View of Mount Abu vintage postcard

This is View of Mount Abu vintage postcard in my collection.

This vintage postcard printed in Saxony.

Jain Temples on Girnar Hills Junagadh vintage postcard

This is Jain Temples on Girnar Hills Junagadh vintage postcard in my collection.

Palitana Jain Temples vintage photographs

Location:   Palitana is located in Gujarat, 51 km south west of Bhavnagar. The town has a good road and rail network that connects it to the other cities of Gujarat. Bhavnagar, the nearest airport lies at a distance of 60  kilometer from Palitana.  Siddha Kshetra Shri Shatrunjaya Teerth is situated on a hill, which  is decorated by 3500 temples. Spires of the temples attract pilgrims  from a far distance. Nagarjuna founded Palitana, which derives its name from Guru Padalipta or politta. The chief attraction here is the holy Jain shrine Shatrunjay  Hill, 3 km away from the railway station. 

On the top of the hill 873 temples  were built of white marble, the work beginning in the 11th century and continuing for 900 long' years. However, destroyed by the Muslim invasions in 14th and 15th centuries, the temples were built anew in 1500. They are  unique- in their architecture and sculpture. The ornamented temples look  like ivory miniatures in the sunlight, seems to be wedding cake. Notable  among the temples are Adinath, Kumarpal, Sampriti Raj, Bimal Shah. The  holiest temple among the cluster, according to the Jain pilgrims, is the temple of Adishwar, the first Jain Tirthankar. It is also the most  beautifully wrought. The marble image of the deity is bedecked with gold  ornaments studded with precious jewels. The largest temple built in 1618  is that of 4-faced Adinath, the first Tirthankara.

Bhagawan AdishvarJain Teerth: 

  It is on the Shetrunjaya Mountain at a distance of  nearly six kilometers near the city of the bank of the river Shetrunjaya. This mountain has 3800 steps. On it, there are 700 temples with summits. 7000 idols are installed in them. The artistry and sculpture of these temples aptly illustrate the ancient  art.

Historical Details: This tirth is known as the eternal tirth. The ancient name of the city of  Palitana was Padliptapur. In olden times this mountain was also called Pundarikgiri. Palitana is a city of temples. Worshippers come to Palitana, take a bath in the river, bow down to the 99 idols and cross the ocean of re-births.  

The temple was renovated 16 times as under. First Renovation : By Chakravarti Bharat, the son of Bhagawan Adinath.  Second Renovation : By the King named Dandavirya.  Third Renovation : By Shri Ishaneshvar in the interim period between the times of the first and the second Tirthankaras.  Fourth Renovation : By Mahendra of the fourth upper world (dev-loko). Fifth Renovation : By Brahmendra of the fifth upper world. Sixth Renovation : By Chamarendra, Indra of Bhavanapatis. Seventh Renovation : By Sagar Chakravarti, the second Chakravarti of the times of Bhagawan Ajitnath. Eighth  Renovation : By Vyantarendra in the times of Abhinandan Swami. Ninth Renovation : By King Chandrayasha in the times of Chandraprabh Swami. Tenth Renovation: By Chakradhar, the son of Bhagawan Shantinath in the times of Bhagawan Shantinath.   Eleventh Renovation : By Ramchandraji and Lakshamanji in the times of Munisuvrat Swami. Twelfth Renovation : By the five Pandavas in the times of Bhagawan Neminathji.   Thirteenth Renovation : By Sheth Javed Shah of Mahuva in the year 108 of the Vikram era. He spent a million gold mohurs.  Fourteenth Renovation : By the advisor Bahud in the times of Kumarpal in the year 1213 of the Vikram era. Fifteenth Renovation : By Shri Samara Shah in the year 1371 of  the Vikram era. Sixteenth Renovation : By Shri Karama Shah of Chitod on the auspicious sixth day of the dark half of the month of Vaishakh in the year 1587 of the Vikram era.  The Digamber Jain temple  The Digamber Jain temple on Shatrunjaya Teerth is an ancient temple, has 9 shrines with various Teerthankaras idols installed. On the main shrine of temple, the magnificent idol of principal deity 1008 Bhagwan Shantinath is installed, this is 42 inch in height; in Padmasana posture made of white stone & was installed in V.S. 1686. According to the inscription on idol, a famous businessman of Ahmedabad installed this.  In this temple, beautiful standing idols of Yudhishthir, Bheem and Arjun are also installed in V.S. 2025, these three Pandavas attained salvation from here. Two another idols of Bhagwan Parshvanath each 24 inch in height in Padmasana posture are installed here, one is called Chintamani Parshvanath and other is called Vighnaharan Parshvanath. Both were installed in V.S. 1734.  On the both sides of northern gate of temple foot images of Bhagwan Adinath and Bhagwan Sambhavanath are installed. On the inner shrine  with attractive spires, there are three foot images of three Pandavas are also installed.

