An ode to Jainism

From the perspective of a young Jain woman’s first experience to the three important Jain temples of India: Shankheshwar, Girnar and Palitana

A short description of Jainism Jainism is an ancient Indian religion focused on spiritual purity, enlightenment and liberation (moksha) through non-violence (ahimsa) towards all living beings, self-discipline, and asceticism.

I recently went on a pilgrimage to India. This was my first time ever visiting these places and the first thing I would like to say is the beauty of these temples is beyond anything I can describe. These are places you will never feel like leaving.

At it’s core this journey was about more than just God. It was about discovering the roots of our religion and planting those roots in ourselves to carry forward.

As a young Jain who is living outside of India there is not a lot of religious scripture that I know of besides the basics prayers. As I was sitting for the nightly arti-bhawna in Shankeshwar, I felt a little awkward, I didn’t really know much. However, while the bhawna was going on, just for a second I closed my eyes and everything else seemed to fade away. It felt almost as if I was floating above it all. When I opened my eyes, the first thing my sight landed on was Parshwanath Dada, what I felt can only be described as pure love and deep inner peace.

That’s when I realized that I didn’t need to know everything, I found my faith in silence, in a setting so public, yet an encounter that felt so private. Like an exchange between me and God, reminding me that God is found in the smallest moments and these small moments are what can change your faith. It doesn’t really matter when you find your *bhav (your faith), whether its at 16 or at 60, there will always be a little shift. I image its like the gears turning, slowly everything clicks right into place… To quote Elif Shafak; “Sometimes God is found in silence, not scripture.”*

Shankheshwar: The first thing that greets you upon entering the temple are the large doors, which amplify just how grand Shankheshwar truly is. Past the doors is the main temple, made out of marble, the walls are something far beyond what modern architecture can depict. The sculptures span on the entire walls of the temple, each intricately depicting the devis and devatas (the angels) among intricate patterns in clay.

The exterior is only a fraction of the breathtaking beauty of the interior of the temple. Upon entering the temple the first thing that catches the eye is the majestic pillars that frame Parshwanath Bhagavan, also decorated with intricate patterns. From there the shikand of the temple depicts even larger devis and devas right before Bhagavan.

Entering the deri brings overwhelming emotion. From the beautiful murti of Parshwanath dada, spanning a height of about 6ft tall. The magic of Parshwanath Bhagawan is unquestionable. From his eyes that seem to follow you no matter where you move and his smile that bring a calmness to your heart like no other. The serene calmness that inhabits this temple is something that you can’t experience anywhere else. No matter the amount of people in the temple, it is hard to tear your gaze away from Bhagwaan.

The legends of Shankheshwar span over centuries with the 2 most prominent stories being the ones below:

Lord Krishna’s visit: The most famous legend tells of Lord Krishna visiting Shankheshwar during a severe drought and torrential rain. He observed a 3-day fast without food or water, and in return, was blessed with the divine sight of Parshwanath Bhagavan, after which the rain stopped, and the land was blessed.

Miraculous Protection: During medieval conflicts, particularly attacks by soldiers of Allauddin Khilji, the idol of Shri Shankheshwar Prabhu was reportedly kept safe and well-protected by the local Jain community (Shri Sangha) despite the destruction around it.

Destruction of Misery: The temple is renowned as a place that destroys threefold miseries, a belief rooted in the miraculous experiences of countless devotees over centuries, making it a powerful spiritual destination.

Shankheshwar temple from the outside

Girnar: Placed on the top of Girnar mountain rests the majestic Neminath Temple dedicated to Neminath Bhagavan (the 22nd Tirthankar) who attained omniscience and nirvana (or moksha) on this mountain. For pilgrims this is no easy climb, the sum of 10,000 stone steps tests every pilgrims determination and grit. The climb however is rewarding; entering into the cool marble temple brings utmost gratification.

From the top, the temple is colored in a deep black marble with intricate patterning from top to bottom. The idol of Neminath Bhagavan is around 2,300 years old, while its specific height is unknown it is said that the height is about 4.9 feet. The allure of this idol is truly unimaginable, which is the reason it draws thousands of pilgrims annually.

The legends of Girnar are mostly surround the stories of Neminath Bhagavan; who was a prince, on his wedding day heard the cries of animals being led to slaughter. Overcome with compassion, he renounced his marriage, left the palace, and began severe penance on Mount Girnar, eventually achieving liberation (nirvana). His story highlights Jain ideals of detachment and non-violence, making Girnar a beacon for spiritual transformation.

ariel view of Girnar

Palitana:

Palitana is by far the most beautiful temple I have ever seen. Perched on the top of a mountain the climb to this beauty is no easy task, a total of 3,750–4,000 steps tests the resilience of pilgrims. Throughout the climb the temple is visible, motivating climbers to see the darshan that awaits them above. The climb takes an average of 2–3 hours, reminding pilgrims that the climb may be hard, but the light of our Dada accompanies them at every step and in the dust of their footsteps lies the path to peace.

Reaching the top of Palitana unveils the vast complex of over 900 temples. The temples were built over 900 years starting from the 11th century and are exquisitely carved in marble.

Palitana brings an overwhelming sense of unity, for each pilgrim who has climbed to show their devotion to all the Tirthankara’s. While every pilgrim might have a diffrent reason for climbing, in the end we all come together for the darshan and pooja of our Dada.

Palitana is a major spiritual center because it is believed that 23 of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras, visited and sanctified the hill by their visits. Surrounded by legends, Palitana holds a great significance to every Jain.

Lord Adinath’s Sermons: The first Tirthankara, Lord Adinath (Rishabha), delivered his first sermon in Palitana, making the Adinath Temple a primary shrine and a foundation for its religious tourism.

Divine Presence & Nightly Closure: A significant legend states that the gods and goddesses come to rest in the temples at night, so all devotees must descend the mountain before evening, leading to the closure of the temples at dusk.

Palitana

Overall this experience was more than just transforming. I was blessed enough to go on a pilgrimage at the age of 16. I was blessed enough to witness the magic which I will never forget. In the world we live in, it is so easy to get caught up in the stress, sadness and anger that surrounds us. Going to these temples (and many more around in the town) you forget everything else but Bhagawaan.

I can’t wait to go back to these temples, to feel their magic once more.

Thank you for sharing my journey with me Much love, Aashi ❤