Shatrunjay a Pilgrimage

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Indira Mansukhlal Doshi Memorial Trust

Page 10

The real ascent starts from here. Pilgrims who have hired Doliwälläs occupy the Dollies from this place. The entire ascent consists of various hills rising one over another. The top of such a hill is known as Hadä. Hadäs are also the resting points for pilgrims. Drinking water is usually available at such places. At some places, there are rain water reservoirs known as Kunds. The water stored in such Kunds is available for pilgrims. Additional water is brought from the foot as and when needed.
At the second resting point, there are the footsteps of king Bharat, who was the eldest son of Lord Rushabhdev and also was the first Chakravarti of the present time cycle. Chakravarti means a sovereign emperor. The footsteps seem to date back from 1685. A little ahead, is the next resting point near Ichchhäkund that was constructed in 1681. A little further, there are footsteps of Lord Rushabhdev. While climbing a somewhat steep ascent thereafter, Pilgrims come to the Hingläj Hadä. There is a fable that a demon named Hingal used to harass pilgrims passing through that point. He was therefore overcome and killed by the goddess Ambicä. While dying, the demon prayed the goddess to occupy that place and be known by his name. The goddess granted that prayer and since then she is believed to be occupying the place in the name of Hingläj.
After completing the steep ascent, the pilgrims come to the footsteps of Kalikund Pärshwanath set up in 1779. After that there is the resting place at Chhäläkund constructed in 1814. Since there is tree shade, most of the climbers and Dolliwälläs take rest here. There are footsteps of Rushabh. Chandränan, Värishen and Vardhamän at this place. Those four are considered the eternal omniscients. Their names occur in the Sakaltirth Sutra that is recited during the morning Pratikraman.
Thereafter comes an old complex called Shripuj Tuk. The word 'Tuk' is derived from Kut meaning summit. In course of time the consonants have been reversed and Kut has been changed
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