In Palitana city at Mandavi Chawk, there is a beautiful magnificent temple of Digamber Jains, with sky-high attractive spires. This was constructed in V.S. 1948 and installation ceremony of this temple was organized in V.S. 1951 by Seth Shri Haribhai Deokaran and Seth Shri Motichand Padamchand of Solapur under the headship of Bhattaraka Kanak Keerti. Sabha Mandap of the temple is very beautiful. Metallic idol of principal deity Bhagwan Shantinath is very attractive, 30 inch in height in Padmasana posture is installed on the main shrine of this temple. Another idols on this shrine are Bhagwan Adinath and Bhagwan Chandraprabhu each 26 inch in height and Bhagwan Arahnath and  Bhagwan Ajitnath each 20 inch in height in Padmasana posture. Other small metallic idols of various Teerthankaras are also installed here. Shatrunjay Hill Not only temples, Shatrunjay Hill also offers a beautiful view of the surrounding scenery. From here you can also see the biggest irrigation project in Saurashtra. The waters of the flowing Shatrunjay river are said to confer merit in the bather as well as cure various diseases. On the Poornima day, large number of devotees visit this place to worship at this temple. They come from every nook and corner of the country. On the first day, the number reaches nearly a lakh visitors  The Gulf of Cambay is also, visible from the hill. There is an immense Jain museum in front of Takhatgarh dharam-shala on Taneti Road which displays various facts of the Jain religion. Behind Takhatgarh is the Temple of Mirrors, the dome of which is encased in coloured glass. At the start of the stairs, on the right is the Circular Sameswaran temple and other temples. Chhah Gau Yatra Chhah Gau Yatra is a journey of about 16 kms in pilgrim town Palitana in the Bhavnagar district. It is mainly a kind of penance that helps a devout set off the evil results of past deeds and makes his journey to Nirvana or salvation faster and shorter say Jain saints and scriptures. Over the year the Chhah Gau Yatra is becoming more popular and in 2008 year on a single day Palitana had more than 1.5 lakh Jain pilgrims on the auspicious day, 2 days before Holi festival. Chhah Gau Yatra starts from Jap Taleti on the foothills of Shatrunjaya and ends on the other side at a place known as Siddhavad. The name Siddhavad is after a Banyan tree here and it is said thousands of jains have achieved the final stage of life-death cycle, Nirvana or salvation and become free from the bondage of Karma. The Chhah Gau Yatra covers all jain temples in Palitana. Siddhavad is near Adipur, known as the birth place Lord Adinath the first Thirthankar. It is believed that every Jain should visit Palitana at least once in his lifetime to get “Bhavya” status (fit to attain nirvan or salvation). There are a total of 1250 temples located on the Shetrunjaya hills, exquisitely carved in marble. The main temple on top of the hill, is dedicated to 1st tirthankar lord Adinath (Rishabdeva). This year, the auspicious day of Chhah Gau Yatra begins on March 8.

