# Shetrunjay Yatra

Shetrunjay Yatra is an itinerary in Palitana city in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India. Palitana is known as "the city of temples". It is considered as one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Swetambara tradition of Jainism. There are more than 800 large temples and small shrines atop the Shetrunjay hill near the city.

## Understand

Most of the temples were built in and after the 11th century. The temples are spread mostly in nine clusters along the various ridges of the hill tops; some being vast temple complexes, while most are small in size. These clusters are known as Tunks. The main temple is dedicated to Rishabhanatha/Adinatha, the first Tirthankara of Jainism. These temples are constructed from marble and stones.
More than 400,000 Jain pilgrims visit these temples every year. Every devout Jain aspires to climb to the top of the mountain at least once in their lifetime in efforts to attain karmic liberation, due to its sanctity.
The steps for the trek starts in the southern part of the Palitana city, where there a number of monasteries, rest houses, shops and small temples. The stone-concrete stairs gently wind along the hill, climbing up into the fort and to the summit with temples. Along this climb, are small temples, rest stops with drinking water for the pilgrims and visitors to sit and rest before resuming their trek. Near the fort, the steps fork into two. The eastern side typically is the entrance for a traditional clockwise circumambulation of the temples, while the other the exit. The trek involves climbing along a 2.5 mile-long hilly trail of about 3745 steps taking one 1800 feet above sea level. Some elderly pilgrims hire palanquin (doli) to be manually carried from the town at the base of the hills to the temples on the hilltop.

## Prepare

The code for the pilgrims is stringent, in keeping with the rigours of the Jainism. Food must neither be eaten nor carried on the way. The descent must begin before it is evening, for no one can remain atop the sacred hill during the night.
The religious practice also involves pilgrimage by fasting throughout the journey to and from the shrines. Silence and prayers are the order of the day when one is climbing up the hills on pilgrimage. Fasting continues until they have returned to the auditorium of Anandji Kalyanji Trust at the foothill.
The temples are not visited by the pilgrims during the monsoon season (from Ashadh Sud 14 to Kartik Sud 15 according to local Jain calendar).
* 21.505271.8145871 Anandji Kalyanji Trust Office (Anandji Kalyanji ni Pedhi). (updated Jul 2023)

## See
### Phase-I

* On the foothill, the group of shrine with the large open portico is known as 21.50513471.8143871 Jay Taleti. . The face of the hill is worshiped here by pilgrims. The pilgrims who could not climb the hill worship here and consider it equivalent to the pilgrimage. 21.50523471.8143092 Kavad Yaksha shrine. on the right is dedicated to presiding Yaksha deity of the hill. There are few more shrines here dedicated to Gautamswami, Adinath and Ajitnath.
* The trek of the hill starts on the right. There are several large temples here. 21.50490771.814313 Govindji Khonanu Mandir. is on the left. It is followed by large temple known as 21.50423271.8142464 Babu nu Derasar (Ghan Vasahi). It was dedicated in Samvat 1949. In a compound next to the temple, there are large 21.50461571.8144145 Kausaggiya Adinath statues. Next to it is the 21.50438171.8147256 Jal Mandir (Pavapuri Mandir). which built in similar fashion to that in Bihar. The temple is surrounded by a water tank.
* Climbing few steps, the is a large open compound with the multi-storey temple known as the 21.50458571.812877 108 Parshwanath Samavasaran Temple. This modern temple was built at the base of the hills . It has a small museum at the lower level. Near the gate, there is a small footpath leading to 21.50488271.8134758 Saraswati shrine. This cave like shrine is dedicated to the Goddess of knowledge.
* The trek goes from here until the 21.50324271.8134462 rest. After climbing few more steps, the 21.50224971.8138249 Kirti Stambh (Chaturmukh Rishabh Jin Prasad). , the newest of the temples, is reached. This four-sided tower-like temple is dedicated to Adinatha. After few steps, there are 21.50216771.81328810 footprints of Bharat Chakravarti. which was installed in Samvat 1685 near the 21.50211971.8132423 rest.
* Climbing further, one reaches 21.5006571.810594 rest and waterbooth near Ichchha Kund. The kund well was built in Samvat 1681. There is a 21.50061371.81064311 Shrine with footprints of Rishabhdev; Neminath and his Ganadhara Vardatt. near it. After passing by 21.50003871.8103055 rest. , an another 21.49785971.8094456 rest and waterbooth called Lili Parab. , one can see the 21.49662871.80873912 shrine with footprints of Adinatha. on high platform. The next stop is 21.49657971.80876213 Kumar Kund rest and waterbooth. .
* After some steep climb, one reaches the 21.49486371.80757714 Hinglajno Hado (Hinglaj Mata shrine). Goddess Hinglaj, a form of Goddess Ambika, is worshiped here in a shrine. After climbing few steps of winding trek, there is the 21.49481971.80766615 shrine of Kalikund Parshwanath footprints. which was installed in Samvat 1835. Next to it is a 21.49484371.8077357 rest and waterbooth. From here, old and new trek deviates. The old trek has a Samavasaran shrine with footprints of Mahavira.
* Next is 21.49289271.8057318 Chhalakund. , a kund well built in Samvat 1870. Nearby is a 21.49306871.8057349 Rest and Waterbooth. Near to it is 21.49296271.80568716 shrine of the Shashwat Jin. The shrine has footprints of four Tirthankara names which appears in every half-cycle of time in Jain cosmology. They are Rishabh, Chandranan, Varishen and Vardhman.
* 21.49312771.80455617 Shri Pujya Tunk. The temple cluster was built under monk Devendrasuri of Tapagaccha. There are 14 small shrines with footprints and a large central shrine with an idol of Padmavati. There are also idols of Hanuman and Manibhadra in the shrine. A large Kund well with four shrines on its four corners has footprints of Adinath, Parshwanath, Gautamswami and Dharmasuri. There are some trees and shrines too. The town and the rest of the hill is visible from here. There is also a 21.49276271.80447618 Rest. near the gate to the Tunk.
* Going forward, the trek is simple walk with few steps. On high platform, there are 21.4898271.80120419 Four shrines. . It has four black idols of Draavid, Varikhilla, Aimutta and Narad Muni who are associated with the stories of Shatrunjaya hill. Large metal music plates are banged here on Kartika Sud 15 in Jain calendar to mark their liberation.
* After a 21.48954171.80090610 Rest and Waterbooth. , one passes by 21.48926271.80087711 Hirabai Kund. . The next is 21.48684271.7983612 Baval Kund (Bhukhandas Kund). . Here is a group of 21.48695171.79834920 Five shrines. on high platform. These shrines are dedicated Ram, Bharat, Thavachcha, Shukparivrajak and Shailkacharya; all people associated with Shetrunjaya hill. Going few steps forward, there are footprints in the 21.48680271.79830221 Shrine of Sukoshal Muni. , a monk. The next is a 21.48657771.79811722 Shrine of Nami and Vinami. who were grandsons of Adinatha.
* The next junction on the trek known as 21.48595771.79786413 Hanumandhara. from where two treks separate; the right going to Nav Tunk and the left going to the Adinatha Tunk. There is a 21.48597471.79784423 Shrine with footprints of Adinatha. on left and a 21.4859671.79789124 shrine with large Hanuman idol. on right. A 21.48597471.79787514 rest and waterbooth. is also here.
* Going forward on the left, the is a straight walk. There are 21.48496571.79768325 idols of Jali Mayali Uvayali. carved on the face of the hill on the right which can be reached by climbing few steps carved in the hill. Going forward, one reaches the fort of Shatrunjaya temples.

