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At the foot of the Girnar mountain there are two Shwetambar temples and one Digambar temple. Close to the temples at the foot-hill begins the climb of the mountain which is very hazardous. On a nearly 3 km. long path there are nearly 4,000 steps, but when the heart of a devotee becomes eager to have a glimpse of the Lord, then the difficult path ceases to remain difficult.
After completing the ascent, the door of the main sanctum sanctorum of Lord Shree Neminath becomes visible. Here a Jinalaya (abode of the 'Jina') built at the centre of a sprawling 90'x130' Chowk' (courtyard) evinces its unprecedented splendour. Just in front of this Jinalaya, there is a mini temple of Maansang Bhojraj. The principal deity of this temple is Shree Sambhavanath. On the north of the main peak-temple is 'Melakwasahi Toonk'at a small distance. Built by Siddhraj's prime minister Sajjan Seth, this 'toonk' has the principal deity Shree Parshwanath with his head shaded by the hoods of a thousand cobras. There is a huge idol of Tirthankar Aadinath whom people also call 'Adbhut Jee' (the strange one). A little distance away from here is the 'toonk' of Sangram Soni. It is learnt from available references that this temple was built by Soni Samar Singh and Maaldev. The main temple is twostoreyed whose principal deity is 'Shree Sahasraphana Parshwanath'.
Ahead of the 'toonk' of Sangram Soni is the 'toonk' of king Kumarpal. It is learnt from the available references that this 'toonk' was built by King Kumarpal in the 13th century. The principal deity here is Shree Abhinandan Swami. Nearby here is Bheemkund and also Gajapad Kund. At a little distance away from this 'toonk' is the 'toonk' of Vastupal-Tejpal. It is learnt from the stone scripture here that this toonk' was built in Samvat 1288. There are the temples of Lord Shree Parshwanath, Lord Shree Rishabhdev and Lord Shree Mahavir. Now, the image of Shree Shamla Parshwanath adorns the temple of Rishabhdev Swami.
Very close to this 'toonk' is the 'toonk' of king Shree Samprati. The temple is very huge and ancient. The principal deity of this place is Lord Shree Neminath. A little distance away from here are respectively the 'toonks' of Shree Chaumukhjee, Lord Shree Sambhavnath, Dharmshee Hemchandra, twenty-four Jineshwar, Sati Rajulmati's Cave and Gaumukhi Ganga.
Five 'toonks' of Girnar are famous. The first toonk! is that of Tirthankar Neminath. The second toonk' is that of Shree Ambaji. The third 'toonk' is called 'Oghad Shikhar' where the foot-prints of Lord Neminath have been ceremoniously installed. The auspicious feet of Neminath adorn also the fourth 'toonk'. The fifth toonk' is situated in a dense forest at the top of the mountain; it contains the foot-prints of Neminath and Vardutt Ganadhar.
A visit to this pious pilgrimage is life's good fortune. Salutations to Nemi and Rajul, the touch of whose feet have graced and blessed the Girnar mountain ranges. Salutations also to those souls who become blessed on touching the holy soil of this place.
Ruins of the past
The cave of RAJIMATI
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