Mahudi Tirth temple of Gujarat where Tantrik tradition of worship is followed!

Navrang India August 21, 2022

Mahudi Tirth Jain temple, pravase.co.in

Mahudi Tirth Jain temple, GJ l.priyankawriting.com

Mahudi Tirth temple in the small town of Gandhinagar district, Gujarat (about 70 km from Ahmedabad) is a  beautiful  temple and is a major pilgrimage center for Jains and other communities. In this ornate and richly decorated temple in the sanctum - garbagriha is enshrined an  idol of saint Ghantakarna Mahavira who is  Svone of the fifty-two viras (protector deities) of etambara Jainism and is said to be linked to monastic lineage of  Tapa Gaccha, What is surprising is he was deity of Tantrik tradition  established by Buddhisagar Suri, a Jain monk. Here, the deity Ghantakarna is reverentially  invoked for protection against unexpected  obstacles, diseases, fire, spells, etc. 

Ghantakarna Mahavir apkpure.com
Tantrik tradition or way of worship is directly based on the Sanskrit texts called the Tantras, Samhitas, and Agamas and covers a wide spectrum - range of "magical beliefs and practices" such as Yoga and Shaktism. In Tantrik philosophy the human body is looked upon as a microcosm of the universe and the cosmic power reveals itself through  the medium  of its biological and psychological processes.
The Tantric tradition is popular in the state of Kerala, 

Mahudi Tirth Jain temple, ahmedabad.com

The temple came up  (vide inscription; foundation laid in 1611 CE) on a land donated by Vadilal Kalidas Vora  and the  main idol (22' inch tall) - Padmaprabh  of this temple is made of marble 
The  separate shrine dedicated to Ghantakarna Mahavir is said to be  the protector deity. In 1917  Shrimad Buddhisagarji Maharaj Saheb renovated the temple and had the   idol of Shri Ghantakarna Mahavir Dev– one of the fifty two vir  consecrated with temple tradition. It is believed that the idol has  has miraculous power

Mahudi Gujarat, location map. researchgate.net

Thousands of devotees visiting this temple never fail to offer   Sukhdi (roasted mixture of jaggery, wheat and ghee), a sweet there. After offering, it is to be consumed by devotees within the temple complex. Devotees  should not take it home or outside the premises and, if some body does it, he may face impending danger - even death. The prasada  can be given given to poor people around  there,

Important period of worship is Kali Chaudas (the fourteenth day of the dark half of the month of Aso) and on this day tens of  thousands of devotees flock to  the Mahudi temple to attend a religious ceremony, Hava.  
There is a temple bell set at a height of 30 feet on the temple premises.  Devotees making a wish  can climb 30 feet and ring the bell so that their request will be heard by the protector deity.  For the convenience of the visiting devotees from far-flung areas the temple is provided with  Bhojanalaya  for food and Atithi Bhuvan for comfortable stay.