Jain Temple, Sri Girnarji (Gujarat)

Shri Girnarji Siddha Kshetra, Gujarat

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Name :

Shri Girnarji Siddha Kshetra

Is an Siddha Kshetra (Place of Salvation).

Address :

Shri Bandi Lalji Digamber Jain Dharmashala Near the stairs of Shri Girnarji (Talhati), Bhavnath Shri Girnarji, Junagarh (Gujarat) Pin – 362004 Phone 0285-2621519

Management Committee :

Shri Bandi Lalji Digambar Jain Managing Committee Bhaiji Ka Mandir, Pratapgarh, Dist. – Chittorgarh (Raj.) Phone 05342-222053

Chair Person :

Shri Raja Ramleshji Bandi Mumbai, Phone 022-28937993

Secretary :

Shri Surendra Kumarji Padliya Bhaiji Ka Mandir, Pratapgarh, Dist. – Chittorgarh (Raj.)

Nearby City :

Junagarh 5 km

About Girnarji :

Shri Girnarji Siddha Kshetra is the famous religious center of Jain community. Thus place is sacred & pious as it is related with 3 Kalyanka – (i) Diksha (ii) Gyan (iii) Moksha of 22nd Teerthankar Bhagwan Neminath. About 72 crore & 700 Muniraj like son of Shri Krishna – Pradyumna Kumar, Shambhu Kumar, Aniruddha Kumar achieved salvation at this place. According to Digambar Tradition, in the 2nd decade ‘Munivar Dharsena Acharya’ ‘the master of Jain Text (Ang-Gyan)’, passed on his precious knowledge to ‘Muni Pushpadanta’ & to ‘Muni Bhootbali’ in Chandra Gupha (a cave) of Girnar Hill. After getting enlighted by the invaluable knowledge they wrote ‘Shat Khand Agam’, the first ‘Shrut Skandha’. Both Muni Pushpadanta & Muni Bhootbali achieved Mantra perfection on the ‘Siddha Shila’ present on Girnar Hill. Before them Bhagwan Neminath also achieved salvation on this Siddha Shila. This place has also been visited by last Shrutkevli Acharya Bhadrabahu, Acharya Kund-Kund, Samantbhadra and many other Muniraj (Jain Saints). This Kshetra is famous as blessed land as it is related to Bhagwan Neminath’s 3 Kalyanka viz Diksha, Gyan, Moksha. This place is also famous as ‘Urjayanta Giri’. Acharya Samantbhadra while appreciating about ‘Urjayanta Giri’ in his “Swayambhu Stotra” has written – “Hey Urjayanta! You stand high as the hump on the land, Vidyadhar Pairs (Persons having abnormal powers uncommon to general man) reside over you, you are well adorned by spires, clouds just touch your surface & ‘Indra’ himself marked the symbol of Bhagwan Neminath by his ‘Vajra’ on your blessed land.” (127)

View of Kshetraa :

