Shree Avanti Shwetamber Jain Tirth

The ancient name of ujjain city was Avantika Puskarandini and Vishala. Ujjain was the ancient capital of Malwa. During the reign of king Sudhanva, this city named as Ujjain. King Samprati, who on the advice of Acharya Aryasuhastisuri, built 1,25,000 Jain temples, installed 1,25,00,000 Jain Thirthankara idols and renovated 36,000 Jain temples was born in this city and made the city proud.  Acharya Aryasuhastisuri with his disciples came to Ujjain and stayed in Bhadra Sethani’s vahanshala. Avanti Sukumal, the son of Bhadra sethani, residing on the seventh floor of his house, heard the monks reciting some stotras and he was stunned. He got Jatismaran gyan (knowledge about previous birth). He saw that he was a dev of “Nalini Gulm Viman” in his previous birth. He took Diksha immediately with his parents permission at midnight and got his gurus permission to take Santhara. He went near the Kantharika kund and stood in deep meditation. A fox saw muni Avanti sukumal and due to previous enmity killed him. His son Mahakal, under instructions of Arya Suhastisurishvarji, built this splendid temple in memory of his father 250 years after  the nirvana of Bhagwan Mahavir. The idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath was installed and was called Avanti Parshvanath in his fathers honour. As this temple was built by Mahakal, it came to be known as Mahakal Chaitya. During King Pushyamitra’s (a devotee of Shiva) reign, this tirth became a Mahakal Mahadev (Shiva) temple. During the reign of King vikramaditya of Ujjain Shi Vriddhivadisuri was displeased with his disciple Kumudchandra and asked him to repent for his sins by travelling incognito. Hearing his preachings, 18 kings became his followers by becoming Jains. Kumudchandra came to Ujjain and slept in the Mahakal temple by keeping his legs towards the Shivaling. He was beaten for his behaviour by the kings order but nothing happened to him. Instead, the queen were beaten. King Vikramaditya was amazed by this incident. He asked for forgiveness and the reason for this miracle. Kumudchandra started chanting the very impressive Kalyan Mandir Stotra. As he was chanting the 11th verse, a beautiful idol of Bhagwan Parshvanath appeared from the Shivalinga. King Vikramaditya was very impressed by seeing this and he became a follower of Jainism. He gave the name” Shri Siddhasen Divakar”  to Kumudchandra who became a great Acharya. This Tirth became famous and Jain religion gained prominence in Ujjain. At present, there are 32 temples. Of these 5 temples are big. The temple of Adinath in the city is the oldest temple in Ujjain and has a great history. It was here that Shripal and Mainasundari worshipped Bhagwan Adinath and did Navapad Oli and Shripal was cured of his disease. There is a newly constructed temple of Manibhadra Veer also here. There is a Dadawadi opposite the Avanti Parshvanath temple.