https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=GirnarGirnar - Revision history2026-07-30T17:00:48ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Girnar&diff=421166&oldid=prevBot at 19:25, 28 August 20232023-08-28T19:25:58Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Mountain in Gujarat}}<br />
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{{Multiple issues|<br />
{{original research|date=June 2020}}<br />
{{more citations needed|date=April 2015}}<br />
{{technical|date=November 2020}}<br />
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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2014}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}<br />
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{{Infobox mountain<br />
| name = Girnar Mount<br />
| photo = Girnar 1.jpg<br />
| photo_alt = Girnar<br />
| photo_caption = Mount Girnar from Bhavnath<br />
| map = India#India Gujarat<br />
| map_alt = <br />
| map_caption = <br />
| location = [[Junagadh]], [[Gujarat]]<br />
| elevation_m = 1069<br />
| elevation_ft = 0420<br />
| listing = [[List of Indian states and territories by highest point]] <br />
| coordinates = {{coord|21|29|41|N|70|30|20|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}<br />
| other_name = ગિરનાર પર્વત<br/> Girinagar <br/> Revatak Parvata<br />
| type = Igneous<br />
}}<br />
'''Girnar''' is an ancient hill in [[Junagadh]], [[Gujarat]], India.<br />
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==Geology==<br />
Mount Girnar is a major [[Intrusive rock|igneous plutonic]] complex which intruded into the [[basalt]]s towards the close of the [[Deccan Trap]] period. The rock types identified in this complex are [[gabbros]] (tholeiitic and alkalic), [[diorite]]s, [[lamprophyre]]s, [[Syenite|alkali-syenites]] and [[rhyolite]]s. The parent gabbroic magma is shown to have given rise in sequence to diorites, lamprophyres and alkali-syenites. The [[rhyolite]], though earlier considered a product of differentiation, is now believed to be an independent [[magma]] without any genetic link with the gabbro and its variants.<ref name="Sukheswala 1982">{{cite journal|author=R. N. Sukheswala|title=Igneous Complex of Mount Girnar, Saurashtra, Gujarat - A Reappraisal|url=http://www.geosocindia.org/index.php/jgsi/article/view/64919|date=January 1982|journal=Journal of the Geological Society of India|language=en|volume=23|issue=1}}</ref><ref name="Bose 1973">{{cite journal|author=Mihir K. Bose|title=Petrology and geochemistry of the igneous complex of Mount Girnar, Gujarat, India|date=January 1973|journal=Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology|volume=39|issue=3|pages=247–266|doi=10.1007/BF00383107|issn=0010-7999|bibcode=1973CoMP...39..247B|s2cid=129626191}}</ref><br />
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==History==<br />
[[File:Junagadh Girnar Hill map.jpg|thumb|Map of Girnar Mountain Range|left]]<br />
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=== Ashoka edicts ===<br />
Fourteen of [[Ashoka]]'s [[Major Rock Edicts]], dating to circa 250 BCE, are inscribed on a large boulder that is housed in a small building located outside the town of [[Junagadh]] on [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] peninsula in the state of [[Gujarat]], [[India]]. It is located on Girnar Taleti road, at about 2&nbsp;km (1.2&nbsp;mi) far from Uperkot Fort easterly, some 2&nbsp;km before Girnar Taleti. An uneven rock, with a circumference of seven meters and a height of ten meters, bears inscriptions etched with an iron pen in [[Brahmi script]] in a language similar to [[Pali]] and date back to 250 BCE, thus marking the beginning of written history of Junagadh.<ref name="keay">{{cite book | first= John| last= Keay | author-link= John Keay| year=2000 | title= India, a History | publisher= Harper Collins Publishers | location= New York, United States| isbn= 978-0-00-638784-8 | pages= 129–131 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3aeQqmcXBhoC }}</ref><br />
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On the same rock there are inscriptions in [[Sanskrit]] added around 150 CE by Mahakshatrap [[Rudradaman I]], the [[Saka]] (Scythian) ruler of [[Malwa]], a member of the [[Western Satraps|Western Satraps dynasty]] (see [[Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman]]).<ref name="keay"/> The edict also narrates the story of Sudarshan Lake which was built or renovated by Rudradaman I, and the heavy rain and storm due to which it had broken.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Structure Covering Ashoka's Edicts Collapses in Gujarat|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/structure-covering-ashokas-edicts-collapses-in-gujarat/850569|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Outlook India}}</ref><br />
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Another inscription dates from about 450 CE and refers to [[Skandagupta]], the last [[Gupta Empire]].<ref name=":2" /><br />
