Uthirakosamangai Temple: Timings, Architecture, History & Benefits
Situated in the peaceable village of Uthirakosamangai in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district is an ancient and divine temple – Uthirakosamangai…
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Shatrunjaya hill is an auspicious hill located at Palitana town in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, which is at a distance of 9km from the Palitana railway station.
One of the sacred places for the Jains and among the must-visit attractions as part of the Palitana pilgrimage.
The unique hill is home to more than 900 beautifully carved Jain temples, serving as a focal point for religious tourism in Palitana.
Seeing the tradition, the multiple temples were built by devotees across a span of 900 years.
The main temple premise is devoted to Rishaba, the first tirthankara; the holiest shrine for the Svetambara Murtipujaka sect. This is the only Digambara Jain temple here.
Similar to Chandragiri, Mount Abu, and Girnar, Shatrunjaya Hill is known as one of the holy places for the Jains.
So, about the festival, history, darshan, and puja timing details, we will be discussing in this post.
The Shatrunjaya hill, as Palitana temple, comprises more than 900 temples that were developed over a period of 900 years. This is the oldest temple, dating back to the 11th century CE.
The dense array of around 900 small shrines and a huge temple has earned Palitana the title of ‘city of temples’. These were made in two phases.
The first phase was made from the 11th to the 12th century AD as a part of the revival of temple construction all over the country.
They were conquered by Turkish Muslim invaders in 1311 AD. Some of the temples that are now seen belonged to the 16th century CE.
No one can be identified with the development of these magnificent temples; rather, it was the hard work of the wealthy businessmen who were worshipers of Jainism.
The temples came under the control of the Anandji Kalyanji trust in 1730. In recent years, the Gujarat government, along with multiple Jain communities, has undertaken steps to improve facilities and ease accessibility for visitors.
The Shatrunjaya Palitana Temple is open all year round except in the months of monsoon (June to September). The temple remains closed during this time.
The temple reopened after the monsoon, and followers in large numbers visit the temple as the Paryushana festival begins after the season. You can go through the timing of the temple.
| Temple opening time | 4:00 AM |
| Temple closing time | 6:00 PM |
The temple is closed early before darkness, and the hill is closed after 6 PM when the worshippers of the temple leave the premises and close the temple. Hence, you have to climb down the temple in the evening.
The timing for aarti is to perform two times a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. The timings are:
| Morning Aarti Time | Nearby 8:00 AM |
| Evening Aarti Time | Between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM |
The nadi aarti and other special offerings are performed during special times that vary, but mostly take place in the evening. Hence, aarti could be planned by connecting the office directly to the temple.
Regular worship and offerings are given to the Tirthankaras in the primary temple. Also, a special puja is performed in the Adinath temple for the Adinath dada.
The special offerings may be done during festivals, sacred days, or on personal occasions.
The booking for the puja has an easy process; one should pre-book the ritual to prepare the best, as the time of peak follower sessions cannot be booked according to your availability.
Hence, the ritual should be done in advance. With the temple management, puja booking can be made by directly inquiring about the local pandit of the temple. Therefore, book the pooja at the temple and execute the rituals.
Shatrunjaya hills in Palitana are the place of multiple festivals, connected to Jain customs. Among the most famous are Mahavir Jayanti and the Chha Gau teerth Yatra.
Mahavir Jayanti commemorates the birth of Mahavir, the 24th Jain tirthankara, and consists of elaborate parades and spiritual observances.
The Chha gau teerth yatra, a sacred event that falls in February or March, consists of devotees traversing Shatrunjaya hill, covering a complete distance of 216 Km.
Also, special festivals like Fagun Sud and Kartik Purnima, which come on the full moon day of the Kartik month (October-November), are celebrated at the Palitana temple too.
A wide number of worshippers across the world visit the temple during these occasions to honor and seek blessings from this holy soul. Indeed, other festivals celebrated in the temple are:
The meaning of the word Shatrunjaya is ‘place of triumphs against inner enemies’ or ‘which destroys inner rivals’. The place on Shatrunjaya hill is thought to be auspicious by Swetambara Jains.
As per the maahatmaya of Shatrunjaya, the first tirthankara Rishabhanatha blessed the hill where he gave his first sermon.
His grandson, Pundarika, who achieved Nirvana at Shatrunahay, thus the hill was originally recognized as ‘Pundarikgiri’.
Bharata Chakravartin, the father of Pundarik, was also honored with building a temple here to appreciate his father, Rishabhanatha.
According to the legends, it’s connected with multiple other Tirthanakaras. Jains considered that visiting the temples is necessary once in a lifetime to achieve salvation or nirvana.
On the hills of Palitana, there are more than 900 temples constructed, which are spread mainly in nine clusters, some being huge complexes, while some are small in size.
