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Mulnayak: Nearly 216 cms. high, white-colored and brightly shining idol of Bhagawan Adishvar with a serene and peaceful face and in the Padmasana posture. Location: 57, Kms. from Sonagarh, Gujarat, India.The nearest railway station is Palitana. It is at a distance of 48 kilometers from Bhavnagar and 30 kilometers from Shihor. Bus service and private vehicles are available here. The foot of the hill is at a distance of 105 kilometers from Palitana. The ascending road from the foot of the hill to the chief tunk, is four kilometers long. There is a provision for swinging-cots for weak and old people. At present, there are a thousand men who carry pilgrims in swinging-cots. In Palitana, there are nearly 150 dharmashalas with many facilities. There are many upashrayas, bhojanshalas, jnanmandirs, pathshala, chhatralayas etc. Under the inspiration of His Holiness Vijayvishalsensurisvarji Maharaj Saheb, the vast Jainkala Sansthan Museum is recently built at the foot of the hill near Shri Kesariyaji temple. It is intended to preserve the very ancient cultural heritage of the Jain religion.
Art & Sculpture: This mountain has 3800 steps. On it, there are 700 temples with summits. 7000 idols are installed in them. The artistry and sculpture of these temples aptly illustrate the ancient art. How could the large marble stones be carried to the tops of high hills, thousands of years ago when modern machines were not available? This is a puzzle of modern architects and engineers. In context
of reverence and art, Palitana is the topmost pilgrimage
of Jainism. There are auspicious pilgrimages in every
state of the country but every pilgrimage points towards Palitana. Countless saints, great souls and asceties have
attained the supreme salvation here. In every particle of
this pilgrimage there is the radiance of transcendence
and omniscience. Each and every 'Kankar' (pebble) of this
place is Shankar (Lord Shiva). Every particle of the soil
of this pilgrimage is in itself a holiest temple.
Besmearing the forehead with the soil of this place is
the basic process of destroying the sins of cycles of
reincarnation.
Rarely there may be a Jain who has not travelled to
Palitana once in his life-time . It is believed that if
anyone, has not travelled to the two pilgrimages -
Palitana and Sammet Shikhar - his birth in a Jain family
has become worthless. Being the topmost pilgrimage of
Jainism, it is always overcrowded with pilgrims. The
account of the divinity and magnificence of this
pilgrimage has reached every nation of the world.
Generally the tourists come to India for sight-seeing,
but Palitana is that holy pilgrimage where the tourists
arrive to offer their reverence.
Wherever you cast your glance in this pilgrimage, only temples and 'dharmshalas' (charitable boarding houses) are seen. Prominent among the special features of this pilgrimage is the existence of hundreds of temples and hundreds of 'dharmshalas'. On the nearly 5 km. long main road of Palitana city, there is a long row of charitable boarding houses and resting places. On the road, everywhere holy 'Jinalayas' (temples of 'Jinas') are built, but the actual pilgrimage begins from the foot of the Palitana hill. The devotees become emotion-charged just as they set their feet at the foot-hill. Their hearts become grateful to the grace of God which has enabled them to get the best fortune of visiting this great pilgrimage.
Palitana pilgrimage may be in a sense, called the city of
temples. With which other pilgrimage can this one be
compared, where there are 8613 temples and nearly 33
thousand idols? Really such a place is the pilgrimage of
the pilgrimages; it is unique, beyond every comparison.
Only Palitana itself can be cited in comparison to Palitana. In the entire world, this is the only mountain
where there are so many temples.
Palitana is considered to be an eternal pilgrimage. It
was here that thousands and lakhs of souls embraced 'samadhi'-death and lit the Supreme Light of
'mahanirvana'. Of the 24 Tirthankars of Jains, 22
Tirthankars enhanced the glory of this pilgrimage by
blessing it with their touch. Lord Rishabhdev visited
this pilgrimage 99 times. This great journey performed by
the first Tirthankar Shri Rishabhdev, is in itself an
inspiration for the followers of Jainism. Even today
thousands of devotees visit this pilgrimage 99 times
which is called 'Navanu Yatra'. Due to special connection
with Lord Aadinath, the solemnisation of the 'Varshee-tap' (penance performed for full one year) is
also done by people here on 'Akshay Tritiya' or 'Aakhateej'. Every year thousands of
'Varshee-tap'
observers visit this pilgrimage and perform final rituals
of this 'tap' (Penance) here.
