Jai Jinendra
By: Keval Alpeshbhai Shah
Wonder Of The Earth: Palitana(Setrunjay Tirath):
The Palitana temples are considered the most sacred pilgrimage place (tirtha) by the Jain community. There are more than 1300 temples located on the Shatrunjaya hills, exquisitely carved in marble. The main temple on top of the hill, is dedicated to 1st tirthankar lord Adinath (Rishabdeva).
No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods. The town is considered by many Jains to be more important than the temple covered hills of Jharkhand, Mt Abu and Girnar. Palitana was the capital of a princely state of the Gohil Rajput clan. It is also one of the greatest tourist attractions in Gujarat for foreign tourists. Every year millions of people come to visit these temples.
There are hundreds of other temples (besides those on the Shatrunjaya hills). Guest houses (dharmashalas) are found in Palitana city. It is believed that every Jain should visit Palitana at least once in his lifetime to get "Bhavya" status (fit to attain nirvan or salvation).
Palitana is located at 21°31′N 71°50′E / 21.52°N 71.83°E / 21.52; 71.83.[1] It has an average elevation of 67 metres (219 feet). The Palitana temples, are considered the most sacred pilgrimage place tirth by the Jain community. There are a total of 1250 temples located on the Shetrunjaya hills, exquisitely carved in marble. The main temple on top of the hill, is dedicated to 1st tirthankar lord Adinath (Rishabdeva). No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods.
- First Renovation : By Chakravarti Bharat, the son of Bhagawan Adinath.
- Second Renovation : By the King named Dandavirya.
- Third Renovation : By Shri Ishaneshvar in the interim period between the times of the first and the second Tirthankaras.
- Fourth Renovation : By Mahendra of the fourth upper world (dev-loko).
- Fifth Renovation : By Brahmendra of the fifth upper world.
- Sixth Renovation : By Chamarendra, Indra of Bhavanapatis.
- Seventh Renovation : By Sagar Chakravarti, the second Chakravarti of the times of Bhagawan Ajitnath.
- Eighth Renovation : By Vyantarendra in the times of Abhinandan Swami.
- Ninth Renovation : By King Chandrayasha in the times of Chandraprabh Swami
- Tenth Renovation : By Chakradhar, the son of Bhagawan Shantinath in the times of Bhagawan Shantinath.
- Eleventh Renovation : By Ramchandraji and Lakshamanji in the times of Munisuvrat Swami.
- Twelfth Renovation : By the five Pandavas in the times of Bhagawan Neminathji.
- Thirteenth Renovation : By Sheth Javed Shah of Mahuva in the year 108 of the Vikram era. He spent a million gold mohurs. In exuberance of joy, he died and was re-born in the fourth upper world (dev-loke).
- Fourteenth Renovation : By the advisor Bahud in the times of Kumarpal in the year 1213 of the Vikram era.
- Fifteenth Renovation : By Shri Samara Shah in the year 1371 of the Vikram era.
- Sixteenth Renovation : By Shri Karama Shah of Chitod on the auspicious sixth day of the dark half of the month of Vaishakh in the year 1587 of the Vikram era.
By: Keval Shah
