Book Title: Holy Abu
Author(s): Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala

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Page 226
________________ Achalagaḍh] 143 road is an old step-well followed by an ashrama and a cell of Vijayashanti sūri which was used for meditation and rest by the said Muni, a pious well-known Jaina monk who died about a decade ago. Near the entrance to the compound of his Ashrama, on the left wall is a small Bhairava image, marking the entrance to another locality, the Bhairava-pol, whose gateway has now fallen. The bye-lane was known as the sixth-lane (or sixth gateway) of the old fortification, in the age of Raṇā Kumbha. Going a little upwards, the visitor reaches two kundas (tanks) known as Shravana and Bhadarvo (Bhādrapada) so called from the two months of the rainy season. The two kundas are always filled with water, near them is a small shrine of the goddess Chamuṇḍā. Going upwards from here one sees the now dilapidated old fort of Rāņā Kumbhā, on the top of this hill. A small descent on one side takes the visitor to a two-storeyed cave which in popular belief is assigned to the Puranic King Harishchandra or at times to Gopichand, a monk of the Natha sect. A little upwards from the cave is an old palace of Rāņā Kumbha, another downward path from this spot leads to the foot of the hill. Thus on the Achalagaḍh are four Jaina shrines, two Jaina Dharmashālās, one office of the Shvetambara Jaina Karakhānā, and a small garden of the same, all under the management of the said Kārakhānā which is known as the Shah Achalashī Amarashi Peḍhī. Jaina pilgrims, accorded all facilities by the Pedhi, can stay here as long as they like and are not required to pay any special charges for a longer stay. The Kārakhānā manages the post of the pilgrims, the charge for each meal supplied is only about half a rupee under normal circumstances. Lodging arrangement is available for all the months of the year except in the rainy season, i. e., from Kartika Shukla 15 to Ashāḍa

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