गिरनार
गिर पर्वतश्रेणी
• गिर पर्वतश्रेणी पश्चिमी गुजरात की निम्न पर्वतश्रेणी, दक्षिणी काठियावाड़ प्रायद्वीप के पश्चिमी-मध्य भारत में स्थित है।
• गिर पर्वतश्रेणी अत्यधिक ऊबड़-खाबड़ है और दक्षिण में समुद्र की ओर तीखी ढलान तथा उत्तर में भीतरी भूमि की ओर अपेक्षाकृत कम निचली है। यहाँ से उत्तर दिशा में निचली, संकरी, विभक्त पर्वतश्रेणी फैली हुई है।
• विशाल गिरनार पहाड़ियों में गोरखनाथ शिखर (1,117 मीटर) स्थित है, जिसे एक मृत ज्वालामुखी माना जाता है। गिर पर्वतश्रेणी की एक पहाड़ी पर गिरनार का प्राचीन जैन मंदिर (ऐतिहासिक नाम रौवट या उलाड़थेट) होने के कारण इस पर्वतश्रेणी को पवित्र माना जाता है।
• यह मंदिर का प्रमुख तीर्थस्थल है। यह पर्वतश्रेणी साल और ढाक के वृक्षों से भरे जंगलों से ढकी हुई है।
यहाँ पर एक चट्टान पर मौर्य सम्राट अशोक का चतुर्दश शिलालेख अकिंत है। उसी चट्टान के दूसरी ओर शक क्षत्रप रुद्रदामन का अभिलेख (150ई.) है, जिसमें मौर्य सम्राट चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य के आदेश से वहाँ पर सुदर्शन झील के निर्माण का उल्लेख है। रुद्रदामन के जूनागढ़ लेख से ज्ञात होता है कि सम्राट अशोक के समय तुशाष्प नामक अधीनस्थ यवन राज्यपाल के रुप में सौराष्ट्र पर शासन करता था।
• गिरनार की एक पहाड़ी की तलहटी में अशोक के शिलालेख (तीसरी शताब्दी ई.पू.) से युक्त एक चट्टान हैं।
• मौर्य शासक चंद्रगुप्त] (चौथी शताब्दी ई.पू. का उत्तरार्द्ध) द्वारा सुदर्शन नामक झील बनाए जाने का उल्लेख भी इसी शिलालेख में मिलता है।
इन दो महत्त्वपूर्ण ऐतिहासिक प्रमाणों के आस-पास की पहाड़ियों पर सोलंकी वंश (961-1242) के राजाओं द्वारा बनवाए गए कई जैन मंदिर स्थित हैं।
• गिर पर्वतश्रेणी अत्यधिक ऊबड़-खाबड़ है और दक्षिण में समुद्र की ओर तीखी ढलान तथा उत्तर में भीतरी भूमि की ओर अपेक्षाकृत कम निचली है। यहाँ से उत्तर दिशा में निचली, संकरी, विभक्त पर्वतश्रेणी फैली हुई है।
• विशाल गिरनार पहाड़ियों में गोरखनाथ शिखर (1,117 मीटर) स्थित है, जिसे एक मृत ज्वालामुखी माना जाता है। गिर पर्वतश्रेणी की एक पहाड़ी पर गिरनार का प्राचीन जैन मंदिर (ऐतिहासिक नाम रौवट या उलाड़थेट) होने के कारण इस पर्वतश्रेणी को पवित्र माना जाता है।
• यह मंदिर का प्रमुख तीर्थस्थल है। यह पर्वतश्रेणी साल और ढाक के वृक्षों से भरे जंगलों से ढकी हुई है।
 |
इतिहास
यहाँ पर एक चट्टान पर मौर्य सम्राट अशोक का चतुर्दश शिलालेख अकिंत है। उसी चट्टान के दूसरी ओर शक क्षत्रप रुद्रदामन का अभिलेख (150ई.) है, जिसमें मौर्य सम्राट चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य के आदेश से वहाँ पर सुदर्शन झील के निर्माण का उल्लेख है। रुद्रदामन के जूनागढ़ लेख से ज्ञात होता है कि सम्राट अशोक के समय तुशाष्प नामक अधीनस्थ यवन राज्यपाल के रुप में सौराष्ट्र पर शासन करता था।
• गिरनार की एक पहाड़ी की तलहटी में अशोक के शिलालेख (तीसरी शताब्दी ई.पू.) से युक्त एक चट्टान हैं।
• मौर्य शासक चंद्रगुप्त] (चौथी शताब्दी ई.पू. का उत्तरार्द्ध) द्वारा सुदर्शन नामक झील बनाए जाने का उल्लेख भी इसी शिलालेख में मिलता है।
इन दो महत्त्वपूर्ण ऐतिहासिक प्रमाणों के आस-पास की पहाड़ियों पर सोलंकी वंश (961-1242) के राजाओं द्वारा बनवाए गए कई जैन मंदिर स्थित हैं।
तीर्थ स्थल
इन दोनों ऐतिहासिक अभिलेखों के अलावा गिरनार जैन मतावलम्बियों का पवित्र तीर्थ स्थान है। यहाँ मल्लिनाथ और नेमिनाथ के स्मारक बने हुए हैं। जैनों के सबसे पवित्र तीर्थ स्थलों में प्रमुख 1118 मीटर ऊँचे गिरनार पर्वत पर संगमरमर से बने 16 मन्दिर विशेष रुप से दर्शनीय हैं। ऊपर तक पहुँचने के लिए दर्शकों को पत्थरों से तराशी गयी दस हजार सीढ़ियाँ चढ़नी पड़ती हैं। सबसे प्राचीन और विशाल मंदिर 22वें तीर्थंकर नेमिनाथ का है, जिसका निर्माण 112वीं शताब्दी में हुआ था। == कृषि और उद्योग== विरल आबादी वाले इस क्षेत्र की अर्थव्यवस्था में जीविका के लिए की जाने वाली कृषि की प्रधानता है; यहाँ की फ़सलों में अनाज, मूंगफली और कपास शामिल है। बड़े पैमाने पर कुछ उद्योग हैं, जिनमें वस्त्र तथा लोहे व इस्पात के फ़र्नीचर का निर्माण होता है। कुटीर उद्योगों में बढ़ईगिरि, लकड़ी पर नक़्क़ाशी, पीतल के बर्तनों पर वार्निश का काम, कढ़ाई (काठियावाड़ी नमूनों के रूप में विख्यात) और ऊन की बुनाई शामिल है।
Narsinh Mehta was born at Talaja and later moved to Junagadh (then Jirndurg) in Saurashtra, Gujarat. He lost his parents when he was 5 years old. He could not speak until the age of 8. He was raised by his grandmother Jaygauri.
