Semliya

Shri Semliyaji

Shri Semliyaji is the temple of 16th Jain Tirthankar Shantinath.It is one of the 5 most ancient pilgrimages of Malwa viz. Semliyaji, Bhopawar, Maksi, Mandav and Vai Parshwanath. The importance and fame of this holy place in medieval period can be understood by following facts.

1. The 41-inch black colored idol of Shantinath was discovered and temple was erected 2300 years ago during the rule of King Samprati. He even ordered his workers to build a straight tunnel from Ujjain to temple's Sanctuary for convenience of people traveling from Ujjain back then. This tunnel has subsided and is currently not used.

2. The temple was first renovated 1700 years ago by a shroff Bhima Mahajan.In proof we have writings on a marble pillar having a mark similar to clenched human fist.No such detailed explanation of temple renovation is probably present for other pilgrimage of Malwa.

3. Before its first renovation the temple was committed to tapagacchiya yati tradition. Before vir sawant 933 (AD 316) according to legends the four foundation pillars traveling through immense skies during tantrik war were landed on earth by Yatiji. The war marks of fist,sword, arrow and bardiche can be seen on these pillars. The pillars are still there. Since there landing occasional percolation of water-milk on pillar surfaces was scene. Since AD 2000 the percolation is also seen on some parts of the sanctuary. Surprisingly in AD 2011 the percolation of saffron water was recorded. Every year during the festival of lord's birth thousands of devotees come here and take away some part of the percolation on money bills, clothing, etc. in a belief that it will bring them great fortune.

4. This place was famous in ancient times as well due to its presence on Delhi (at that time Indrarastha)-Mandav route. According to texts Acharya Jinkushalsuri(Founder of clan Khattargachh) marched a sangha from Jaisalmer to Mandav 900 years ago. He rested here and ordered to chisel an idol from a mineral rock for worshipping which can still be seen here.

5. 545 years back Acharya Lakshmisagarsuri also visited Semliya with his sangha and erected 3 other idols out of which one is a 4-inch idol of tirthankar Adinath under kalpvraksha tree sitting on a peacock and a serpant around them.When recently gacchadhipati Acharya Gunsagarsuri visited the temple he got extremely delighted and told that he has seen an identical idol at Siddhanchal. He also mentioned that the immediate Acharya at the time of erection of idol at Siddhachal told that an identical idol will be erected in a place as holy as Siddhachal and that he volunteered the sangha (Mumbai-Sammetshikhar-Girnar-Palitana) with the purpose to find the twin idol.

6. In order to locate and secure this place the immediate head Acharya with his meditation created a specific idol of Adhishtayak Dev(installant god) smirking and wearing a crown and riding a lion. He has a drum in his right hand,an ewer in left hand and a knife in waistband with many ancient symbols embossed on it. With a beast under right leg and a small animal near left foot.It is Said that the famous Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and his army during his expedition to destroy every Jain and Hindu temple between Delhi and Mandav royal route passed through this place but due to the power of this god they couldn't see it. The ruins of Mandav temples are living proof. Also the Agarji Shantinath temple in Ratlam was protected by erecting towers overnight. During the course of time due to frequent coating of saffron the real look of idol was hidden and pilgrims started taking it for a God Manibhadra idol. But the 80 kg of coating cracked in 1990 and the real look was observed which can now be seen.

Due to no such description of such a God in jain manuscripts people now worship them as god Bheruji.

7. The fascinating thing about the Shantinath idol is that the sand is still intact even after recent renovation where due to courtesy of Sadhus, the shravaks had done great donation of ₹50,00,000 and the money never ran out.

8. The renovation of this temple was finished in 2000 on the day of chaitra sudi tairas. The idols of Gautama Swami,Shasan Devi and Nirvani Devi were placed and a guru Mandir with idols of Acharya Jwersagarsuriji, Anandsagarsuriji, and Dharmsagarsuriji was built. 3 flags were hoisted on this occasion.Since then Many Sadhus and Sadhvis have spent choumasa here.

9. The arrangements of this tirtha are governed by 'Shri Shantinath Shwetambar Jain Mandir Trust'.This tirtha has 2 holy asylums, 1 office hall,3 dining halls,4 halls,12 rooms and a kitchen.The 12 devotee families are always ready for taking order from priests. Since 20 years the responsibility of puja's prabhawna is undertaken by Manoharlalji Jain. Manoharlalji also organised a 6-day sangha in December 2003 and hosted a 47-day-long Updhyaan at Semliya which started on December 6, 2007.

Since 3 years pilgrims regularly visit this place. Semliya is 17 km east from Ratlam Namli road, and connected with a good road to main highway with a 5 minutes distance. Semliya is 150 km from bhopavar,130 from Mandav,24 km from Vibrod and 85 km from Nageshwar. Bus and Train from Ratlam (western railway) at an interval of 1 hour is available. The food can be made available on 2 day prior notice.