Palitana Shatrunjaya Giriraj

Palitana is located in Gujarat, 51 km south west of Bhavnagar. The town has a good road and rail network that connects it to the other cities of Gujarat. Bhavnagar, the nearest airport lies at a distance of 60 kilometer from Palitana. Siddha Kshetra Shri Shatrunjaya Teerth is situated on a hill, which is decorated by 3500 temples. Spires of the temples attract pilgrims from a far distance. Nagarjuna founded Palitana, which derives its name from Guru Padalipta or politta. The chief attraction here is the holy Jain shrine Shatrunjay Hill, 3 km away from the railway station.

On the top of the hill 873 temples were built of white marble, the work beginning in the 11th century and continuing for 900 long' years. However, destroyed by the Muslim invasions in 14th and 15th centuries, the temples were built anew in 1500. They are unique- in their architecture and sculpture. The ornamented temples look like ivory miniatures in the sunlight, seems to be wedding cake. Notable among the temples are Adinath, Kumarpal, Sampriti Raj, Bimal Shah. The holiest temple among the cluster, according to the Jain pilgrims, is the temple of Adishwar, the first Jain Tirthankar. It is also the most beautifully wrought. The marble image of the deity is bedecked with gold ornaments studded with precious jewels. The largest temple built in 1618 is that of 4-faced Adinath, the first Tirthankara.

Bhagawan AdishvarJain Teerth:

Steps :- 3364
Height:- 2000 ft
mile:- 7.5
Idols :- 27007
Jain Mandir :- 3507
Pagla:- 1500

It is on the Shetrunjaya Mountain at a distance of nearly six kilometers near the city of the bank of the river Shetrunjaya.

The artistry and sculpture of these temples aptly illustrate the ancient art.
Historical Details: This tirth is known as the eternal tirth. The ancient name of the city of Palitana was Padliptapur. In olden times this mountain was also called Pundarikgiri. Palitana is a city of temples.

The temple was renovated 16 times as under.

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.
Twelveth 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.
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.

Managing Trust:
Shri Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi Management
:Shri Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi, Taleti Road, Palitana- 364270. Dist Bhavnagar, Gujarat
Trust: -Shree Digambar Jain Siddhaksetra Sathrunjaya ji, P.O-Palitana, District-Bhavnagar, Gujrat Pin-364270
Trust:- Shree Palitana Desha Humad Digambar Jain Mandir Trust,
Phone: -02848-252547
Boarding Lodging in Dharamshala in the city near Mandvi.

Picture of Palitana jain tirth