| Shatrunjaya | |
|---|---|
 View of pilgrims ascending Shatrunjaya Hill | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 580 m (1,900 ft)Archaeological Survey of India[citation needed] |
| Coordinates | 21°28′6″N71°48′0″E / 21.46833°N 71.80000°E /21.46833; 71.80000 |
| Geography | |
  Shatrunjaya Location in Gujarat | |
| Location | Palitana,Bhavnagar district,Gujarat,India |
Shatrunjaya, also spelledShetrunjaya ("place of victory against inner enemies")[1] and originally known asPundarikgiri, is a range ofhills located near the city ofPalitana in theBhavnagar district ofGujarat,India. The hills are situated on the banks of theShetrunji River at an elevation of approximately 164 feet (50 m) above sea level. These hills bear similarities to other locations whereJain temples have been constructed, including those inBihar,Gwalior,Mount Abu, andGirnar.[2]
The sacred Jain hill of Shatrunjaya is home to 865 temples.[3] The site was sanctified whenRishabha, the firstTirthankara of Jainism, delivered his sermons on the summit.[4]
The ancient significance of the hills is also attributed to Pundarik Swami, a chiefGanadhara and the grandson of Rishabha, who is believed to have attainedNirvana orMoksha here. His shrine is located opposite the main temple of Adinath, which was built by Bharata, the son of Rishabha.[5][6]
Alternate spellings includeŚatruñjaya,Satrunjaya,Shetrunja, andShetrunjo. Shatrunjaya was also known asPundarikgiri, as Pundarik Swami is believed to have attained nirvana on the mountain.[7][8] Other names includeSiddhakshetra orSiddhanchal, since manyTirthankaras are said to have attained enlightenment there.[9]
Shatrunjaya is considered the most sacred pilgrimage site in Jainism.
The nameShatrunjaya, where the sacred Mount Shatrunjaya is located, means "place of victory" or "that which conquers enemies".[1][10][11]
TheGulf of Khambhat lies to the south of the Shatrunjaya Hills, while the town ofBhavnagar is located to the north. A river flows between the two main hills. According to legend, the hills are considered part of theGirnar ranges.[12] A path along the ridge descends into the Aadpur Valley, covering a distance of approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi).[12] The town ofPalitana is situated at the base of the foothills, around 56 kilometres (35 mi) from Bhavnagar. The region's topography is rugged, and the landscape is prone to drought.[1]
The hills are an ancienttirtha (religious pilgrimage site). ThePalitana temples, a sacred pilgrimage complex located on both hills and the saddle between them, are accessed by ascending approximately 3,750 stone steps carved into the mountain.[10][13] The climb spans about 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) from the base and typically takes around two hours.[14][self-published source]
The hills are closed to pilgrims for four months during the monsoon season. The pilgrimage is known as the "Shri Shatrunjay Teerth Yatra", and it takes place on thePoornima (full moon day) of theKartik month, according to theJain calendar (October–November in theGregorian calendar). Thousands of Jains gather at the base of the hills to participate in theyatra (religious journey). During this significant pilgrimage, considered a once-in-a-lifetime event by many Jains, devoteescircumambulate the Shatrunjaya Hills, covering a distance of approximately 216 kilometres (134 mi) on foot while offering prayers.[4]
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