Jain community members gathered at Navjivan Society in Mumbai Central on Tuesday to express their discontent over the vandalism of Jain Tirthankaras idols near the Kalika Mata temple in the UNESCO-listed Champaner-Pavagadh Archeological Park in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district on June 16.
Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghvi, assured the restoration of the idols, but the Jain community remains deeply upset by the destruction of these centuries-old idols. The perpetrators have not been identified yet, although Jain groups suspect the temple authorities’ involvement.
The Mahakali temple trust, responsible for the shrine, has refuted the accusations, suggesting that the idols may have been displaced during the removal of a shed on the staircase.
The incident in Gujarat has sparked protests within the Jain community, with members in Mumbai demanding the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against the culprits, their apprehension, and the reinstatement of the Jin Pratimas or idols. The Tirthankaras hold significant religious importance in Jainism.
The dadra or steps leading to the 10th-century temple of Mahakali or Kalika Mata were adorned with idols, symbolizing devotion to the Mother Goddess. In order to renovate the path, the temple trust decided to temporarily remove the idols. Unfortunately, during this process, it was reported that six to seven idols and other sculptures were vandalized, according to the Jains.
Dhanpal Solanki Jain, an advocate, expressed his concern over the incident, questioning how the Gujarat Government could allow such acts of vandalism against the idols of Jain Tirthankaras. He further criticized the silence of the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Chief Minister, suggesting that their inaction was enabling these attacks on the Jain community and their places of worship.
During a meeting at Navjivan Society, Vinamra Sagar Maharaj, a Jain monk, emphasized the need for government protection in rebuilding the destroyed religious site. He stressed that as a minority, the Jain community’s rights under the Constitution should be safeguarded. Sagar raised the important question of when their temples would truly be safe if they were not protected now.
Sanghvi announced on Tuesday that the process of restoring the idols has commenced. He also informed that he had requested the Panchmahal District Superintendent of Police to conduct an investigation into the incident. The Pavagadh-Champaner Archeological Park spans over an area of 13.28 square km, with an additional buffer area of 29.11 square km.
This site encompasses the remains of a 14th-century capital of a Hindu kingdom and the 15th-century capital of a pre-Mughal Islamic sultanate. At the pinnacle of Pavagadh hill, the Kalika Mata temple stands as one of the 51 Shakti Peeths in South Asia. It is believed that the Jains constructed the shrine and later handed it over to the Hindus.