________________
24 FEATURES
PILGRIMAGE INTO
DR. L. M. SINGHVI TAKES US TO HOLY PLACES IN GUJARAT
Robert Radin
ains believe that going on a pilgrimage washes away their sins. They consider a place particularly holy only if it is connected in some way with a Tirthankara. While on a pilgrimage, a Jain is required to live temporarily the life of a monk, restricting himself to just one meal a day, practising strict chastity and sleeping on the ground. In the monsoon season, when monks and their gurus settle down in one place, lay Jains can visit them and gain the merit of having gone on a pilgrimage. To finance the pilgrimage of another, if possible escorting him on one, is as meritorious as going on a pilgrimage. Maybe that is why in the 13th century, Viradhavala's minister, Vastupala, took 1100 Digambaras, 12,100 Shvetambaras, 450 singers, 3300 bards and 2900 servants on a pilgrimage with him. Those who led the sanghas or led them to pilgrimages were known as sanghapatis.
PALITANA Shatrunjaya, or Lord of the Peaks, is one of the five most sacred hills of the Jains and is situated near a small town called Palitana in Gujarat. It lies nearly 2000 feet above sea level and is sacred to the memory of Adinath, who attained moksha here. The 2500 steps cut in the living rock lead to the splendorous spectacle of more than a hundred temples built into fortified walls where one finds innumerable
James Moturin-Baird
Mount Shatrunjaya, Gujarat
James Maturin-Baird
After a toilsome ascent of about two and a half miles, the pilgrim sees upon the shoulders of the mountain an island-like hill, which is formed of rocks of a very beautiful colour and adorned with numerous Jain temples. There are more than a hundred temples in this area. The mountain is also called Pundarikagiri because the grandson of Adinath, Pundarika also attained moksha at Shatrunjaya. The Adinath temple at Shatrunjaya was restored by Vagbhatta, an influential Jain minister in about 1156 AD. It is said to have been consecrated by the redoubtable polymath Acharya Hemachandra Suri. The major religious event at Shatrunjaya takes place on the day of the full moon in the month of Phalguna (February March). when thousands of pilgrims walk around the peak.
masterpieces of Jain art and architecture. Jinprabhuswami lists 21 names for Shatrunjaya, which Jain tradition holds in very high esteem. This can be gauged from the belief that "whatever purity may be obtained in any other artificial places of pilgrimage, through tours and by climbing mountains, or by prayers, vows, gifts and study, ten-fold of that is obtained in Jain places of pilgrimage, a hundred-fold as much at the Chaityas of the Jambu tree, a thousand-fold as much at the Eternal Dhatuk tree, ten-fold more may be acquired at Nandavara; infinitely more, however, is obtained at once by the mere sight of Shatrunjaya."
SHRI TARANGA TIRTHA Taranga, or Tarapura as it was known earlier, about 40 kilometres from Mehsana in Gujarat, is a hill considered sacred by the Jains. A temple was built here by King
Jain Education International 2010_03
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