The glory of the Shatrunjay river is described as much as the glory of Shatrunjay pilgrimage itself. This river flowing on one side of the mountain ranges of Shatrunjay pilgrimage is considered to be as holy as the mother Bhagirathi Ganga in Vedic religion. It is considered to be more fruitful to set out for pilgrimage after bathing in the Shatrunjay Hill is on the north of Palitana city. The temples here are constructed on the twin-summits of the hill which is 600 metres high from the sea level. On each summit which is nearly 320 metres wide, these temples have been built in a systematic row. On seeing from a distance this row looks like the letter 'S'. The Jina idols, adorning the temples galore, are conveying the message of detachment from worldly allurements. These temples of Shatrunjay still may not be at par with Delwada or Ranakpur, artistically, but the total effect of the countless temples and the quietitude prevailing in the atmosphere here are some of such special features that become attractive to the visitors. Palitana pilgrimage is beautiful placed amidst the mountain ranges. For reaching this pilgrimage we have to ascend nearly thirty-two hundred steps. The pathway is very neat and clean. The beauty of nature is to be seen to be believed. A splendid temple stands at the foot of the hill. It was built in Samvat 1950 by Shreshthi Dhanpat Singh Lakshmipat Singh. There being fifty-two ('Baawan') cells in this temple, it is also called 'Baawan Jinalaya'. We come across several other small temples which contain feet-images of Chakravarty Bharat, Lord Neminath's Ganadhar Vardatt, Lord Aadinath, Parshwanath and the images of Varikhill, Naarad, Ram, Bharat, Shuk Paribrajak, Thawachcha Putra, Selak, Suri, Jail, Mayali and other gods and goddesses. Midway, we come across Kumarpal-Kund and Sala-Kund as well. Near Sala-Kund lies Jinendra-Toonk, in which are the idols of the gurus and the gods. Among these idols, the image of Mother Padamavati Devi is very beautiful from the art point of view. On proceeding a little further we find the road
bifurcated - one leads to Nine Toonks and the other to
the main Toonk of Lord Aadinath. On going towards the
main Toonk, first of all Ram Pol and Gaadhan Pol are
seen. Further, while entering Haathi pol, Sooraj Kund,
Bheem Kund and Ishwar Kund are seen.
Second is the Khartarwasahi Toonk. This is also called
Chaumukhji's Toonk. This temple is built on the northern
summit of the hill. This is the highest Toonk among all
the Toonks built on the Shatrunjay Hill. The lofty top of
this temple can be seen from far away. The renovation of
this very lofty Jinalaya was done in Samvat 1675 by Seth Sadasomji. Four huge idols of Lord Aadinath adorn this
temple as the Chaumukhji facing four sides of Lord Aadinath. In this very
Toonk, the temple of Tirthankar
Rishabhdev's mother Marudevi is also built. At the rear
portion of this temple are the idols of five Pandavas,
mother Kunti and Draupadi. The seventh is Premwasahi Toonk. Built by Modi Shree Premchandra Lavjee, the principal deity of this temple is Tirthankar Shree Rishabhdev. The eighth one is Balawasahi Toonk. This temple Was renovated in Samvat 1193 by Bala bhai. The principal deity of this temple is Lord Aadinath. The ninth is Motishah Toonk. This biggest temple had been
built by Seth Motishah, and his worthy son Khemchand had
got it consecrated in Samvat 1893. This temple is in
itself a cluster of some big and some small temples. The
principal deity of this temple is Lord Shree Aadinath. On the rear portion of the temple is the Ravan Tree,
which is very ancient. It is said that Tirthankar
Aadinath had practised a long penance under this very
tree. Huge image of foot-prints of Tirthankar Aadinath
measuring 47 x 25 inches adorn this place. In the Jaytaleti, there are 28 temples in all. In them, there are 41 foot-idol. Pilgrims visit at least five temples and the first of them is the Jaytaleti. Pilgrims put the sand of this place on their head and go further and bow down to the idol in the Dharmadas Jain Temple. Then of they reach the beautiful and artistic temple with a vast open square. The chief idol there is of Bhagawan Adishvar. In front of the temple, there is a temple of Pundarik Swami. Inside, there is Jalmandir on the left-hand side. There is an idol of Bhagawan Adishvar standing in deep meditation. There is mini-Shetrunjaya with nine peaks. The pilgrims who cannot climb the mountain can bow down the idol there. There is a temple of Saraswatidevi near the Samavasaran temple to the right of the road ascending from the Jaytaleti to the mountain. The serene idol of Saraswatidevi on the goose is very ancient and impressive Here gurus and pandits practiced penance. School-going children are specially brought here. This temple was installed in the year 1860 of the Vikram era. The Jain religion is great and its tirths are spectacular and wonderful. Showing the worship of the worshippers, charitability of the donors, sadhana of spiritual endeavourers and equanimity of Sadhus, these tirths inspire the pilgrims to cross the ocean of samsara.The samavasaran temple is the symbol of this aim. It presents many tirths at the same place. The 108 life-sketches are excellent works of sculpture. They are splendid beyond imagination. For scholars who are thirsty of knowledge and for lovers of sculpture, this is a small University. There are idols of tirthankaras facing temple the 108 idols of Bhagawan Parshvanath in the samavasaran temple. The 108 ft. high on the vast piece of