Bhatkuli is famous for the eye-catching, ancient idol of Bhagwan Adinath made of black stone, by King Rukmi in the Mahabharata period. He established the idol in a magnificient temple, which the archaeologists say is 3000 years old. Later Bhatkuli was ruled by Shatvahanas, Vatakas and Rashtrakootas, but after these kingly era, the downfall started. In V.S. 1156, the idol was shoved underground in a fort, to save it from the vengeance of the Mughals. It remained hidden in that manner till the 18th century. In the later part of the 18th century, the statue of Adinath was dreamt by the chief of the village Bhatkuli.
The Lord explained to him that in that particular spot where the idol was hidden, a cow continuously gave up her milk. Accordingly the chief ordered a thorough search by digging the place and the miraculous statue of Adinath Swami was recovered. A shiver went down the spine of the villagers, and they started to believe that the idol had supernatural powers, to heal their wishes, thus revering it with faith and worship. Much later, Poojya Acharya Shri Nemsagarji Maharaj came to the village of Bhatkuli, and seeing the statue. |
