Mount Shatrunjaya

Shatrunjaya or Shetrunjaya ("place of victory against inner enemies") originally Pundarikgiri), are hills located by the city of Palitana, in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India. They are situated on the banks of the Shetrunji River at an elevation above sea level. These hills have similarities to other hills where Jain temples have been built in Bihar, Gwalior, Mount Abu and Girnar.

The Jain's sacred hill of Shatrunjaya have 865 temples atop itself. The hills were sanctified when Rishabha, the first tirthankara of Jainism, gave his first sermon on the top of this hill. The ancient history of the hills is also traced to Pundarika Swami, a chief Ganadhara and grandson of Rishabha, who attained Nirvana/Moksha here. His shrine located opposite to the main Adinath temple, built by Son of Rishabha, Bharata.

There are several alternate spellings, including Śatruñjaya, Satrunjaya, Shetrunja, and Shetrunjo. Shatrunjaya was also known as Pundarikgiri as Pundarik was said to have attained nirvana on this mountain. Alternate names include ''Siddhakshetra'' or ''Siddhanchal'' as many thirtankaras have received enlightenment here.

Shatrunjaya is the most sacred place for the Shwetambara Jains.

Etymolog, the name for Mount Shatrunjaya where it is located, means a "place of victory" or "which conquers enemies"."Murtipujakas, Jainism", ''Encyclopedia of World Religions'' (PHILTAR), University of Cambria

Geography

The Gulf of Khambhat is to the south of the Shatrunjaya Hills, Bhavnagar town is to its north, and a river flows between the two hills. Legend states that the hill is a part of the Girnar ranges. A path along the ridge leads down to the Adipur valley, a distance of . Palitana town is at the base of the foothills, from Bhavanagar. The topography is rugged while the landscape is drought-affected.

Culture

The hills are an ancient '' tirtha'' (religious pilgrimage site). The Palitana temples, a pilgrimage complex on both hills and their saddle, are reached by climbing approximately 3750 stone steps, which are carved into the mountain. The climb is from the base and takes approximately two hours. The hills are closed to pilgrims for four months during the monsoon season. The pilgrimage is known as "''Shri Shantrunjay Teerth Yatra''". It occurs from the Poornima day (Full Moon Day) of Kartik month according to the Jain calendar (October–November as per the Gregorian calendar). Jains assemble at the foot of the hills to undertake the ''yatra'' (religious journey). During this yatra, considered a great event in the lifetime of a Jain, pilgrims circumambulate the Shatrunjaya hills covering a distance of on foot, offering prayers.

See also

* Palitana temples
* Palitana
* Tirth Pat

References

Bibliography

* {{Cite book, last= Deshpande , first=Aruna, title= India:Divine Destination, work=Palitana, pages=418–419 , publisher=Crest Publishing House, year=2005, isbn=81-242-0556-6

Hills of Gujarat
Jain pilgrimage sites