Situated in Uttar Pradesh, very near to Meerut, Sh. Hastinapur Jain Shwetambar Tirth is a very important pilgrimage for Jain for this is the place of 4 kalyanaks each of Sh. Shantinath Bhagwan, Sh. Kunthunath Bhagwan and Sh. Arnath Bhagwan (i.e. a total if 12 kalyanaks). These kalyanak include chyavan kalyanak (coming into the womb of the mother), janam kalyanak (birth), diksha kalyanak (sainthood) and kevalgyan kalyanak (attaining enlightenment) of three of these tirthankars.
But this Teerth became most famous due to the ‘first Aahar’ of first Teerthankara ‘Bhagwan Rishabhdev’ given by King ‘Shreyans’; the juice of sugarcane was given as Aahar (Meal). Thus the starting of Daan Teerth (Daan-Donation) took place from here on the day of ‘Akshaya – Tratiya’ (the day Vaishakha Shukla Tratiya). From that time Akshaya Tratiya is celebrated all over India as a sacred day.
At that time when Rishabhdev were in the state of ascetic saint, they decided for keeping fast for six months for Tapa. After six months due to unknowingness (unacquainted) of the procedure of Aahar to an ascetic, they did not receive Aahar upto next 6 months and 13 days. While Rishabhdev came to Hastinapur for Aahar next day, King Shreyans saw them from the window of his palace; suddenly Shreyans recalled the process of Aahar due to ‘Jatismaran Gyan’ (The knowledge of previous life) only due to this Shreyans was able to perform the procedure of Aahar to an ascetic saint.
Elder brother of Shreyans, ‘King Somprabh’ was the ruler of Hastinapur and both were the sons of ‘Bahubali’ – the son of Rishabhdev. Somprabh’s another name was ‘Kuru’. So at the name of Somprabh – Cahndra Vamsha & at the name of Kuru – Kuru Vamsha became famous. Later on in KuruVansha – ‘Kauravas’ and ‘Pandavas’ of Hastinapur became famous.
In Jain Texts so many stories are described related to Hastinapur:
Famous festival of ‘Raksha Bandhan’ also started from Hastinapur, in the memory of vanishing the trouble of 700 ascetic Munies by ‘Muni Vishnu Kumar’ on the day of ‘Shravan (Savan) Shukla Poornima’.
Once, at the time of Bhagwan Munisuvratnath (20th Teerthankar) there lived a businessman named Ganga Dutta in Hastinapur. He was owner of seven crore gold coins. Once Bhagwan came to Hastinapur, Ganga Dutta went there to visit them. After listening the precept of Bhagwan Munisuvratnath, he became ascetic; he left all the property and accepted ‘Muni-Dharma’ near Bhagwan Munisuvratnath.
At this place, due to the motivation and inspiration from Aaryikaa Ratn Gyan mati Maataji (head of a group of female saints), a model of Jambu Dweep was designed and constructed under her supervision according to Jain Ethics. This is a unique creation and so famous worldwide. There are 12 magnificent temples at this place and models of Kailaash Parvat and Sumeru Parvat—101 Ft. in height worth seen. Temples are—Trimurti Mandir, Kamal Mandir, Dhyaan (meditation) Mandir Om Mandir, Sahastra Koot Mandir, 20 Teerthankara Mandir, Keerti Stambh etc.