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The protective building around the edicts was built in 1900 by Nawab Rasool Khan of [[Junagadh State]] at a cost of Rs 8,662. It was repaired and restored in 1939 and 1941 by the rulers of Junagadh. The wall of the structure had collapsed in 2014.<ref name="collapse2014">{{cite web | title=Roof over Ashoka rock edicts in Junagadh crashes | website=The Times of India | date=19 July 2014 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Roof-over-Ashoka-rock-edicts-in-Junagadh-crashes/articleshow/38667857.cms | access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref><br />
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A much smaller replica of these Girnar edicts has been positioned outside the entrance of the [[National Museum, New Delhi|National Museum]] in [[Delhi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Heritage building caves in but Ashoka's edicts as steady as rock|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2014/page1/heritage-building-caves-in-but-ashokas-edicts-as-steady-as-rock.html|access-date=2020-07-23|website=The Pioneer|language=en}}</ref><br />
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Similarly, inside the [[Parliament Museum]] at New Delhi, an exhibit replicates the act of artists sculpting inscriptions of Girnar edict on a rock.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parliament Museum, New Delhi, India - Official website - Rock Edicts|url=http://parliamentmuseum.org/dh_ashokan.html|access-date=2020-07-23|website=parliamentmuseum.org}}</ref><br />
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<gallery mode="packed" heights="134"><br />
Ashoka Rock Edict at Junagadh.jpg|Ashoka's Rock Edict<br />
Ashok Shilalekh.jpg|Housing for Ashoka's edicts.<br />
GRE1-2.jpg|[[Estampage]] of a part of the inscriptions.<br />
Amtiyako Yona Raja in Major Rock Edicts No2 in Girnar.jpg|"''Aṃtiyako [[Yona]] [[Raja|Rājā]]''" (𑀅𑀁𑀢𑀺𑀬𑀓𑁄𑀬𑁄𑀦𑀭𑀸𑀚𑀸, "The Greek king [[Antiochus II Theos|Antiochos]]"), mentioned in [[Major Rock Edict]] No.2, at Girnar.<ref>{{cite book |title=Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch |date=1925 |page=3 |url=https://archive.org/stream/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n135/mode/2up |language=sa}}</ref><br />
</gallery><br />
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=== Jain sources ===<br />
Jain texts record girnar mountain as a ''siddha kshetra'' from where 72 crore monks have attained liberation. [[Neminath]], the 22nd [[Tirthankara]] have attained [[Moksha (Jainism)|Moksha]] from this hill.<br />
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== Girnar Ropeway ==<br />
[[File:Girnar-Ropeway.jpg|thumb|Girnar Ropeway]]<br />
{{Main|Girnar ropeway}}<br />
Girnar ropeway is Asia's longest ropeway. First proposed in 1983, the construction started only in September 2018 due to government approval delays and litigation. The construction and operation is managed by Usha Breco Limited. The project was inaugurated on 24 October 2020 by now Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Girnar ropeway in Gujarat|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/pm-narendra-modi-inaugurates-girnar-ropeway-in-gujarat/article32936928.ece|access-date=2021-04-25|website=@businessline|date=24 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The ropeway is 2,320 metres (7,600&nbsp;ft) long, takes passengers 850 metres (2,800&nbsp;ft) above the hill to the Ambika temple within 10 minutes of ropeway ride.<br />
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==Jain Temples==<br />
{{Main|Girnar Jain temples}}<br />
<gallery mode="packed" heights="134"><br />
File:Jain temples on Girnar mountain aerial view.jpg|Jain Temple on Girnar mountain<br />
File:Girnar Jain temple - Neminath temple.jpg|Neminath temple<br />
File:Tirthankar Neminath and Girnar.png|Tirthankar Neminath<br />
File:Girnar Jain temple - Kumarapala temple.jpg|Kumarapala temple<br />
File:Vastupala Vihara Jain temple on Girnar hill.jpg|Vastupala Vihara<br />
File:Girnar Jain Temples - Samprati Raja temple front view.jpg|Samprati Raja temple<br />
File:Chaumukhiji temple, Girnar.jpg|Chaumukhji Temple<br />
File:Girnar Jain temple - Dharamchand Hemchand temple (1).jpg|Dharamchand Hemchand temple<br />
</gallery><br />
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== Tanks ==<br />
Outside to the north of the Kumarapala's temple, there is the Bhima Kunda, a tank measuring 70 feet by 50 feet. Below it and on the verge of the cliff is a smaller tank of water and near it a small canopy supported by three roughly hewn pillars and a piece of rock containing a short octagonal stone called ''Hathi pagla'' or ''Gajapada,'' the elephant foot, a stratum on the top of which is of light granite and the rest of dark the lower part is immersed in water most of the year.{{sfn|Burgess|1876|p=169}}<br />
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As per historical records, Sajjana, the minister of [[Chaulukya]] king [[Jayasimha Siddharaja|Siddharaja Jayasimha]], built the Neminatha temple using the state treasury. When he collected the funds to return as a compensation, the king declined to accept it so the funds were used to build the temple.{{sfn|Dhaky|2010|p=134}}<br />