The above text courtesy on Palitana Jain Temples from the website of Jaindharmaonline.com http://www.jaindharmonline.com/pilgri/palitana.htm

These are some other links with plenty of information on Palitana Jain Temples.

http://shatrunjaypalitana.blogspot.in/p/history.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palitana_temples

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palitana

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatrunjaya 

The following are 6 original and genuine photographs of Palitana Jain Temples belonging to Mr.Anthoy Davis collection and they are available for sale at his Antiq-photo website  http://www.19cphoto.com/

Mr.Anthony Davis of USA has excellent collection of genuine and original vintage photographs of several countries across the globe and they are available for sale at his website http://www.19cphoto.com/

Recently i am contacting Mr.Anthony Davis through email and requesting him for using his several Indian original vintage photographs images in my Heritage of India blog. Mr.Anthony Davis giving permission to me for using images of his original Indian vintage photographs in my Heritage of India blog which are available for sale at his website  http://www.19cphoto.com/

Anthony Davis sir thank you very much for your valuable encouragement to me for using the images of your several indian original photographs of vintage period in my blog. Anthony Davis sir many many thanks for your kind co-operation to me.

Ranakpur Jain Temple

Ranakpur is a village located in Desuri Tahsil near Sadri town of Pali District of Rajasthan State. This Ranakpur located in between Jodhpur and Udaipur, in a valley on the Western side of the Aravali range mountains.  

Ranakpur is very well known for its magnificient Jain Temple. This Ranakpur Jain temple is dedicated to Adinatha.

This Ranakpur Jain temple construction was completed in the year 1458 AD. Light color marble stones are used for the construction of this magnificent temple. This temple complex is in the area of 60 x 62 meters and has its distinctive domes, sikharas,turrets and cupolas rises majistically from the slope of a hill with over 1444 marble pillars carved in exquisite detail to support the temple. Each of these pillars carved on unique style and design and no two pillars are the same alike. It is also believed that it is impossible to count the pillars. 

This Ranakpur Jain temple as Chaumukha with four faces.

This Ranakpur Jain temple is one of the finest architectural wonder of India. Also it is one of the important Jain Piligrimage centre.

The above text courtesy from the website of wikipedia.org  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranakpur

This is Greetings from Ranakpur post card in my collection. This Greetings from Ranakpur post card published Heritagebooks, Jaipur heritagebooksjpr@gmail.com and i am using this post card with their permission.

This is Ranakpur Jain Temple maxim card in my collection. Sri Hemanth Kumar Jain prepared this maxim card.

These are 2 different Ranakpur Jain temple vintage post cards in my collection.

Jain Temple Calcutta vintage post card

This is Jain Temple Calcutta vintage post card.

This Jain Temple Calcutta vintage post card is not in my collection. One person from Australia giving me permission for using his Indian vintage post cards images in my blog. Sir thank you very much for your encouragement.

Ranakpur Jain Temple Maxim Card

This is Ranakpur Jain Temple Maxim Card in my collection.  Ranakpur Jain Temple Maxim Card is one of the Heritage Jain Temple in India.

Sri Hemanth Kumar Jain prepared this maxim card.

Dilwara Temple Maxim Card

This is Dilwara Temple Maxim Card in my collection.  Dilwar Temple is one of the Heritage Jain Temple in India.

Sri Hemanth Kumar Jain prepared this maxim card.

 

Ranakpur Jain Temple vintage post cards

These are 2 different Ranakpur Jain Temple vintage post cards in my collection.

This is Ranakpur Jain Temple vintage post card.

This is The Majestic View of Ranakpur Jain Temple vintage post card.

 

Shravana Belagola Lord Bahubali Gomateshwara

Shravana Belagola

Om Shri Gomateshaya Namah

Shravanabelagola – The Temple City

Shravanabelagola – nestled by the Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri hills, protected by the monolith Bhagawan Bahubali and home of 2300 years of lain heritage – is a veritabk picture post card of history spanning centuries.

