Shatrunjaya

This article is about the Shatrunjaya hills. For the Jain temple complex, see Palitana Jain temples.
Shatrunjaya
Climbing the stairs of Shatrunjaya Maha Tirth
Highest point
Elevation580 m (1,900 ft)archaeological survey of india[citation needed]
Coordinates21°28′6″N 71°48′0″E / 21.46833°N 71.80000°E / 21.46833; 71.80000
Geography
Shatrunjaya is located in Gujarat
Shatrunjaya
Shatrunjaya
Location in Gujarat
LocationPalitana, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat

Shatrunjaya or Shetrunjaya ("place of victory against inner enemies")[1] 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 164 feet (50 m) above sea level. These hills have similarities to other hills where Jain temples have been built in Bihar, Gwalior, Mount Abu and Girnar.[2]

The Jain's sacred hill of Shatrunjaya have 865 temples atop itself.[3] The hills were sanctified when Rishabha, the first tirthankara of Jainism, gave his first sermon on the top of this hill.[4] The ancient history of the hills is also traced to Pundarik Swami, a chief Ganadhara[5] and grandson of Rishabha, who attained Nirvana/Moksha here. His shrine located opposite to the main Adinath temple, built by Son of Rishabha, Bharata.[6][7]

There are several alternate spellings, including Śatruñjaya, Satrunjaya, Shetrunja, and Shetrunjo. Shatrunjaya was also known as Pundarikgiri as Pundarik Swami was said to have attained nirvana on this mountain.[citation needed] Alternate names include Siddhakshetra or Siddhanchal, since many tirthankaras have received enlightenment here.[8]

Shatrunjaya is the most sacred place for jains. Jains.

  1. ^ Arnett, Robert (15 July 2006). India Unveiled. Atman Press. pp. 164–. ISBN 978-0-9652900-4-3. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  2. ^ John Cort (21 January 2010). Framing the Jina:Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History. Oxford University Press. pp. 120–. ISBN 978-0-19-538502-1. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  3. ^ Melton, J. Gordon (13 September 2011). Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. ABC-CLIO. pp. 19–. ISBN 978-1-59884-205-0. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Pilgrims flock Palitana for Kartik Poornima yatra". The Times of India. 2 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Jain Festivals - Chaitra Purnima" (PDF). Jain University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  6. ^ Dr Linda Kay Davidson; David Martin Gitlitz (1 November 2002). Pilgrimage: From the Ganges to Graceland : An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 419–. ISBN 978-1-57607-004-8. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Glistening spires of Palitana temples". The Hindu. 4 April 2004. Archived from the original on 23 September 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  8. ^ Deshpande 2005, pp. 418–419.