Though this Kshetra is meant for Digambars, but along with Digambars, Shwetambars & Hindu & people of all communities visit here. The slope begins after walking little further or we can say 100 steps further from Dharmashala. The stairs are also constructed for climbing up the hill. First Tonk – After covering 3 km distance of ascension there is one cave being named as ‘Rajul Gupha’. One has to bend to cross this cave. The new idols installed by Shwetambars are present here and one ornamented idol of ‘Rajul’ & one idol of ‘Rathnemi’ are constructed here. A little distance further from cave a Digamber Jain Dharmashala is present and in the campus of this Dharmashala one umbrella and three temples are present. The 4 feet high Khadgasana ultra ancient idol of Bhagwan Bahubali is installed in one little temple. Beside this temple the foot images of Acharya Kund Kund in white stone are made under one umbrella and 5 idols of ‘Panch Parmeshthi’ are carved in wall present in front of it. Beside the umbrella there is one temple in which one black stone’s 1 foot 7 inch high Padmasana idol of V.S. 1745 is installed. On both sides of this idol the 1 foot 11 inch high ancient white stone’s idols of Bhagwan Parshvanath are installed in Padmasana. One huge temple is constructed in this campus and this temple has one sanctum & one assembly hall. Many idols of Bhagwan Neminath, Shantinath & Parshvanath are installed on Altar. The size of these idols ranges from 1 foot to 1 foot 8 inch. A ‘Gomukh’ exists near here. From this Gomukh stream of water keeps flowing continuously and lot of ponds are formed here because of this stream of water. Foot prints of 24 Threethankars are made on one Altar present on wall behind this Gomukh. After moving little further from this place, the one reaches to entrance gate of fort of ‘Rakhangar’. On the left side of this huge gate there is one beautiful temple of Bhagwan Neminath, this temple comes under possession of Shwetambars now a days. There is a group of 9 artistic Shwetambar temples near Bhagwan Neminath temple. These were constructed by Vastupal, Tejpal, King Kumarpal, Minister Sajjan & others etc. Second Tonk – After climbing stairs starting from First Tonk one reaches to Second Tonk. This Second Tonk is the ‘Nirvan’ (Salvation) place of Aniruddha Kumar. The foot images of ‘Aniruddha Kumar’ are also present here. There is one huge temple of ‘Ambadevi’. In previous this temple was Digambar Temple, but now it is in possession of Hindus. Third Tonk – On moving further foot images of Shambhu Kumar are present on left side. It is also ‘Nirvan’ place of ‘Shambhu Kumar’. Here also Hindus have constructed their temples. Fourth Tonk – The stairs are not available for reaching at this place. This is a straight hill. Reaching up to this place requires courage, strength & lot of hard work. It is ‘Nirvan’ place of ‘Pradyumna Kumar’ and his foot images are also present here. Fifth Tonk – After going in upward direction from Fourth Tonk one reaches to Fifth Tonk. It is ‘Nirvan’ place of Bhagwan ‘Neminath’. The foot images of Bhagwan Neminath are also present here under main umbrella. Behind these foot images a magnificent Digamber idol of Bhagwan Neminath is being installed. Hindus believe that foot images are foot images of ‘Dattatreya’ and they have forcibly taken the possession of this place. When one again comes back to this place then stairs are available for the place ‘Sahastramravan’ from First Tonk. It is ‘Diksha’ & ‘Gyan’ Kalyanka place of Bhagwan Neminath. The foot images of Bhagwan Neminath are present under one umbrella.

Temple Kind of :

All types of Digamber, Shwetamber & Hindu devotees do visit here

Other Temple :

Temple in the Valley – One huge temple is present in the campus of Dharmashala and it is called as ‘Neminath Digamber Jain Temple’. The black colored Padmasana idol of Bhagwan Munisuvrit Nath, which was made agreeable by ‘Jeevraj Papadiwal’ in V.S. 1548, is also installed here. The black colored Padmasana idol of principal deity Bhagwan Neminath is installed on Lotus of white stone inside the main altar. Height of this idol is 4 feet with base. In this temple there are eight more altars. In these altars, idol of Bhagwan Neminath, Pradyumna Kumar, Shambhu Kumar, Aniruddha Kumar & other Teerthankaras are agreeable. This temple is 145 years old. There is one sky-high magnificent column of dignity of white marble, present in front of this temple.

Natural Scenario :

Being hilly area the environment is quite natural, beautiful & clean here.

Facilities :

One big Dharmashala equipped with all facilities is constructed in valley of hill. A Dharmashala is also built on First Tonk (Hill). Food & bed are easily available.

Means of approach :

By Road- Buses are available for reaching up to Junagarh from Ahemdabad and other cities of Gujarat. Auto Rickshaws from Junagarh are available for going up to Girnaar Kshetra (a distance of 6 km). By Rail- Junagarh Station (6 km from Kshetra): Nearest Airport- Rajkot (100 km).

Nearby Places :

A Jain temple & Dharmashala is available at ‘Jagmal Chouk’ in Junagarh. In Junagarh – Inscriptions of Ashoka, Rajul Mahal, Nawab Ka Mahal, Museum, Mohabbat Makbara etc.

Suggestion :

Fairs are organized by Hindus on Girnar from Kartik Shukla – 11 to Poornima & on 9-10th of Phalgun Shukla four days before Maha Shivratri. The visiting at this place at time of fair is not recommended to Jains.