### Phase II

* Entering the first fort gate called 21.48332671.79582115 Rampol. , the large open ground appears where pilgrims and palanquin carriers can rest. On right after passing by 21.48335471.79548526 Panch Shikhri Vimalnath Temple. and 21.48321971.79550727 Sumatinath Temple. , a large watertank called 21.48284371.79543428 Kuntasar Tank. is seen near which there is a small shrine dedicated to Goddess Kuntasar.
* Going forward and climbing the few steps, one enters the second gate 21.48256371.79546516 Sagal Pol. from where the first temple complex starts. The 21.48235971.79546417 managing office. , pilgrim house and staff houses are located here. Next to is a 21.48245171.7955918 waterbooth. and Nanghan Kund tank.
* Next is third gate 21.48234371.79523319 Vaghan Pol. with statues of a guardian and a tiger on its sides. There is an inscription of 13th century minister Vastupala on the wall of the gate who had built temples of Neminath and Parshwanath on two sides of this gate. The temples were lost by 15th century and replaced by current temples of 21.48247571.79514529 Keshavji Nayak Temple. on right and 21.48214271.79526830 Shantinath temple. of Sheth Hirachand Raichand. One can see the series of temples on the both sides of the central way. Shantinath temple is visited by all the pilgrims and is considered one of the chief temples on the hill.
* Next to Shantinath temple on the left is 21.48207271.79512731 Neminath Chauri Temple. which has one of the best stone carvings of the all temples of the hill. 21.48214771.79494632 Moksh Bari (Paap-Punyani Bari). is next popular temple which has a statue of a camel where pilgrim passes between its legs to check whether one has made spiritual progress or not. After passing by several temples on the left, the last one is 21.48167771.79438333 Kumarpala temple. from about 15th century.
* On the same trek, on the right hand side, after Keshavji Nayak temple, one passes by 21.48234771.79500734 Samavasaran. and 21.48235771.7948635 Shamla Amizara Parshwanath temple. and reaches 21.48219271.79441236 Sothambha temple. which was built in Samvat 1686 has more than 100 pillars with excellent carvings. It is the highest among temples in Vaghan Pol. There is neem tree nearby where there is a 21.48198571.79437837 memorial stone. dedicated to Vir Vikramshi who lost his life fighting a lion which had made the complex inaccessible to pilgrims.
* Going forward, one reaches next gate 21.48178271.79426420 Hathipol. which is flanked by two large elephants statues. There is a narrow lane on the left of the gate going behind the Kumarpala temple. It leads to four water tanks including 21.48116871.79398638 Suraj Kund. which has spiritual significance. It is marked by a small niche with a carving of a cock associated with a lore. Other three are Brahmakund, Bhimkund and Ishwarkund.
* Hathipol gate opens in a 21.4818171.79414621 courtyard. . There are gates on the right and left which leads to bathing facilities for male and female pilgrims respectively who bath and wear clean clothes before participating in idol worships here. The worship queues in the main temple are managed by colour-coded tokens which are distributed from an office located here.

### Phase III

The main gate leads to Ratanpol. The central and main temple is here which is surrounded many many other temples and shrines. The pilgrims venerate and worship the chief deity Adinath here.

## Go next

* Palitana
* Bhavnagar