But there has been a long history of disputes over the ownership of holy places. The best example of this is Mount Girnar, eventually ceded in debate by the Digambaras to the Shvetambaras, though it is still holy to the Digambaras. Shvetambaras were especially successful in Gujarat, which is still the heart of Shvetambara Jainism. But after his death there was decline, speeded by Muslim invasion and destruction of temples. Valabhi was destroyed in 782, being the start of the Muslim incursion, to be followed by the destruction of a large number of Jain holy places in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
Many great shrines are today only known by their names.
It was also dangerous to make pilgrimages to the holy places of Gujarat because of Turkish raiders. But as with the decline in the South, the Jains hung on tenaciously and religious activities continued. The Dilwara temples at Mount Abu in Rajasthan were built, which are among the most beautiful and elaborate in Indian architecture. When temple sanctuaries were desecrated they were rebuilt and the images were replaced. Mount Satrunjaya has supposedly been renovated sixteen times by devotees.