Jain Pilgrimages in India

JAINISM - THE RELIGION

Jainism, a religion of extreme austerities commands a substantial following in India, especially among the trading and merchant class. Visit to any Jain temple is both a journey in spirituality and beauty. This purification of the soul is the goal Jainas as pier for and austerity and not knowledge is the means to attain salvation.

JAIN PILGRIMAGES SITES IN INDIA

Sravanabelagola
One of the most important Jain pilgrimage sites is the monolithic statue of Bahubali at Sravanabelagola in the southern state of Karnataka. Wedged between two rocky hills, Indragiri and Chandragiri, Sravanabelgola literally translated means 'white pond of the ascetic'. The pond referred to is the temple tank located at the foot of Indragiri and the ascetic is the Tirthankar Gomateshwara or Bhagwan Bahubali. According to Jaina literature, he was the son of Vrishadeva, the Aditirthankara, the founder of the Jain faith. Prince Bahubali renounced his kingdom to perform penance and attained Kevala jnana or absolute knowledge. The history of Sravanabelagola goes back to the third century BC when after renouncing his kingdom, Chandragupta Maurya settled here with sage Bhadrabahu. Around 983 A.C., Chamundarya, a general and minister of the Ganga king Ramachamalla had the 17 meter high statue of Lord Gomateshwara erected at Sravanabelagola. Both the Chandragiri and Indragiri hills have bastis or Jain temples.

A special time to visit this site is during the Mahamastakabhishekha festival held every twelve years when the statue of Bahubali is anointed with offerings of milk, curd, honey, rice, coins, etc. It is indeed a grand sight to behold-tons and tons of offerings are poured over the head of the serene statue by eager devotees and yet the huge figure still does not get wet completely.

Dilwara Temple, Mount Abu
Jains from all over the world congregate at Mount Abu in Rajasthan, specifically at the Mount Abu in Rajasthan, specifically at the Dilwara Temple which is one of the finest examples of Jain art and architecture. The plain marble exteriors do not prepare the visitor for richly embellished interiors. Episodes from different Jain legends are intricately carved in marble and so life-like and delicate are the sculptures that it is difficult to believe they are indeed carved out of stone. Legend has it that the marble used in the temple sprang out of the earth some thousand years ago. For Jains, Mount Abu is the pivot of the Jain world.

Palitana
There are many popular Jain pilgrimage sites in Gujarat. Palitana is an important temple town and lies at the foot of the sacred Shatrunjaya Hill. To the south of the town, the Shatrunjaya River flows by, lending immense beauty and serenity to this holy spot. As many as 863 beautiful marble temples built over as many as span of 900 years dominate the landscape-a sight to fill any pilgrim's heart with delight. An air of devotion and spirituality permeates the town with pilgrims preparing for the ritual four-kilometer (3,572 steps) climb up the hill. For those who cannot climb up, chair slings are available. The temples of Girnar also hold a special appeal for Jain pilgrims. The Girnar Hill which rises to a height to more than 600 metres is sacred to the Jains and there are as many as 16 exquisite temples adorning the hill sides. These marble shrines are visited by thousands of Jains every year.

Digambara Jain Temple, Delhi
The Digambara Jain temple is the oldest and most important Jain temple in Delhi. Located at the eastern and of Chandni Chowk, it has detailed carvings and excellent gilded paintings. Jains coming to Delhi from different parts of the country and abroad make it a point to visit this temple which is an oasis of peace in the bustling marketplace. South of the Jain temple is the Jain Bird hospital which tends to injured and sick birds and which epitomizes the Jain belief that all life is sacred.

OTHER JAIN PILGRIMAGES IN INDIA
There are many other important Jain temples all over India. The temple in the fort of Jaisalmer where countless feet have polished the yellow Jaisalmer stone into gold, making the whole temple glow with a strange radiance in the afternoon sun. Ranakpur is yet another important pilgrim site. To visit the Jain pilgrim sites is to see yet another facet of this fascinating religion. It is an experience filled with great spiritual and aesthetic satisfaction. In contrast to the austere practices, most Jain temples are expressions of immense beauty and are often very extravagant in their use of carvings, both of figures and decorative motifs. This richness in terms of iconography is evident in other Jain aesthetic traditions such as manuscript illustrations, pato embroidery and paintings on cloth.