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Sahastraphana (thousand hooded) [[Parshwanatha]], the image which was consecrated in 1803 CE (VS 1459) by Vijayajinendra Suri, is currently the central deity in the temple. The temple originally housed the golden image of Mahavira and brass images of Shantinatha and Parshwanatha on its sides.{{sfn|Dhaky|2010|pp=134-135}}<br />
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The east facing temple has 52 small shrines surrounding the central temple. It has an open portico with ceilings with fine carvings. In the ''bhamti'' or cloisters surrounding the court, there are also some remarkable designs in carved ceilings. The roof of the ''rangamandapa'' has fine carvings. The shrine proper must have been removed and replaced with new one at the end of the sixteenth century or the start of the seventeenth century. It is known that Karmachandra Bachchhavat, minister of the king of [[Bikaner]], had sent a funds to renovate temple in Shatrunjaya and Girnar under Jinachandrasuri IV of [[Kharatara Gaccha]] during the reign of [[Akbar]]. There is a shrine housing replica of [[Ashtapada]] hill in the south, shrine with Shatrunjayavatar in west, behind the main temple, and Samet Shikhar (or Nandishwar Dwipa) in north.{{sfn|Burgess|1876|p=168}}{{sfn|Dhaky|2010|p=135-137}}<br />
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===Girnar's Initial trek===<br />
The base of the mountain, known as Girnar Taleti, is about 4&nbsp;km east of the center of Junagadh. There are temples and other sacred places all along this stretch.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mt. Girnar, Pilgrimage Centre, Junagadh, Tourism Hubs, Gujarat, India|url=https://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/10/250|access-date=2020-07-23|website=gujarattourism.com}}</ref><br />
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The traveller, in order to reach Girnar Taleti from Junagadh city, will pass through the Wagheshwari or Vagheshwari Gate (Girnar Darwaza), which is close to the [[Uparkot]] fort area, Easterly.<br />
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At about 200 metres from the gate, to the right of the road, is the Temple of Wagheshwari (Upale Vagheshwari maa), which is joined to the road by a causeway about 150 yards long. An ancient Verai Mata mandir and a modern Gayatri Shakti Peeth mandir are nearby.<br />
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About a furlong beyond this is a stone bridge, and just beyond it on the right are the [[Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts]].<ref name="IA1911">{{cite web | title=A handbook for travellers in India, Burma, and Ceylon|first=John|last=Murray |pages=155–157| website=Internet Archive | date=1911 | url=https://archive.org/details/handbooktravelle00john | access-date=28 January 2016}}</ref> The edicts are inscribed high up on a large, domed mass of black [[granite]] measuring roughly 20 feet x 30 feet. The inscription is in [[Brahmi script]].<ref name="keay"/> They primarily are written in praise of 22nd Tirthankar Lord Neminath and how he attained salvation from the 5th and highest peak of the holy mountain. They confirm the presence of a pure and sacred Jain site along with the sacred footprints of Lord Neminath on the 5th peak / Ujjayanta. On the same rock can be found an inscription of the [[Western Satrap]] ruler [[Rudradaman]], the [[Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman]].<br />
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On leaving Ashoka's edicts, the route crosses the handsome bridge over the Sona-rekha, which here forms a fine sheet of water over golden sand, then passes a number of temples, at first on the left bank of the river and then on the right, to the largest of the temples. This is dedicated to Damodar, a name of [[Krishna]], from Dam, a rope, because by tradition his mother in vain attempted to confine him with a rope when a child. The reservoir, [[Damodar Kund]], at this place is accounted very sacred.<ref name="IA1911"/><br />
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Next is an old shrine of [[Bhavnath]], a form of [[Shiva]], close to Girnar Taleti; Mrigi kund and Sudharshan lake are nearby.<br />
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Most persons who are not active climbers will probably proceed up the mountain in a swing ''doli'' from Taleti. A long ridge runs up from the west, and culminates in a rugged scarped rock, on the top of which are the temples. Close to the old shrine is a well called the Chadani vav.<ref name="IA1911"/><br />
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The paved way begins just beyond this and continues for two-thirds of the ascent. The first resthouse, Chadia Parab, is reached, 480 feet, above the plain; and the second halting-place at Dholi-deri, 1000 feet above the plain. From here the ascent becomes more difficult, winding under the face of the precipice to the third resthouse, 1400 feet up. The path turns to the right along the edge of a precipice, which is very narrow, so that the ''doli'' almost grazes the scarp, which rises perpendicularly 200 feet above the traveller. On the right is seen the lofty mountain of Datar, covered with low jungle. At about 1500 feet there is a stone dharmsala, and from this there is a fine view of the rock called the Bhairav-Thampa, "the terrific leap," because devotees used to cast themselves from its top, falling 1000 feet or more.<ref name="IA1911"/><br />
