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Preface
Pilgrimage plays an important role in the life of devotees. When one goes to a place of pilgrimage, he experiences the opening of the heart as well as the brain. Not only does it give him an opportunity to show his sense of dedication, but it also provides him the scope for learning about different people, places and environments. Such places have been visited by countless number of devotees and other pious people, who have left their wholesome vibrations behind. Those places therefore continue to resound with such vibrations.
Conception, birth, renunciation, enlightenment and liberation of Tirthankars are wholesome. The places, where such events took place, are considered holy. Considerable significance is therefore attached in Jain tradition to undertaking pilgrimages to such places. Shatrunjay, however, stands unique in this respect. None of the wholesome events of Tirthankars has occurred there. It is still considered very holy and it is believed that the benefits arising from its pilgrimage are incomparable to those accruing from those to other places. Thousands of people therefore go there every year from all over India as well as from other countries.
But the people going to that pilgrimage do not have correct notions about different places there. Writing about the pilgrimage to Shatrunjay was therefore engaging my mind. A couple of years back I decided to write about it and completed the write up. It was, however, noticed that the publication of the book would not serve much purpose in absence of pictures that can give the visual idea of the places there. Fortunately, the firm of Anandjee Kalyanjee had some pictures and they were kind enough to give permission to include the same in this book.
But the printing of the book was held up on account of some technical aspects. I am thankful to my nephew in law Gaurang Shah and my colleague Dilip Shah for their help in eventually bringing out the printable copy. Though the publication is delayed, it is a happy coincidence that the book sees the light of the day on the 15th anniversary of Indira M. Doshi Memorial Trust, which undertakes the publication of my works.
July 16 2002
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
Manu Doshi
www.jainelibrary.org
