Semliya

Semliya is a small village/hamlet 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east of Namli in Ratlam district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.^[1]

Semliya is among the four most ancient pilgrimage for Jains of Malwa viz. Semliya, Bhopavar, Mandav, Maksi and vai. It is the temple of the 16th tirthankar Shri Shantinath.

Shri Semliyaji

Shri Semliyaji
Idol of Tirthankar Shantinath
Basic information
Location	Semliya, Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh, India
Affiliation	Jainism
Deity	Shantinatha
Festivals	Mahavir Jayanti
Governing body	Shri Shantinath Shwetambar Jain Mandir Trust
Temple(s)	1

Idol of Adhishtayak Dev now worshipped as Bheruji

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 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 convinience 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 1700) 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.It should be noted that 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 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 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 anda 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 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 installant god smirking andwearing 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 Sid 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 idol is that the sand is still intact even after recent renovation where due to courtesy of 50 lakhs Sadhus, the shravaks had done great donation and the money never ran out.

8. The renovation of this temple was finished in 2000 on the day of chairs sudi.The idols of Gautama Swami,Shasan Devi and Nirvani Devi were placed and a guru Mandir with idols of Acharya Jwersagarsuriji,A anandsagarsuriji, and Dharmsagarsuriji was built.13 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 asylums for sadhu Sadhvis,1 office hall,3 dining halls,4 halls,12 rooms and a kitchen.

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 1hr is available.

References