શ્રી માણિભદ્ર વીર

By tradition Manibhadra was a great king, devoted to the Jain religion, of enormous wealth and fond of the 36 musical instruments. For his devotion he became the kshetrapal, the protector of the area, and he is held in high regard by Tapagachchh Shwetambar Jains. His murti is shown with four arms (sometimes six), and his vahan is Airavat, the white elephant.

He is specially worshipped on Ashtami, Chaudas and Diwali, and many come for worship on the Pancham of every month. Sunday and Thursday are held to be his days; sukhadi and shreefal are offered as prasad. Aso Sud 5 is the day of his mahapujan.

Near Palanpur in north Gujarat, where the pindi (the lower body) is worshipped. Jains, and many Hindus of Gujarat and Rajasthan, come here for darshan. The shreefal and sukhadi prasad is eaten within the temple, not taken out. Bhojanshala and dharmashala. Pedhi: +91 98255 73195.

Shri Aglod Jain Tirth in north Gujarat, about 80 km from Magarwada, where the dhad (the body) is worshipped. Bhojanshala and dharmashala. Pedhi: +91 2763 283734.

On the bank of the Shipra in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, where the temple stands on the site of Manekshah's old home and the mastak (the head) is worshipped. Bhojanshala and dharmashala, with AC and non-AC rooms. Pedhi: +91 97546 63041.

It is held that darshan at all three places in one day, between sunrise and sunset, is the best way of offering one's devotion. With infants or elders, take 24 hours instead; it is the faith that matters.

Reach Magarwada the evening before (about 146 km, 2 to 2.5 hours from Ahmedabad) and eat on the way, as no food is served after sunset. Take darshan at sunrise and leave by about 6:30 AM for Aglod (about 80 km, 2 to 2.5 hours). After puja and navkarshi at Aglod, leave by 10 to 11 AM for Ujjain (about 400 km, 6 to 7 hours), where puja is usually allowed until about 4 to 4:30 PM. The route can also be done in reverse. Book a car with a Madhya Pradesh permit.

Timings, distances and phone numbers here come from devotees' accounts; check with each tirth's pedhi before you travel. Jain food through the journey, and on Thursdays, is a way of offering your faith to Shri Manibhadra Vir.