Shatrunjay a Pilgrimage

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

Page 29

Sahasra means thousand. Accordingly, the Sahasrakut temple has 1024 tiny images as detailed below.
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Images of Tirthankars of the present Avasarpini in each of the 5 Bharat Kshetras and 5 Airvat Kshetras Images as above, but of the previous Utsarpini; Images as above, but of the next Utsarpini; Images showing 5 Kalyanaks each of 24 Tirthankars Images of 32 Tirthankars in each of 5 Mahavideh Kshetras Images of Tirthankars existing at present in 5 Mahavideh Kshetras Images of four eternal omniscients
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Its installation is supposed to have been made by Vardhamän Shah of Ugrasenpur in 1662.
The three stage Mountain Meru of white marble has been newly constructed in 1935. It has the images of the Lords on all the four sides. At the top of the third stage, there is the conventional pinnacle called Chulikä, where the bathing ceremony of Tirthankars is supposed to take place.
The temple of Ashtapad has idols of all the 24 Tirthankars as per tradition. There are two in the front which also shows Ravan playing the guitar in tune with the dancing queen Mandodari and Gautamswämi rising to the top. On the remaining three sides, there are 4,8 and 10 idols as per convention,
The Räyan temple has the huge foot steps of Ädinäth. They seem to have been installed simultaneously with the main temple in 1531. Pilgrims usually recite the fifth Stavan here.
SHATRUNJAY -- PAGE 25