About Our Temple
Learn about the rich heritage and history of our holy tirth.
Introduction & The Deity
In this self-reliant category Rishabhdeo ji temple, managed and controlled by the Devasthan Department, Government of Rajasthan, a grand dark-complexioned (Shyam varn) idol of Bhagwan Rishabhdeo ji, approximately 105 cm tall, is seated in the temple built under the shelter of the hills in Rishabhdeo village. Devotees have been worshipping this idol with kesar (saffron) since ancient times, hence he is called 'Kesariyanath'. The tribals of the local region also affectionately call him 'Kalaji Bawji', 'Kesariya Baba', and 'Dhulevadhani'.
Festivals & Fairs
Every year, eight days after Holi, on Chaitra Krishna Ashtami, the Janmotsav festival of Bhagwan Rishabhdeo is celebrated. On this occasion, a three-day mela (Saptami, अष्टमी, and Navami) is also organized, in which thousands of devotees from far-flung areas come for darshan and seva-puja. On the Janmotsav festival of Chaitra Krishna Ashtami, grand programs of Bhagwan Kesariyaji's massive Shobhayatra, Janma Kalyan Aarti, and Mangal Deepak are organized.
Ancient Jalghadi System and Darshan
At the main entrance of this Kesariyaji temple, a Jalghadi (water clock) is established, based on which the daily seva-puja of the temple is conducted. This is an extremely ancient tradition of calculating time. The Jalghadi is kept inside a wooden box in a large copper vessel filled with water. A small copper bowl with a hole in it is placed inside the water. The bowl fills up in exactly 24 minutes. At that exact moment, the guard rings a bell to signal the completion of the time. In this system, one 'ghadi' is 24 minutes. Eight ghadis make one 'pahar', and four pahars make one 'day'. The timings for the temple's seva-puja and aarti change with sunrise during the winter and summer seasons: The temple opens with the ringing of the morning gajar (bell), and aarti along with jal, milk, and kesar puja is performed according to the time set by the Jalghadi. In the afternoon from 2:00 PM, the rituals of jal, milk, and kesar puja are performed again every day. At 5:00 PM, the deity is adorned with gold, silver, and gem-studded aangi. After the evening aarti and bhajan, the temple is mangal (closed).
Other Temples in the Complex
The seva-puja and management of other temples under the government self-reliant Shri Rishabhdeo ji temple are also funded by the main temple's budget:
Shri Charbhujaji Temple
This is situated within the Rishabhdeo ji temple complex. Annual festivals like Janmashtami, Jaljhulni Ekadashi, Sharad Purnima, Annakut, Ramnavami, etc., are celebrated here.
Shri Parshvanath Ji Temple
This is also situated in the main complex. The birth anniversary (Jayanti) of Bhagwan Parshvanath is celebrated in this temple on the tenth day of the Paush month.
Shri Ekling Ji Somnath
Situated in the temple complex, the annual Shivaratri festival and Mansa Vrat festival are celebrated in this temple.
Shri Pagalyaji
This is situated at a distance of 1 km from the main Bhagwan Shri Rishabhdeo temple. This is the original place of manifestation (pradurbhav) of Bhagwan Rishabhdeo ji. A resting place, Charan Paduka umbrella (chatri), and Aamkhas are built in the Pagalyaji complex. On the Janmotsav, the Shobhayatra (Varghoda) of the Bhagwan from the main temple comes here to Pagalyaji, and after the seva-puja there, the Shobhayatra returns to the main temple.