Mulnayak | Tirth | Historicity | Other Temples | Works of art and Sculpture | Guidelines | Trust | Photo Gallery

Mulnayak: Nearly 35 cms. high, black-colored idol of Bhagawan Adishvar in the Padmasana posture.

Tirth: It is in a three and a half miles long and one mile broad level-surface fort at a height of nearly 550 meters from the sea-shore.

Historicity: The ancient name of this tirth was Madhyamika. This city was also the birth-place of Acharya Haribhadrasurishvarji. Since this fort was built by King Chitranand of the Maurya dynasty, it is called Chitrakut. There is an inscription that King Kumarpal chartered Chitrakut along with seven hundred villages to the potter, Alik for having protected him. The temple of Bhagawan Mahavir Swami was built here in the year 1167 of the Vikram era. The temple of Bhagawan Parshwanath was built in the year 1322 of the Vikram era. Many Jain temples were built by the King’s advisor in the times of King Mokal. The Tirthamala composed between the years 1563 and 1566 of the Vikram era, states that there were 32 temples of different gachchhas. The Jain Kirtistambh was among them. The seven-storied Kirtistambha was among them. The seven-storied Kirtistambha was built in the fourteenth century as a memorial of Bhagawan Adishvar. On the fort of Chitod, there are at present six temples. The largest and chief among them is the temple of Bhagawan Risabhdev with fifty-two devkulikas. The place of this temple is known as ‘Sattavish devri’. It means that at some time in the past, there were twenty-seven temples here. In Rampol street of the village on the fort, there are temples of Bhagawan Mahavir Swami and of Bhagawan Shantinath in the same compound. The fort of Chitod is famous all over India. It is, therefore, said, "Chitodgadh is the only fort and all other forts are simply small fortresses." This is a land of heroes. Many great kings and their Jain advisors, lived here and they made great achievement from time to time. The artistic Jain Kirtistambh built in the fourteenth century even today reminds us of the glorious history of Jains. The sixteenth renovation of Mt. Shetrunjaya was accomplished in the year 1587 of the Vikram era and the renovator belongs to this place. The place of Bhamasha, the great donor and Maharana Pratap’s treasurer, is also here.

Other Temples: There are five other temples in the fort. The temple of Bhagawan Shantinath is small but rich with artistic skill of a high quality. It is called Shrungal Choki. Near the Gaumukhi Kund (stepped pond), there is a temple of which has a four headed idol of Bhagawan Parshvanath (chawmukhji). Besides the temple of Mirabai and Samidheshvar are very delightful. Below the fort, near the gateway to the village there is Smrutimandir of Haribhadrasurishvarji.

Works of art and Sculpture: From the fort on the hill, the scene below looks very delightful. This is the only extremely large fort on the level land on the hill in India. The ruins of ancient structures, are seen here everywhere. Jain idols are seen in the splendid temple of Mirabai. The art and sculpture of the Kirtistambha are beyond description..

Guidelines: The nearest railway station of Chitodgadh is at a distance of 7 kilometers from the temple and 4 kilometers from the dharmashala. Bus service and private vehicles are available. There are boarding and lodging provisions in the village on the fort.

Trust: Shri Anandji Kalyanji jain Svetamber Mandir Trust, Chitodgadh - 312001, Dist : Udaipur. State : Rajasthan, India.

Shree Aadinath Bhagwan