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At 2370 feet above Junagadh the gate of the enclosure known as the Deva Kota, or Ra Khengar's Palace, is reached.<ref name="IA1911"/><br />
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===Ambika Temple===<br />
{{See also|Ambika (goddess)}}<br />
{{main|Ambika Temple, Girnar}}<br />
[[File:Gorakshanath temple of Girnar..JPG|thumb|Gorakhnath (Gorakshanath) temple of Girnar]]<br />
South of this, is the Gaumukhi Shrine, near a plentiful spring of water.<ref name="IA1911"/><br />
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From it the crest of the mountain (3330 feet) is reached by a steep flight of stairs. Here is an ancient temple of Hindu Goddess [[Ambika_(goddess)|Amba mata]] temple, which is much resorted to by newly married couples . The bride and bridegroom have their clothes tied together, and attended by their male and female relations, adore the goddess and present cocoa-nuts and other offerings. This pilgrimage is supposed to procure for the couple along continuance of wedded bliss.<ref name="IA1911"/><br />
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==Festivals==<br />
The main event for Hindus is the [[Maha Shivaratri]] fair held every year on the 14th day of the [[Hindu calendar]] month of [[Magha (month)|Magha]]. At least 1&nbsp;million pilgrims visit the fair to participate in [[Puja (Hinduism)|pooja]] and [[parikrama]] of Girnar hill. The procession begins at Bhavnath Mahadev Temple at [[Bhavnath]]. It then proceeds onwards to various [[akhara]]s of various sects of [[sadhus]], which are in Girnar hill from ancient times. The procession of sadhus and pilgrims ends again at Bhavnath temple after visiting Madhi, Malavela and Bara Devi temple. The fair begins with hoisting of fifty-two ''Gaja'' long flags at Bhavnath Mahadev temple. This fair is the backbone of the economy of Junagadh, as more than ten lakh pilgrims who visit the fair generate a revenue of 250&nbsp;million in only five days.<ref>{{cite news|title=બાવન ગજની ધ્વજાનાં આરોહણ સાથે આજથી મહાશિવરાત્રિ મેળો Shivaratri fair begins today with hoisting of 52 gaja dwaja |url=https://www.sandesh.com/article.aspx?newsid=35230 |access-date=22 August 2012 |newspaper=Sandesh |date=16 February 2012 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=ગિરનાર ઃ લીલી પરિક્રમા ઃ પરકમ્મા Girnar - Lili Parikrama|url=http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/beta/content/view/47788/36/|access-date=22 August 2012|newspaper=Gujarat Samachar|date=4 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121010044322/http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/beta/content/view/47788/36/|archive-date=10 October 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=જૂનાગઢની આર્થિક કરોડરજજુ શિવરાત્રિનો મેળો : પાંચ દિવસમાં રૂ.રપ કરોડનો લાભ Junagadh's economic backbone - Girnar Shivaratri fair - generates income of 25 crores in five days|url=http://www.sandesh.com/article.aspx?newsid=35807|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223013409/http://www.sandesh.com/article.aspx?newsid=35807|archive-date=2007-12-23|access-date=22 August 2012|newspaper=Sandesh|date=18 February 2012}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
{{Wikiquote}}<br />
*[[Radha Damodar Temple, Junagadh]]<br />
* [[Sacred mountains#India|Sacred mountains of India]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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===Works cited===<br />
* {{cite book |last=Burgess |first=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V15BAQAAIAAJ |title=Report on the Antiquities of Kâṭhiâwâḍ and Kachh, Being the Result of the Second Season's Operations of the Archaeological Survey of Western India, 1874-75 |publisher=India Museum |year=1876 |location=London |author-link=James Burgess (archaeologist)}} {{PD-notice}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Dhaky |first=M. A. |author-link=Madhusudan Dhaky |editor-last=Shah |editor-first=Jitendra B. |title=સાહિત્ય, શિલ્પ અને સ્થાપત્યમાં ગિરનાર |publisher=Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology |year=2010 |isbn=978-81-85857-30-5 |series=L. D. Series: 148 (Sambodhi-Puratatva-Visheshank-2) |location=Ahmedabad |trans-title=Girnar in Literature, Sculptures and Architecture |language=gu}}<br />
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{{Gujarat}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu temples in Gujarat]]<br />
[[Category:Tourism in Gujarat]]<br />
[[Category:Hills of Gujarat]]<br />
[[Category:Highest points of Indian states and union territories]]<br />
[[Category:Jain pilgrimage sites]]<br />
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Junagadh district]]<br />
[[Category:Mountains in Hinduism]]<br />
[[Category:Mountains in Jainism]]</div>Bot