Palitana Jain Temples- Gujarat

Address

Palitana Jain Temples- Palitana, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat- 364270, India

Diety

Rishabhanatha

Introduction

The Palitana temples are the large groups of Jain temples located on Shatrunjaya hills near Palitana in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India. Also known as Padliptapur of Kathiawad in historic texts, the dense collection of over 900small shrines and large temples here has led many to call Palitana as a “city of Temples”. It is one of the most sacred sites of Svetambara tradition within Jainism. These temples were built in and after the 11th-century CE. The Palitana site contains nearly 1000 temples on the hills spread mostly in nine clusters, some being vast temple complexes, while most are small in size. The main temple is dedicated to Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara; The Palitana temples complex is near the top of the hills, in groups called Tonks (Tuks) along the various ridges of the hill tops. These temples are reached by most pilgrims and visitors by climbing stone steps along a hilly trail of about 3500 steps.

Puranic Significance

The temples of Palitana display exquisite architecture and are heavily and very richly ornamented and adorned. The brilliance of the temple architecture lies in the fact that it has been constructed in such a unique way that the sunlight transforms the marble structures into some sort of an ivory shield. Out of the 900 temples the holiest one is the temple of Adishwar. This Tirth Sthal for Jains is primarily made out of marbles with tall and heavy pillars with a number of openings, kind of like a typical Hindu temple. The interiors are very intricately and finely carved complete with geometric lace designs, elaborately carved ceilings and clustered forms of canopies. The hill holds a very special and pious place in the hearts of devout Jains. The sanctity of the Palitana temples lies in the fact that as per Shatrunjaya Mahatmya – the holy Jain texts – the 1st Tirthankara called Rishabh had delivered his very first sermon here and had successfully sanctified the hills. Later on his grandson, Pundarika is said to have attained his nirvana here in the Shatrunjaya hills (the first and initial name of the current Shatrunjaya hills were named Pundarikgiri. The hills are also said to have been visited several times by Bharata Chakravartin – the father of Pundarik and half-brother of Baahubali. A temple built by him dedicated to honour the life of his father Rishabh. If legends and mythological aspects are to be believed then a number of other tirthankaras are also said to have paid a holy visit to these hills making it even more pious and sacred. The temples that are clustered here are known as Tunks, and it is important for the Jains to undertake this pilgrimage yatra at least once in a lifetime much like the Char Dham Yatra undertaken by the Hindus

Beliefs

Every devout Jain aspires to climb to the top of the mountain at least once in his lifetime because of its sanctity to attain nirvana. The code for the climbers is stringent, in keeping with the rigours of the Jain faith. 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. The Shatrunjaya hills are considered by many Jains to be more important than the temple-covered hills of Jharkhand, Mount Abu and Girnar.

Special Features

It is the only site contains nearly 900temples on the hills Palitana.

Festivals

The Phagun day in Sunday is celebrated as 6 Gaon or Chha Gau Teerth Yatra which falls in between February / March; Jain followers in thousands of numbers make this pilgrimage to attain their salvation or nirvana. During this time 3 times as many Jain followers make a visit to this temple complex. Another important festival that takes place here is the Purnima or full moon day when the Jains visit this place in large numbers since this time also marks the opening day of the temple complex gates after being closed for 4 months during the monsoon season. Pilgrims circumambulate the Shatrunjaya hill which is over all 21.6 kms on foot and offer their prayer to lord Adinath whose temple is located on top of this hill. Mahavir Jayanti or the birthday of lord Mahavira is another prominent festival held in Palitana. The rituals for this include fasting and giving alms to the lesser fortunate people while offering prayer to the huge procession carrying the images of tirthankara in huge decorated chariots.