Girnar Ka Gyan - Junagadh
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Girnar is believed to be the Soul and original geographic heart of the ancient Indian culture which seeks spiritual enlightenment. The mountain was seen as a special deity probably long before the time of Lord Krishna. If literature is to be believed, the place has a mentioned in the Indian epic, the Mahabharat. The estimated period of happenings of Mahabharat is around 1400 BC. The Mount Girnar was worshipped by the populace at that time as well. Girnar was also considered as a place to inhabit for people who surrendered mainstream society and took the path of self-enlightenment and achieve Nirvana. Throughout Girnar’s long cultural history it has been an especially important site for spiritual enlightenment as it is home to Gorakhnath temple, Dattatrey temple, and Neminath temple. Not only for Hindus but the presence of many Jain temples around make this place sacred for Jains as well. The 22nd Jain Tirthankar, Lord Neminath, chose Girnar as his place of diksh (initiation), moksha (liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth or reincarnation and all of the suffering and limitation of worldly existence) and keval gyan (ultimate knowledge or complete omniscience).
Followers of Jain religion worship Neminath temple at Mount Girnar. The temple is dedicated to Bhagavân Neminath, the 22nd Jain Tirthankar and it is believed that Lord Neminath has attained salvation or Nirvana here. It is said that Nemanath meditated for 400 years and passed away at this sight. Mallinath Temple is another sacred place for Jains. It is located near Tirthankara Neminath temple on the hills of Girnar. The temple has a beautiful blue idol of Lord Mallinath, who was the 19th Tirthankar of the Jains. The other important Jain temples include Rishabhdev temple and Parshwanath Temple. Rishabhdev was 24th Jain Tithanakr and Shri Parhvanath.
Not only the 3 temples stated here but you will find 866 Hindu and Jain temples around the 5 peaks at Girnar and famous Sri Ambaji Temple is among these. The temple is on one of the top Mountain in the Girnar Mountains called Ambaji Shikhar. The temple is located at a height of 3664 feet and have 5000 steps to climb. Soon there would be a ropeway operational at Girnar. It will take the devotees to Ambaji temple from the base in just 8 minute. The fourth tonk (peak) has Gorakhnath Temple which is the shrine of Gorkhnath who is revered highly in the Nath sampradaya of Hinduism is at the highest point of Gujarat. A 'dhuni' lightened by him also lies in the vicinity. Devotees can also spot his footprints over here. On Datta Shikhar we can see Dattatreya Temple. This temple has his footprints and an idol installed. Devotees can also pay respect to a small Shivling present behind the idol. Lord Dattatreya is considered as a combined human form of the trinity Brahma Vishnu and Shiv.
In Talhati of Girnar; Bhavnath Mahadev Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 'Naked Sadhus' (Naga Sadhu) also known as “Aghoris” come here to celebrate Shivratri. It is believed that Lord Shiva himself visits this place during Shivratri. The Shiva Linga of the temple is said to have emerged on its own.
