Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current ...

has had a notable following in Gujarat. According to the 2011 Census of India, around 0.959% of the population of Gujarat is Jain. There are several old Jain temples that draw pilgrims from Jains around the world in places such as Palitana, Taranga, Sankheshwar, Idar.

History

Jains believe that their 22nd Tirthankara (propagators of Jain religion) Neminath attained Moksha/ Nirvana on Girnar in Gujarat. Many other monks have also got attained Moksha in Gujarat; especially on the holy mountains of Girnar and Shatrunjaya. The Jain councils were held in Vallabhi c. 5th century CE. Their canonical scriptures were written down during this council. King

Vanaraja Chavda Vanaraja (IAST: Vanarāja Cāvaḍā) was the most prominent king of the Chavda dynasty who ruled Gujarat from c. 746 CE to c. 780 CE. Life Early life Kṛishṇabhaṭṭa’s (also known as Kṛṣṇakavi) ''Ratnamālā'' () says that in 695/ ...

(c. 720-780 CE) of the Chavda dynasty was brought up by a Jain monk named Shilaguna Suri. Jain temples are found in Gujarat from as early as the 6th and 7th centuries CE. It was patronized by the Chaulukyas and Chavadas. Dhank Caves (3rd-7th century CE) in Rajkot district has Jain Tirthankara carvings. Northern Gujarat became a principle center of Jainism in the 13th century CE. The earliest known Old Gujarati text ''Bharat-Bahubali Ras'', was written by a Jain monk Shalibhadra Suri. Of the most important people in Gujarat's Jain history were the Acharya Hemachandra Suri and his pupil, the Chaulukya ruler Kumarapala.

Major Centers

Major ancient Jain centers include: * Palitana * Girnar *

Bhadreshwar Bhadresar or Bhadreshwar is a village in Mundra Taluka, Kutch district of Gujarat, India. It is about 27 km from Taluka headquarters Mundra and barely a kilometer away from the seashore. History Bhadreshwar is the site of the ancient c ...

* Mahudi * Shankheshwar *

Patan Patan may refer to several places in Afghanistan, India and Nepal: Afghanistan *Patan, Afghanistan India * Patan district, in the state of Gujarat * Patan, Gujarat, the main city of the eponymous district * Patan was the ancient capital of Gujara ...

* Taranga *

Songadh Songadh is a taluka in Tapi district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Geography Fort Songadh is located at . It has an average elevation of 112 metres (367 feet). The town is located at the foot of a solitary hill, the surroundi ...

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per t ...

Photo gallery

File:Sheth Hutheesinh Temple.jpg, Hutheesing Jain Temple in

File:Kutch Bhadreshwar Jain Temple.jpg,

Vasai Jain Temple Bhadreshwar Jain Temple, also known as Vasai Jain Temple, is a historical importance located in Bhadreshwar village of Mundra Taluka, Kutch, Gujarat, India. History According to Bantvijaya Chronicles, a 19th-century Jain scripture composed by ...

File:Samovsaran Mandir Palitana 02.jpg, Samovsaran Mandir, Palitana Teerth File:Girnar Jain temple - Neminath temple.jpg, Girnar File:Tarangaji Jain temple.jpg, Taranga File:Vanki - Patri Jain Mandir.jpg, Vanki - Patri Jain Mandir, Kutch File:Mahudi Temple.jpg, Mahudi Jain Temple File:Shri Shantinath Jain Derasar, Kothara, Kutch.JPG, Shri Shantinath Jain Derasar, Kothara File:Jain Temple, Pavagadh (cropped).jpg,

Shri Pavagadh Tirth Jain temples, Pavagadh is a group of seven Jain temples located in Pavagadh Hill in the state of Gujarat. These temples are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park. Jain tradition Pavagadh hill is consi ...

, part of Champaner-Pavagadh a UNESCO World Heritage Site File:Polo Monument and Vijaynagar Forest- Jain Temples (cropped).jpg,

Jain temples, Abhapur Jain temples, Abhapur is a group of twelve Jain Jain temples, temples located in Abhapur village near Polo Forest in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat. History Abhapur Jain temples were constructed in the 15th century. The Jain and Hindu temples i ...

Notes

References

* * * Jain communities Jainism in India Religion in Gujarat History of Gujarat {{Jainism-stub

History

Major Centers

Photo gallery

See also

Notes

References