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Andrea Luithle-Hardenberg, The "99fold" pilgrimage to Shatrunjaya 371
the taking an unpleasant bath with cold water, 43 nor lamenting about their sore feet. On the contrary, they even expressed feelings of peace while walking in the wilderness of the most remote part of the mountain, with a grand sight over the Shatrunji reservoir.
They showed the same kind attitude during their pilgrimage on the so-called cha gau route ("six gau"). This route is the longest and most arduous route with about 15 extra km. As the above mentioned routes it can be performed on foot only. Its first part is identical with the dodh gan route and forms half a circumambulation of the main. temple complex, a little below of the southwestern summit. Afterwards the route leads to the shrine of Bhadava Hill, a smaller summit on the southwestern slopes of Shatrunjaya, where the footprints (pagla) of Shambha and Pradyumna, heroes of the Jaina-Mahabharata, " are located. The two brothers are said to have attained salvation on that spot on Phagan Sud Teras, the thirteenth day of the bright half of the month of Phagan (February-March). Every year on this day the pilgrimage is performed by as many as forty thousand pilgrims, who share the belief that a pilgrimage on this tour frees the devotee from all sins (pap). This route ends in the hamlet of Adpur at another shrine with the footprints of Adinath. The cha gau route also includes five additional caityavandan rituals, 47 as well as an extensive ritual of meditation in front of a large rock, which is situated at the bank of the "silver pond", Chandan Talavadi. The pilgrims refer to it as "abode of salvation", Siddhashila, because it is commonly believed that on that very spot thousands of ascetics attained salvation. The girls also explained to me that in the vicinity of the rock a devoted pilgrim can find access to a subterraneous path which leads to the first image of Adishvar. According to a local myth this image is hidden in the roots of the rayana tree behind the main temple and was once installed by Adinath's son Bharat. Here, at Siddhashila, the girls from Bengalaru, as well as all the other navanu participants, performed at least 12 logassa, while standing or laying in the "motionless" ka'ussaga posture. For many pilgrims this
43 According to the ritual observances the water which is taken from the river to have a bath has to be garam pani, i.e. has to be boiled. However, when it was the girl's turn to have a quick bath, it had already cooled down because early in the morning the air is fresh.
44 The last route to mention here, the bar gau route, literally means,,twelve gau", and covers about thirty kilometers. However, since 1962, when a dam was built in the river Shatrunji and the old route was flooded, this route cannot be done on foot. Thus, the navanu pilgrims undertake that variation of pilgrimage after they have completed all 108 pilgrimages on foot only.
45 According to the Jaina version of the epos, Krishna's sons named Shamba and Pradyumna, attained salvation on Shatrunjaya.
46 For details of this elaborate festival see Luithle-Hardenberg (in print).
47 These are conducted at: (1) the shrine of the "six sons of Devaki" (Devaki na cha putro), which is dedicated to the elder brothers of Krishna, who are said to have attained salvation on Shatrunjaya according to the Jaina Mahabharata, (2) a shrine with the footprints of Adishvar close to the well named Ulkha Jal, (3) the shrines of Ajitanath's and Santinath's footprints close to the "silver pond", Candan Talavadi, (4) the shrine with the footprints of Krishna's sons, Shamba und Pradyumna, situated on the top of the Bhadava hill and. another shrine with the footprints of Adinath (5), located under a huge banyan tree, which is called "Siddhavad". It marks the end of that particular route in the hamlet Adpur.
