The reasons for construction of Teerthdham Chidayatan at Hastinapur
Hastinapur is a city, which lies in the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. It is known worldwide for its glorious, mythological and historical past, where –
- Hastinapur is gifted with innumerable varieties of medicinal herbs and lush green vegetation.
- Hastinapur is considered one of the holiest places on earth by Hindus and Jains both.
- The city is linked with the mythological story of Mahabharata and thus highly revered by the Hindus as a holy place.
- Said to be situated on the old ravines of river Ganga it experiences extreme climatic conditions like any other city of Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Hindus believe it to be birth place of Kauravas, the villains who fought their cousins Pandavas in the epic of Mahabharata.
- The old city of Hastinapur, holds the remain of 7000 year old Pandeshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva along with other temple ruins on the hillock.
- Karna Temple another ancient temple said to be dated 4000BC lies on the bank of old ravine of Ganga. The shivling inside the Karna temple is said to be established by Karna another central figure in Mahabharata.
- Hastinapur Sanctuary , a sprawling forest occupying the area of 2073 km2 was built in year 1986. It one of the prominent wildlife projects in India.
- Lord Shantinath-Kunthunath-Arhnath, were blessed with three titles i.e. Teerthankar, Kamdev and Chakravarti, glorifying the land with their divine emergence and attainment of their four Kalyanaks. Hastinapur also got the honour to stage the Samavsaran of Lord Shri Mallinath.
- Muniraj Vishnukumar rescued seven hundred Veetragi saints including Akampanacharya from the tortures and atrocities subjected upon them.
- The first Teerthankar Muniraj Shri Aadinath was ritually offered the first Parana–Alms- giving (food after fasting) by Raja Shreyansh and Somprabh, initiating the ritual of Daan Teerth.
- Pujya Gurudev Shri Kanjiswami visited this holy place along with a large Mumukshu Sangh.
- It is the most famous and worldwide recognised pilgrimage, after Shashwat Teerthkshetra Sammed Shikhar.
- It is visited by lacs and lacs of Jain devotees from India and abroad.
Keeping the above considerations in mind, Hastinapur has been chosen to be the abode of Teerthdham Chidayatan.