land built near babudera at the height of 81 ft. from the foot of the Mt. was built under inspiration of His Highness Acharya Vijaychadrodaysurisvarji. In took 14 year of hard work to build it. Outside, one sees the wall paintings of Jain tirths. They are tons painted in various colors. Above all, the Ashok tree and the Chaitya tree weighing 500 are there. On the gem-pillar, there is a clinches high, four-mouthed idol of Bhaghawan Mahavir Swami. It seems as if he is giving sermons. Going further, one comes to the hado of Hingraj. Ambikadevi is known here by the name of Hingarajmata, the presiding deity on this hill. In ancient times, the pilgrims sometimes lost their way on the hills. They then prayed to Hingrajmata and found their way. This peaceful and lovely place is most suitable for sadhana. Even today, one sees the miracles of Padmavatidevi. On seeing the tunk of the chief temple of Dada and the summits of the nine tunks, one dances with joy. Then passing by the temple of Varikhijj, the Hirakund, the temples of Rama, Bharat and Thavachchaputra, one reaches Hanumandhara. Here, the road to the right leads to navtunk and the road to the left to the tunk of Dada. On the way to Navtunk, there is an entrance window. Entering the window, one comes to the shrine of Angarsha, the Muslin saint. In the Muslim age, a Muslim King erected it for protection of the tirth. Then one comes to the Narsinh Kesharji tunk built by Narsinh Kesharji in the year 1921 of the Vikram era. The chief idol there is of Bhagawan Shantinath. Then there is the tunk of Choumukhji. It is the highest tunk on the mount. It was renovated by Sheth Sadasomji in the year 1975 of the Vikram era. Behind this tunk, there are idols of Pandavas. The Chhipavasahi tunk was built by Chhipa brothers in the year 1791 of the Vikram era. The chief idol is of Bhagawan Adinath. The Sakarvasahi tunk was built by Sheth Sakalchand Premchand in the year 1893 of the Vikram era. The chief idol is of Bhagawan Chintamani Parshvanath. The Nandishvar tunk was built by Smt. Ujambai in the year 1893 of the Vikram era. The chief idol is of Bhagawan Chandranan. The Hemvasahi tunk was built by Sheth Hemabhai of Ahmedabad in the year 1886 of the Vikram era. The chief idol is of Bhagawan Adinath. The Premvasahi tunk was built by Premchand Modi in the year 1843 of the Vikram era. The chief idol is Bhagawan Adishvar. The Balavasahi tunk was built by Balabhai in the year 1893 of the Vikram era. The tunk of Motisha Sheth was built by Sheth Shri Motisha in the year 1893 of the vikram era. The chief idol is of Bhagawan Adishvar.
Besides all the above tunks, the vast multitude of temples adds to the glory and grandeur of the mountain. Behind the mountain, there are Pages of gheti (ewe’s feet). There are ancient foot-idols of Bhagawan Adishvar. The road outside the chief tunk, leads there. The return journey to this place, brings a double reward. Then comes Rampol. It is an artistic and beautiful gateway to Mokshanagar, the city of temples. The road to the left is the round road of 6 gaus. (1 gau = 3.2 kms). To the right of Rampol, there is a water-hut. It is built by Manibhai Lalbhai of the Jivanamani Sadvachanmala Trust. On entering Rampol, one comes to the tunk of Sheth Motasha. Then there is a five peaked temple. Then one comes to the three-peaked temple. The Sagalpol is a resting-place for women who carry children to school. The road passing between Sagarpol and the Motasha tunks leads to Gheti’s paga (ewe’s foot-idols). Then there are Vaghanpol, the tunk of Vimalvasahi, the temple of Bhagawan Shnatinath and the small temples of Shri Chakreshvaridevi and Shri Padmavatidevi. In front of the small temples, there is a temple of Kavad Yaksha. Then there is an artistic temple of Bhagawan Neminath. It has a raised square in it. Further, there is a Paap-punya window with a statue of a female camel. The pilgrim is supposed to pass between her legs. It is, therefore, also called the moksha-window. Thus passing by a number of temples, one reaches Hathipol. The new gate of Hathipol is splendid and delightful. There are lovely stone elephants on both sides. Then one comes to the temple of Bhagawan Adhishvar. On seeing the chief idols of Bhagawan Adinath in the beautiful large temple with a series of domes and charming high summits, the heart of the worshippers dances with joy, the soul delights and the worshippers respectfully bow their heads down to the feet of God. The exhaustion of the pilgrims who have climbed 3800 steps is instantly removed. The construction of the temple is wonderful, elegant and very artistic. 1245 pitchers and 21 idols of lions brightly shine in the temple. The four yoginis, the ten digpals, 72 dev-kulikas, the four gavaxesx, the 32 dolls and the 32 torarchs, make the temple look very beautiful and extraorindary. As the tunk of Dada has three (paradakshinas) round side-passages, all small as well as big temples can be seen. The round side-passage represent knowledge, faith and conduct. Passing through the first passage, one sees the Sahasrakund temple, the foot-idols under the Rayan tree, the temple of idols of feet of Ganadhar and the temple of Simandhar Swami. Passing through the second passage, one sees the new temple of Bhagawan Adishvar, Mt. Meru, the temple of samavasaran and the temple of Samat Sikhar. Passing through the third passage one sees the temple of Astapad, the new tunk, the temple of Gandhariya Chowmukhi and the temple of Chowmukhji.
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