The Tirthankaras
Shatrunjay: The Holy Hill
शत्रुंजय: पवित्र पर्वत · શત્રુંજય: પવિત્ર પર્વત
A hill covered in temples, and the reason millions of pilgrims climb it
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
Near the town of Palitana in Gujarat rises a hill crowned with hundreds of temples. This is the story of why Jains call it the holiest of places, and what pilgrims seek when they climb it.
What it teaches Pilgrimage Devotion Liberation Inner victory
The opening of the children's telling
In Gujarat there is a special hill called Shatrunjay. On top of the hill there are hundreds and hundreds of white temples. From far away, they look like a city in the clouds.
Long, long ago, Lord Rishabhdev, the very first Tirthankar, came to this hill many times. He sat under a big tree and taught everyone how to be kind and calm. Birds sang in the branches while he spoke.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Every step we take toward goodness is a small victory over the enemy inside.
To talk about together
What is one enemy inside us, like anger or impatience, that you would like to climb past?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.