than ritual grandeur.
✨ Significance: A centre for introspection and spiritual learning.
4. Shri Champa Parshwanath Tirth
🏙 District: Patan
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
A regionally revered Parshwanath tirth, Champa Parshwanath is primarily known through oral traditions and community worship. Such temples formed the backbone of everyday Jain religious life.
✨ Significance: Emotional calm, clarity, and personal devotion.
5. Shri Dhingadmalla Parshwanath Tirth
🏙 District: Patan
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
Though sparsely documented, Dhingadmalla Parshwanath is officially listed among the 108 Parshwanath Tirths. Historically, these village temples ensured Jain worship survived beyond royal patronage.
✨ Significance: Faith sustained through generations, not monuments.
6. Shri Koka Parshwanath Tirth
🏙 District: Patan
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
Named after Koka Shah, a Jain devotee and donor. The temple exemplifies the merchant-led temple tradition, where lay followers funded religious institutions.
✨ Significance: Seva, donation, and community-driven devotion.
7. Shri Panchasara Parshwanath Tirth
🏙 District: Patan
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
One of the oldest Parshwanath temples in Gujarat, originally established in the 8th century during the Chavda dynasty.
Idol brought from Panchasara village
Later expanded during Solanki rule
✨ Significance: A cornerstone of early Jain dominance in North Gujarat.
8. Shri Tankla Parshwanath Tirth
🏙 District: Patan
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
Tankla Parshwanath thrives on family-led worship traditions. Its importance lies in inherited rituals, disciplined observance, and daily faith practices.
✨ Significance: Living Jainism passed through households.
9. Shri Gadaliya Parshwanath Tirth
🏙 District: Patan
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
This tirth represents grassroots Jain temple culture, built and maintained by local communities without royal or imperial backing.
✨ Significance: Jain values in their most unembellished form.
10. Shri Kankan Parshwanath Tirth
🏙 District: Patan
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
Associated with idol preservation traditions, common during periods of invasion or unrest. The tirth likely originated after recovery or protection of a Parshwanath idol.
✨ Significance: Faith as protection and responsibility
11. Shri Mahadev ji Parshwanath Tirth
🏙 District: Patan
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
Known for its syncretic naming, this tirth reflects coexistence within India’s spiritual traditions, where Jain and Shaiva influences share geography without conflict.
✨ Significance: Spiritual pluralism without dilution.
12. Shri Naranga Parshwanath Tirth
🏙 District: Patan
🗺 State: Gujarat, India
History & Significance:
Naranga Parshwanath is traditionally associated with peaceful worship and disciplined routines. Often visited as a reflective pause in longer pilgrimages.
✨ Significance: Balance, stillness, and inner alignment.
A Gratitude That Changed My Trajectory
This journey stepped out of my head because Nikhil Pattani Sir trusted it before it had proof.
Thank you—for turning belief into logistics,
for giving wings to a dream I saw first,
and for letting me evolve into something I didn’t know I needed to be—a spiritual nomad.
Support like this doesn’t assist.
It alters destiny.
The Count (Because Obsessions Keep Score)
Parshwanath Tirths explored so far: 18 / 108
No rush.
No pressure.
Just footsteps and faith.
This isn’t a pilgrimage anymore.
It’s a memoir in motion.
To be continued......
With over 15 years of versatile experience, Rishabh Shukla is a distinguished journalist, public relations expert, brand storytelling consultant, and art activist. He has mastered the art of transforming narrative-driven public relations into powerful, emotionally resonant brands. Combining his journalistic expertise with creative storytelling and the use of art for social justice, Rishabh has become a force to reckon with in the worlds of publishing, real estate, and NGO collaborations.
Armed with double master’s degrees in English Literature and Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology, as well as a postgraduate diploma in Journalism and Mass Communications, Rishabh excels in creating high-impact media content that drives engagement and visibility. His design thinking badges from IBM further empower him to craft lasting narratives for clients, transforming ordinary stories into memorable brand identities.
Recognized by numerous esteemed organizations for his strategic public relations planning, contemporary writing, and campaign development, Rishabh has created story-centric PR campaigns that drive meaningful, measurable results for businesses, NGOs, and creative sectors alike.
One of his most unique contributions to the world of literature is his pioneering of the micro-story genre. Delivering complete narratives in just 15 words—Rishabh has penned over 200+ of these micro tales. His minimalist, deeply engaging storytelling style captures entire emotional arcs, setting new standards for brevity and creative impact. Despite lacking traditional narrative structures, these stories encapsulate humor, drama, melancholy, or eeriness, keeping readers hooked from the first word.
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