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MOUNT GIRNAR

Rising up on the outskirts of Junagadh is Mt Girnar, whose 3660 foot high summit is crowned by some of the finest and most religiously important temples in Jain religion. The fortification around the temple is called Deva Kota and is associated with Rao Khegaji of Kutch. The enclosure is well filled with temples of both Hindu and Jain religions, but only 5 Jain temples are really impressive, though it is also worth looking at some smaller temples like the granite shrine built by Rao Bhojraj of Kutch.The  temple  complex  of  Mt  Girnar  has  been  an  important  place  of  Jain   pilgrimage  from  the  3^rd  century  BC. The  900  meter  high peak  itself  has   considerable   religious  significance  for Hindus. There  is  a Muslim  shrine  too  on  the peak.  Mt  Girnar  has  fantastic  views  of  the  surrounding  hills,  forests  and  the  picturesque  city  of  Junagadh. 10,000  steps  lead  to  the  temples  on  the  peak.

At  the  foot  of  Mt  Girnar,  Damodar  Kund  is  the place  where  lord Shiva  and  Goddess Parwatis’  garment  fell   during  an  ariel  cruise. Bhavnath  is an  important  Shiva temple  at  the  foot  of  Mt Girnar.

Other  important Jain  pilgrimages  are  Jagadiya  near  Rajpipla,  Sankeshwar  near Radhanpur, Mahudi  near Gandhinagar, Badreshwar  and Naliya  in Kutch, Poshina  and Kumbhariyaji  near  Ambaji, Taranga  in north Gujarat, Patan  near  Mehsana, to  name  but  a  few.

 The greatest of the temples on the summit is the rectangular Neminath temple, built from 1128 AD and completed in 1159 AD. The temple surrounds a collonaded courtyard, with delicate carvings of the Tithankars of Jainism. Further up from the Neminath temple, the Amba temple is where newely wed Hindus gather to pray for a happy marriage, and a Muslim shrine where childless women prey for children. The trio of temples which forms Mallinath mandir, shrine of the 22nd Tirthankar, were erected in 1231 AD by Vastupal and Tejpal, the 2 brothers responsible for such marvels in marble as the Dilwara temples of Mt Abu. The corbelled domes and beautifully carved interior domes are highlights of the temple. Other important temples lie to the left of Neminatha temple-the temple of Rishabdeo with 24 Tirthakaras carved in 1442, a 15th century Parshwanath temple called Meravaksi, the modern Panchbhai temple, 1803 AD Parshwanath temple with a cobra protecting the marble image and the 12th century temple built by Kumarapala of the Solanki dynasty, which is responsible for many of the finest Jain andindu temples in western India-Dilwara, Taranga, Kumbariyaji, Palitana, Modhera, Patan, Diu, Ghumli, Gope and a part of Somnath-and restored in 1824 AD.

 Around half way down from the temple cluster, you can detour for the hill of Guru Datatray whose very footprints are holy to 2Jains, the Kalika hill and Kamandal temple. At the foot of Mt Girnar is Damodar kund and the Bhavnath temple both of considerable importance to Hindu pilgrims.

Akshardham | Ambaji  | Dwarka | Mt. Girnar | Palitana | Somnath | Others

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