Bhavnagar, Jan 3 (PTI) Tibetan spiritual leader The Dalai Lama today visited the Jain pilgrimage town of Palitana near here and delivered a religious discourse along with Jain scholars.

"The 20th century belonged to science and technology. The present 21st century would belong to spirituality and non-violence," Dalai Lama told reporters.

He said Jainism and Buddhism are in the forefront for promoting peace and non-violence around the world."

Jainism and Buddhism are like twins who have brought along with them the message of oneness and non-violence for the world," he said.

Dalai Lama also visited a camp for the physically challenged where over 25,000 disabled people are being treated free of cost. The camp, called 'Mobility Camp' being held in Palitana began on December 23 and would continue till January 9.He later visited the Jain temples in Palitana town and interacted with Jain scholars.

Palitana Kartik Pornima Yaatra

BHAVNAGAR: Thousands of Jain pilgrims flocked to the foothills of Shatrunjay hills of Palitana taluka here on Monday, the day of Kartik Poornima (full moon of the Kartik month of Hindu calendar) to undertake the auspicious yatra (journey).

Known as the Shri Shantrunjay Teerth Yatra, this walk is an important religious event in the life of a Jain devotee, who cover 216 km of rough mountainous terrain by foot to worship the Lord Adinath temple atop the hill. Considered as a very auspicious day for Jains, the day also assumes significance for the walk as the hills, which are closed for public during the four months of monsoon, are thrown open for the devotees on Kartik Poornima. This age-old tradition has been followed down the years.

Although similar to the three-day Girnar Parikrama, which ends on this very day in neighbouring Junagadh, the Palitana yatra can be done all around the year except for monsoon months, a district official explained. However, as the day of Kartik Poornima holds significance in Jain religion and devotees are kept away from worshipping their lord for four months of monsoon, the first day attracts the maximum number of devotees.

Shatrunjay hills are, next to Sammet Shikhar in Bihar, the most sacred mountain for Jains. Mythology has it that it was Lord Adinath, the first tirthankara, who sanctified the hills by visiting it to deliver his first sermon. Down the years, crores of sadhus and sadhvis have attained salvation on these hills.

"It's said that if we undertake the yatra of the pious hills on this particular day, the three-and-a-half crore sadhus who have already attained salvation over the years also walk with us," said a Jain devotee here. "This day is also the birth anniversary of our great religious leader Shri Hemchandrachayaji," he added.
Considering the rush of pilgrims, the civic administration had set up all facilities to facilitate the yatra.

Source: Sandesh

Mangalayatan: Great Jain Pilgrimage Center

The magnificent compound

Spread over an area of more than 40,000 square yards, Mangalayatan is one of the largest Jain pilgrimage centres in this part of the country. Its development plan was designed to adhere to the international quality construction and safety standards without compromising with the related religious concepts, guidelines and traditions, which have been implemented in minutest detail. After the completion of the first phase of development, the complex has been termed by experts and scholars as scientifically perfect and religiously authentic.

Estimated cost for the first phase of construction has been Rs. 5 Crore. It also includes the cost of 40 thousand square yards of land. Second phase of construction is estimated to cost Rs. 3 Crore. This phase of Manglayatan's development should complete by the end of year 2004, following which the third and final phase would begin. Mangalayatan has already created a record of sorts by completing the first phase development work within the predefined deadline of 2 years. During this phase, all the major devalayas and basic facilities have been constructed. With its picturesque look and peaceful ambience, Mangalayatan has not only become popular among the Jain devotees, but has also become a major tourist attraction for people visiting Aligarh or the neighboring cities.

Bhagwan Adinath Mandir

Mangalayatan features Bhagwan Adinath as the main deity, the Moolnayak. His temple has been constructed on an artificial hill running across the complex. The hill starts from the height of 4' and rises to 31'. On its peak, a white marble platform measuring 16' x 16' x 2.5' supports a 10' high pink marble lotus throne. Seated on this is an impressive 111'' high white marble statue of Bhagwan Adinath with halo (bhamandal) and three umbrellas (chhatras).

