There was a famous dense forest named Kadambari, full of wild and violent beasts of many species, situated near the city of Campa. In that forest, there was a very lofty mountain named Kali. In the valley of that mountain, there was a lake named Kunda. The valley came to be known as KaliKunda by their association, but it became a holy place by the purifying lotus feet of Bhagwan Parsvanatha.
Long ago, there was a dwarf – a short man in a certain city. The king and other people laughed at him whenever and wherever they found him. That foolish man became very sad, and with a desire to die, he tried to hang himself on a tree. He was stopped and told by a well-established Jain householder friend, “O blessed one! Why do you try to die in vain? If you wish for fortune, health, and a pleasing personality, observe the austerities and religious practices instructed by Bhagwan Jinesvara.” Saying thus, the Jain householder friend Supratistha took him to his preceptor and made him hear sermons. He instilled in him pure faith in God and the preceptor, ultimately making him the best of Jain householders.
The short man observed austerities of various types for many days and decided to become tall physically. Then, he died in the forest and was reborn as a strong leader of the elephants known as Mahidhara. Once, Bhagwan Parsvanatha, in disguise, wandering on the earth, reached the same lake in the forest and indulged in Kayotsarga meditation. At that time, the elephant came to the lake to drink water, and upon seeing Bhagwan Parsvanatha, he remembered his previous life. “Oh! I have become a beast by discarding religion ignorantly! Now let me make my life meaningful by adoring God.”
Thinking thus, the elephant adored Bhagwan with lotus bunches, practiced fasting, and was reincarnated among the very rich semi-divine gods called Vyantara. Karakandu, the King of Champa city, was astonished upon hearing the whole story.
When King Karakandu came over with great zest, Bhagwan Parsvanatha had already started wandering. The king was extremely disappointed. Saying, “How can Bhagwan Jinendra’s vision be feasible to the wretched people?” he began to slander himself and praise the elephant. The king constructed a very great and grand temple on the same site and respectfully placed a nine-foot statue of Bhagwan Parsvanatha in it. Some say that at that time, Bhagwan Parsvanatha’s idol of nine feet emerged by the grace of Dharanendra. King Karakandu, being pleased, bowed and adored the idol respectfully and placed it in the temple he had built.
That Vyantara god granted all the desires of all the people in the temple. Henceforth, that place came to be known as a holy place on the earth. King Karakandu, performing worship, dramas, and other festivals with wholehearted devotion and a pure mind, became one of the best worshipping householder devotees. The Vyantara god, also worshipping, bowing to the deity, and eulogizing the idol, will gradually be liberated. Therefore, O blessed souls, you too worship Bhagwan Jinesvara.