Mulnayak: 21 feet
high Idol of Bhagawan Shantinath.
How to reach: The Tirth is
Belgaon district near the Kothali village (birth place of Achraya Deshbhusan maharaj). The
distance between Bijapur to Jamkhandi via bableshwar is 62 Kms. Jamkhandi to Banhatti 19
Kms and then Mahalingpur. Chikodi is 61 Kms from this place. The Chikodi-Nipani road is 27
Kms and the way to Shantigiri is 6 Kms before the arrival of Nipani. The Chikodi could also be reached by train on
Miraj-Hubli rail route. The Station of Chikodi road is 65 Kms from Miraj. On
Chikodi-Nipani road, 6 Kms before arrival of Nipani, a Sign Board direct the pilgrims to
Kothali village leading to Achraya Deshbhusan maharaj Ashram. Shantigiri is 1.5 Kms from
the ashram. If traveling on Poona-Banglore National high way No 4, one can reach here from
Nipani to Kothali (6 Kms) before going to Tirth of Stavanidhi. The lodging And Boarding
facilities are available at the Tirth.
Art and architecture:
Historicity:
Chikodi taluk has given the great Achraya- Shri Shantisagar-village Bhojgaon; Shri
Vidyanand-Village shedbal; Shri Deshbhusan maharaj- village Kothali. The newly developed
Tirth of Shantigiri is near Kothali. The Ashram at village Kothali has a temple dedicated
to Bhagwan Adinath. The ashram has facilities for Hostel, school in addition to boarding
and lodging facilities. The Shantigiri Tirth is visible from the ashram and is at a
distance of 1.5 Kms. The Tirth was developed
in 1979. The temples at the Tirth are:
1.
Samvasaran
Mandir- It is housed in a 22by 22 feet hall with colored glasswork depicting the creation
of Samvasaran. (2) Nandishwar Mandir-It is housed in a 30 by 30 feet hall having 5
artificial hillocks having 52 idols of brass in Padamasan postures. (3) Lotus temple- it
is an octangular hall where the idols of 24 Tirthankars are installed. The Mulnayak of
this temple is Bhagwan Padamparbhu in the center in standing posture. The other 23
tirthankars are in padamasan postures. (4) 17 feet High marble idol of Bhagwan Parsvanath
with shade of 7 hoods on a lotus seat under the open sky. The images of Dharender and
Padmavati are also here. (5) Adinath Mandir- the three idols of Bharat, Adinath and
Bahubali in standing posture. Suitable steps are erected to perform the puja by the
pilgrims. A marble Samvasaran is also housed in a glass enclosure. There is a 4 feet high
brass Choubisi with Bhagwan mahavir as the Mulnayak in this temple. There is 24 idols of future tirthankars is very
artistic and beautiful. The idols of great Achraya are also here.
2.
The most
attractive part of the Tirth is 21 feet high marble idol of Bhagwan Shantinath in standing
posture with the 19 feet high idols of Bhagwan Chandraprabhu and Bhagwan Mahavir on either
side. These idols are under the open sky and leave a lasting peaceful impact on the
pilgrims. This place could be referred to as the center of Jain history
Trust: Shri Shantigiri Kshetra,
Post Kothali-Kuppanvadi-591287- Taluk-Chikodi Dist.Belgaon-Karnataka