The verdant natural beauty for Shravanabelagola, with the swaying coconut trees and natural water bodies, bear testimony to the legendary mental strength of Tyaga (renunciation) and the soft tender message of Ahimsa (non violence) that embody the lain way of life.It is little wonder then that over centuries.

Shravanabelagola should became the hoary `Tapobhumi’ of kings and monks alike, and more recently attract tourists, pigrimsl and others with an eye far beauty, an ear for history and a mind for peace alike.

Described by historians as the closest man has ever got to sculpt `Manmatha` or the mythical Lord of Love the 57 feet tall Gommateshwara Bahubali is magnificent and munificent alike – Magnificent in form and valour, Munificent in prayer and deed. This Son of the first of the twenty four Jain serene, is worshipped for great qualities he made his own in all stages of his life viz., conception, birth, renunciation, enlightenment and salvation. Gorgeous, that is his external appearance. Grand and Illuminating that is his purity for soul, attained by his victory over angel greed and pride, making him the hallowed and revered symbol oi legendary seeker of truth.

Shravanabelagola is a photographer’s delight. The unquenched thirst one develops after capturing Lord Bahubali on film at Vindhyagiri Is further deepened by inscriptions. And sculptures that virtually speak history dating back to Indus Valley Civilization; and much more.

The Mahamasthakabhisheka, the head anointing ceremmy of the Lord Gommateshwara Sri Bahubali observed once every 12 years in Jain Dharmic cycle is an Integral part of ancient and composite Indian tradition. The ceremony of 2006 is the 87 of the series that commenced in the year 981 -12 Hundreds of devotees and tourists from different parts The world would be participating in the ceremony being held over a span of 12 days, for the first time ever.

The above text courtesy from the website of Shravanabelagola.net

http://shravanabelagola.net/ 

Shravanabelagola (Kannada: ಶ್ರವಣಬೆಳಗೊಳ Śravaṇa Beḷagoḷa) is a city located in the Hassan District in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore. The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa is one of the most important piligrimage destinations in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Western Ganga Dynasty of  Talakas. 

Chandragupta  is said to have died here in 298 BC after he became a Jain monk and assumed an ascetic life style.

Shravanabelagola "White Pond of the Shravana"  is named with reference to the colossal image of Gommaṭa - the prefix Śravaṇa serves to distinguish it from other Belagolas with the prefixes Hale- and Kodi-, while Beḷagoḷa "white pond" is an allusion to the pond in the middle of the town. The Sanskrit  equivalents Svetasarovara, Dhavalasarovara and Dhavalasaras used in the inscriptions that support this meaning.
Some inscriptions mention the name of the place as Beḷguḷa, which has given rise to another derivation from the plant Solanum ferox or Hairy-Fruited Eggplant. This derivation is in allusion to a tradition which says that a pious old woman completely anointed the colossal image with the milk brought by her in a gullakayi or eggplant. The place is also designated as Devara Beḷgoḷa "White Pond of the God" and Gommaṭapuram "city of Gommaṭa" in some epigraphs. The epithet Dakshinakasi "Southern Kasi" is applied to it in some modern records.

The above text courtesy  from the wikipedia.org. website.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shravanabelagola 

In my collection i have a vintage photo and 2 vintage postcards of this Shri Gomateshwara Statue of Sharavana Belagola.

This is my vintage photo of this Lord Bahubali Gomateshwara Statue feet. A priest offering puja at the feet of Shri Gomateshwara Statue in this photo.




 

 This is a Germany printed vintage Liebig Tradecard of Lord Bahubali Gomateshwara Statue printed in the year 1865 in German language in my collection.

This is another old postcard of 1000 Years Maha Mastabhisheka of Gomateswara Sravaba Belagola in my collection.