It has been said to be the largest temple premise in the world and sightseeing among one of the best in Palitana.
The principal temple complex and largest as well is the Adinath temple dedicated to Rishabhanatha. Ornamental friezes of dragons are used to decorate the prayer halls of the temple.
The Padmasana posture 7-foot-high marble statue of lord Adinath, accommodates the complex of Adinath temple.
Three pradakshina routes, which are followed in the clockwise direction, are linked with the temple.
The former one is circular and comprises the temple of Feet Ganadhar and the Sahasrakuta temple, and the temple of Simandhar swami.
The second passage extends through a new Bhagawan Adishwar temple, Mt. Meru, the premise of Samavasaran and Sammet Shikhar temple, whereas the third passage extends by the Ashtapada temple, the Chamukh temple.
The Chaumukha Temple, built in 1616 CE, offers a sobering view as it has a huge entrance and vast grounds.
The marble of the temple has beautiful sculptures. A four-faced statue of Adinatha is worshipped over a white pedestal.
The most remarkable buildings on the hill are the temples of Kumarpal, Vimalshal, Sampriti Raja, Saraswati Devi, and Narsinh Kesharji.
The first temple was most likely constructed by the renowned Jain patron Kumarpal Solanki.
With special permission, visitors can view the temple’s amazing collection of diamonds.
On top of the hill lies a Muslim shrine dedicated to Angar Pir, which is frequented by couples who are having trouble conceiving.
At the shrine, the devotees ask for blessings in the hopes that their children can achieve their dreams.
Entry Fees: No entry fee is required to climb the mountain.
Number of Steps: There are around 3863 steps to mount the mountain.
Time taken to reach the top: People can easily climb the mountain in 2-3 hours.
Best time to climb: The person starts climbing the mountain in the early morning, which makes it easy for them to reach during the aarti times.
Other options to reach the top: There are doli, palkhi, and other chair benefits to reach the top of the hill. This is accessible at an affordable price for worshippers who want to reach the temple.
There is no entry fee to climb the hill. But if you can not trek the hill, use the Doli facility, which is available for Rs. 2500 for 2 People & Rs. 5000 for 4 People.
The right time to visit Shatrunjaya Hill, located in Palitana, is during the winter months from November to February.
The timeline gives relatively cool and pleasant weather, making it perfect for climbing the hill and sightseeing the amazing temple without the obstruction of extreme heat.
Similarly, the winter season caters for many local celebrations and festivals, offering visitors a unique cultural experience.
It’s essential to note that the temples remain closed to devotees during the monsoon months from June to September.
The summer months, from March to May, are characterized by high temperatures, which may cause heat exhaustion during the challenging incline.
Regardless of the season, it’s preferred to visit during the cooler months, either in the early morning or late afternoon.
If your family is planning to visit the temple, there are three ways to reach the temple: by bus, by air, or by road. There are ways to reach the temple following the transportation modes.
The location, being a major visiting site, has its railway station, Palitana railway station.
Hence, book the direct train from the various cities to reach the temple. Also, you can take local public transportation to reach the temple.
You can reach the temple by road as well. The people visit the temple by taking public transport from the closest major cities, such as Bhavnagar, Talaja, and many others. You can get a direct taxi to reach the pilgrimage location as well.
Bhavnagar Airport is the closest airport, at a distance of 60-65 km from the location. An individual can take a taxi or a public vehicle to reach the pilgrimage from the airport. There are a few flights available to the temple from big cities.
The temple of Palitana at Shatrunjaya Hill has its proper dress code, and one visiting the temple has the option to wear decent clothes that wrap the upper extremities as well as legs to show respect.
Men are instructed to wear a dhoti or pajama and an outfit on top, or a pair of formal trousers and shirts.
Women should be covered in a saree, half saree, or chudidars. It is better not to wear modern kinds of clothes in the temple, such as mini-skirts, torn jeans, shorts, and bare tops.
For a comfortable uprise, wearing comfortable hiking shoes, hats, and applying sunscreen is suggested.
Non-Hindus are often permitted to enter the temple, a prominent pilgrimage site for Jains.
The hill and its temple greet people from all devotion, although particular attire is necessary to follow.
Therefore, the Palitana temple complex is not just a pilgrimage place, but a living spiritual monument, a testament to dedication, non-violence, peace, and the goal of liberation. Apart from its magnificence and scale, it is still under-celebrated worldwide.
It’s time we know this marvel, not merely as a religious site for Jains, but as a gem of Indian spiritual heritage, a sign of divine architecture, and an eternal source of inspiration and peace.
So, let this religious hill of Palitana temple encourage more hearts, more seekers, and more souls around the globe.
It could be a good location to travel with your friends and family, hence plan the trip according to the temple timing and the best month. Happy journey!
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