PALITNA JAIN MANDIR
Ø The Palitana temples are considered the most sacred pilgrimage place by the Jain community.
Ø There are a total of 1250 temples located on the Shetrunjaya hills, exquisitely carved in marble.
Ø The main temple on top of the hill is dedicated to 1st tirthankar lord Adinath.
Ø No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city
Ø A recently concluded count reveals that there are a total of more than 27,000 idols of Jain god on this mountain alone.
Ø Palitana is a religious Jain city, Bhavnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat . It is located 50 km South-West of Bhavnagar city and is a major pilgrimage centre for Jains.
Ø Palitana is the place where millions and millions of Jain sadhu and muni got salvation
Jain Temples
Ø On the top the Shatrunjai Hill is a cluster of Jain temples, built by generations of Jains over a period of 900 years, from the 11th century onwards.
Ø The temples are managed by the Anandji Kalyanji Trust of the Kasturbai Lalbhai group.
Ø From the foot of the hill to the top there are 3,800 and odd stone steps cut to facilitate climbing.
Myths
Ø The moolnayak murti-Lord Adinath's idol breathed 7 times, when it was first placed over there.
Ø A layer of silver gets accumulated on idol every night and that serve as the priest's fees rather gift from god.
Ø A small idol of Lord Suparshvanath Swami around 10" used to fly every night from one of near by temple to Lord Adinath`s Palm.
Ø There is only and only one tree in the entire Temple Campus
Ø The town is considered by many Jains to be more important than the temple covered hills of Jharkhand, Mt Abu and Girnar.
Ø Every year millions of people come to visit these temples. There are hundreds of other temples besides those on the Shatrunjaya hills.
Ø Guest houses or dharmashalas are found in Palitana city. It is believed that every Jain should visit Palitana at least once in his lifetime to get "Bhavya" status fit to attain nirvan or salvation
Ø History
The act of ascending a path to reach a place of pilgrimage is a part of the Hindu and Jain consciousness, which is why many of their holiest temples are located along hills and mountain ranges.
The act of ascending a path to reach a place of pilgrimage is a part of the Hindu and Jain consciousness, which is why many of their holiest temples are located along hills and mountain ranges.
Ø The Jains have five separate hill locations for their holiest clusters of temples and Shatrunjaya Hill, Palitana is considered the most important among them. Another group is in Girnar (Junagadh), not too far away, while others are in Rajasthan and Maharashtra .
Ø Palitana houses perhaps the largest cluster of Jain temples anywhere. From the base to the peak of the Shatrunjaya Hill, where the Palitana temples are located, there are in all 863 temples.
Ø These temples were built in two phases-the 11th and 12th centuries as a part of the resurgence of temple building all over India
Ø Some of the earliest temples built in the 11th century were destroyed by Muslim invaders in the 14th and 15th centuries. The current temples date back to 16th century onwards.
Ø Not any one person or group was responsible for the construction of these magnificent temples. It was the effort of the wealthy businessmen who were followers of Jainism that these buildings came into existence.
Pilgrimage Attractions of Palitana Temple
Ø The temples are exquisitely carved in marble, veritable prayers in stone. To an observer, these appear to be ivory miniatures when seen from a distance.
Ø Created by master craftsmen, the most important temple is that of the first teerthankara, Shri Adishwar.
Ø It has ornate architectural motifs, though in its overall plan it is simpler than the Choumukh.
Ø Other notable temples are those of Kumarpal, Vimalshah and Sampriti Raja.
Ø Kumarpal Solanki, a great Jain patron, probably built the earliest temple. The temple has a fabulous collection of jewels, and these can be seen with special permission.
Ø The temples date from 11th to the 20th century.
Shetrunjaya Hill
Ø The entire summit of majestic mount Shatrunjaya
Ø The peak is a 3 ½ km climb of over 3500 steps from the town. The cluster of over 800 temples is divided into tuks.
Ø Throughout the cluster you can see detailed carvings, beautiful idols and images, jeweled statues and intricate toranas.
Ø Sunrise
Ø On a clear day, the Gulf of Cambay seacoast can be seen.
Ø Commanding a special place on the Gujarat travelers' map, Palitana is a `must visit' destination for the Jains and all those who would like to witness what the subtle combination of human enterprise, architectural skills, philanthropy and channelised religious fervour can achieve.
Ø The mount Shatrunjaya
Ø The mountain is associated with Rishabhdev, the first tirthankar, also known as Adinath. It is believed that all the tirthankars, except Neminath, attained nirvan here.
Ø The multitude of temples, half palaces, half fortresses and made of splendid marble, with their spires aiming the skies present a spectacle unmatched for its scale and magnitude.
Belief
Ø Every devout Jain aspires to climb to the top of the mountain at least once in his lifetime, because of its sanctity.
Ø The journey is arduous. The walk up the stone stairway hewn into the mountain face takes about an hour and a half.
Ø For those unable or unaccustomed to the strain, sling-chairs are available at a bargain.
Ø The code for the climbers is stringent, in keeping with the rigours of the Jain faith.
Ø Food must neither be eaten nor carried on the way. The descent must begin before it is evening, for no soul can remain atop the sacred mountain during the night.
Ø Such is the mystique of Palitana, the summit of Shatrunjaya. While atop one can also visit a Muslim shrine of Angar Pir.
Ø The childless women seek the Pir's blessings to be blessed with children. They offer miniature cradles to the Pir and the shrine is strewn with such cradles.
Ø Apart from this, the significance of the place dates back to the Mahabharata era of India
Ø Therefore, it is known as Siddhakshetra, where one attains Moksha, amongst Jain devotees.
Ø One of the most important temples in Palitana is the Digamber Jain Temple
Ø The main shrine contains the idol of the principal deity, 1008 Bhagwan Shantinath. It is made of white stone and can be seen in Padmasana posture.
Ø According to the Jain calendar, it was installed here in 1686. The temple also houses beautiful idols of Yudhishthir, Bheem & Arjun.
Ø Two other idols of Bhagwan Parsavnath are located here. One is called Chintamani Parshvanath and other is called Vighnaharan Parshvanath.
Ø On the both sides of northern gate, foot images of Bhagwan Adinath & Bhagwan Sambhavanath can be seen.
Ø It is said that Bhagwan Adinath visited Shatrunjay Hill 93 times.
Ø All the Jain temples of Palitana are built in marble and stand adorned with ornate sculptures.
Ø Each and every temple located on this hill is a specimen of art. The steps were constructed in 13th century, under the supervision of Jain Minister, Vastupal.
Ø On their way up, the pilgrims are not allowed to take any eatables along. They are only allowed to drink water. For the purpose, a number of water posts have been made available along the course.
Ø The pilgrims eat only after they descend the mountain. The major spot up the hill is the one with the footprints of the Tirthankaras.
Ø All the shrines contain the idols of the Tirthankaras, with bejeweled eyes.
Ø The devotees make offerings at the main shrine of Bhagwan Adinath. The magnificent temple has been renovated and rebuilt a number of times.
Ø The original temple was made of wood. Later, Siddhraj Jaisimha's minister Udaymehta built it in marble. Siddhraj's descendant Kumarpal further extended the temple.
Ø Besides these, there are other shrines dedicated to Adinath, Kumarpal, Vimalshah, Samprati Raja and
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