Shatrunjay Giriraj Darshan in Sculptures and Architecture

Author(s): Kanchansagarsuri
Publisher: Aagamoddharak Granthmala

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Foreword
The first systematic work on the art and architecture of Mt. Shatrunjay was contributed by Dr. James Burgess and published in 1869 along with 45 illustrations by Syxes and Dwyer. In 1888-89, Henry Cousens copied 118 inscriptions on Shatrunjay, 33 of which, dated V. S. 1587 to 1710, were edited by G. Buhler and published in Vol. II (1894) of "Epigraphia Indica", along with brief contents of the remaining ones. They were reproduced with revised notes by Muni Jinavijay in his "Prachina Jaina Lekha Sangraha - Part II" (1921). A few of them are also included in "Inscriptions of Kathiawad" (1944) edited by Shri D. B. Diskalkar.
In his "Somanatha and Other Medieval Temples of Kathiawad" (1931), H. Cousens devoted a chapter to the temples on Mt. Shatrunjay. It gives an architectural and archeological treatment to the subject. A number of books on Mt. Shatrunjay are written and published in Gujarati for the general traveller and/or pilgrim.
Panyas (now Acharya) Shri Kanchansagar Maharaj prepared a new work on Mt. Shatrunjay in Gujarati and got it published in Aagamoddharak Series, Kapadvanj, in 1979 A.D. In 22 chapters the author therein dealt with the religious sanctity of the hill, the religious rites and practices to be observed there and a list of the Jain sanctuaries on the hill. The work was enriched by 120 illustrations with introductory notes as well as by the text of about 500 inscriptions. The publication met with high appreciation by readers and it inspired the author to get it translated into English, so as to enable more readers to avail themselves of his valuable publication.
The translators have rendered Part 1 of the Gujarati work into eight chapters with some omissions, abridgements and alterations in sequence. The first three chapters are of Mahatmya character. Chapter 4 gives a brief account of the sixteen renovations of Shatrunjay Tirtha as narrated in "Shatrunjaya Mahatmya" by Dhaneshwarasuri. In Chapter 5, the author describes the different phases of pilgrimage to the sacred sanctuaries on the hill. The chapter is appended by a table of Temples and Idols in the different Toonks and a table about the erectors and dates of the Toonks. Chapter 6 deals with various rituals on Shatrunjay. In Chapter 7, the author gives a list of outstanding architectural monuments on the hill. In the last chapter the learned author brings out some novel facts about the late origin of the road between Vaghanpole and Hasthipole as well as the original location of Shavasomji's Toonk.
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