The statue, towering a maximum height of over 55 feet from the ground level, is a fascinating sight to anyone passing on the Agra-Aligarh highway. A staircase has been built for the devotees to climb up to the temple. For people who cannot climb stairs, a ramp way has been constructed. Installation of a high speed lift is also being planned for use by handicapped, disabled and aged persons.

Bhagwan Mahavir Mandir

Shri Adinath Kund-kund Kahan Digamber Jain Trust has enshrined Teerthankar Mahavir as 'Vidhinayak' in the complex. His beautiful temple has been constructed over an area of 4500 square feet. Inside this temple, His 33 inches high marble statue is seated on the vedi built of white marble. It is surrounded by 30" high marble statues of Bhagwan Shantinath, and Bhagwan Parshvanath, sitting on white marble vedis. Bhagwan Mahavir Swami and Videhinath Bhagwan Seemandhar Swami's Ashtadhatu Jin-bimbs (statues) have also been established in the temple.

This temple has also been adorned with portraits of Bhagwan Kundkundacharyadev and Amritchandracharyadev engraved on marble slabs measuring 4' x 4.5'. These pictures, framed in beautifully engraved white marble frames, have been placed on the walls of the temple. Except the sanctum sanctorum (garbha griha), the rest of the hall of 50' x 50' is being utilised for meditation, religious discourses etc.

On the walls of Mahavir Swami Jinalaya, 150 marble slabs have been fixed, on which Shri Samaysar gathas written by Bhagwan Kundkundacharyadev have been engraved.

Bhagwan Bahubali Mandir

Bhagwan Bahubali Temple, covering an area of around 4000 sq. feet, is also a special attraction of Mangalayatan complex. The temple houses a white marble statue of Bhagwan Bahubali in standing posture. The 7'3" high statue stands on a 24" high lotus platform. The temple also has statues of Muniraj Bahubali and Muniraj Bharat in standing postures.

Design of Bahubali temple is the same as the Mahavir temple. The hall of the temple has been adorned with portraits of Dharsenacharyadev and Muniraj Padmaprabhamaldharidev. These portraits have been engraved on 4' x 4.5' sized marble panels. Marble slabs of 4' x 2' size, engraved with the text of the 7th Adhikar (chapter) of Acharyakalpa Pt. Todarmalji written Shri Mokshamarga-prakashak and Pt. Daulatramji written Shri Chheh-dhala, have also been fixed on the walls of the temple.

The Bahubali temple will also house a small library and a research institute until their spacious individual buildings, proposed to be built in the second phase of development, are ready.

Shri Bhagwan Adinath Swami Mansatambh

The Manstambh at 'Mangalayatan' is a replica of the Manstambh of Bhagwan Seemandharnath erected in Songarh, the sadhnabhumi of our revered gurudevshri kanji Swami and Bhagwatimat Champaben.

The bottom of the proposed Manstambh has been adorned with Chitrapats (pictures) of the Tirthankars, Acharyas, Upadhyayas, Munirajs and Gurudevshri kanji Swami in different postures, in 3 steps in all 4 directions. These pictures are seated inside three cornices measuring 20' x 20' x 3.5', 16' x 16' x 3' and 12' x 12' x 2.5'. Above these cornices, there is a beautiful Jinalaya (temple) in which four pink statues of Lord Adinath, each with a height of 23 inches, have been seated on lotus platforms. On the top of the tower, four more pink statues of Bhagwan Adinath, each with a height of 27 inches, have been placed. These statues, all seated on lotus platforms, look in four different directions.

The ever flying flag on the top of the 63 feet high Manstambh always extends invitation to all the living beings to rid themselves of the feeling of 'I' and experience the unparalleled and out-of-this-world joy in the court of Jinendra Bhagwan.

To attain the highest standards of craftmanship, experienced and skilled sculptors from Jaipur had been commissioned to give shape to the magnificent manstambh.

Click here to read the details of the second phase of development.

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