Jains Today in World

SR No.: 001794
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Pirre Paul AMIEL
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, Religion, E000, & E005
File Size: 24 MB

Page 119

84 : JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD
Naliya, a big and splendid Jain temple (XVIII century) with 138 "siddhacakra” (wheels of saints), and a statue of Candraprabha (the gth Tirthankara),
Palanpur, a temple dedicated to Pārśva, and fourteen other sanctuaries nearby,
Palitana, in the ancient princely State of Saurashtra, at the bottom of Satruñjaya hills, a high rank place of pilgrimage, many temples and chapels divided into eleven "basti". They were erected, between the xh and the XIVh centuries, and have been incessantly under restoration since. This city-temple is the most revered sacred place for the Svetāmbara, after Sammet Shikhar. Tradition reports that Rşabha delivered here his first sermon and that his son Bharata and numerous ascetics attained their liberation here.
In 1656, the Governor of Gujarat handed over command of this place to a rich Jain tradesman, named Shantidas Jhaveri. Amongst the most noteworthy temples are those of Ādinātha by Vimala Shah, of Ādīśvara, of the “Samavasaraņa”, of Ambikādevī, Neminātha, śāntinātha, etc. To see also especially the "Vardhamana Jain Agama Mandir" and temples said Minākäri, Jambūdvīpa Kesariya, etc.
To reach the summit of the mountain, where the big sanctuaries are, one has to climb 3750 steps. In addition to the numerous temples, one may see 180 slabs in memory of Jain saints.
On the day of full moon, in the Indian month of "phālguna" (February-March), thousands of devotees come here and circumambulate the sacred mountain whose name means "who conquers enemies”, in this case the bad “karma" that hinders liberation.
A complex of five temples has been recently erected near a barrage on the river. Here, are numerous “dharmaśālā” and an “upāśraya" for the ascetics. At the foot of the mountain is a museum, called Jaina