He married Manekbai probably in the year 1429. Mehta and his wife stayed at his brother Bansidhar's place in Junagadh. However, his cousin's wife (Sister-in-law orbhabhi) did not welcome Narsinh very well. She was an ill-tempered woman, always taunting and insulting Narsinh Mehta for his worship (Bhakti). One day, when Narasinh Mehta had enough of these taunts and insults, he left the house and went to a nearby forest in search of some peace, where he fasted and meditated for seven days by a secluded Shiva lingam until Shiva appeared before him in person. On the poet's request, the Lord took him to Vrindavan and showed him the eternal raas leela of Krishna and the gopis. A legend has it that the poet, transfixed by the spectacle, burnt his hand with the torch he was holding, but he was so engrossed in the ecstatic vision that he was oblivious to the pain. Mehta, as the popular account goes, at Krishna's command, decided to sing His praises and the nectarous experience of the rasa in this mortal world. He resolved to compose around 22,000 kirtans or compositions.
After this dream-like experience, the transformed Mehta returned to his village, touched his sister-in-law's feet, and thanked her for insulting him. In Junagadh, Mehta lived in poverty with his wife and two children, a son named Shamaldas, and a daughter for whom he had special affection, Kunwarbai. He revelled in devotion to his hearts' content along with sadhus, saints, and all those people who were Hari's subjects – Harijans – irrespective of their caste, class or sex. It also seems that he must have fallen into a somewhat ill repute for his close relations with Lord's sakhis and gopis, Narsinh mehta's women followers, with whom he danced and sang. The Nagars of Junagadh despised him and spared no opportunity to scorn and insult him[citation needed]. By this time, Mehta had already sung about the rasaleela of Radha and Krishna. The compositions are collected under the category of shringar compositions. They are full of intense lyricism, bold in their erotic conception and are not without allegorical dimensions, this saves the compositions from being something of erotic court poetry of medieval India.
Soon after his daughter, Kunwarbai's marriage (around 1447) to Shrirang Mehta of Una's son, Kunwarbai became pregnant and it was a custom for the girl's parents to give gifts and presents to all the in-laws during the seventh month of pregnancy. This custom, known as Mameru, was simply out of the reach of poor Narsinh who had hardly anything except intransigent faith in his Lord. How Krishna helped his beloved devotee is a legend depicted in 'Mameru Na Pada'. This episode is preserved vividly in the memory of Gujarati people by compositions by later poets and films. Other famous legends include: 'Hundi (Bond)' episode and 'Har Mala (Garland)' episode. The episode in which none other than Shamalsha Seth cleared a bond written by poverty-stricken beloved, is famous not only in Gujarat but in other parts of India as well. The Har Mala episode deals with the challenge given to Mehta by Ra Mandlik (1451–1472), a Chudasama king, to prove his innocence in the charges of immoral behaviour by making the Lord Himself garland Narsinh. Mehta depicts this episode. How Sri Krishna, in the guise of a wealthy merchant, helped Mehta in getting his son married is sung by the poet in Putra Vivah Na Pada. He went to Mangrol where, at the age of 79, he is believed to have died. The crematorium at Mangrol is called 'Narsinh Nu Samshan' where one of the sons of Gujarat was cremated. He will be remembered for his poetic works and devotion to Lord Krishna. He is known as the first poet of Gujarati.
 |
| Girnar |
Girnar (also known as Girnar Hill or Girinagar or Revatak Pravata) is a collection of mountains in the Junagadh District of Gujarat, India, situated near Junagadh at a distance of 327 km from Ahmedabad.
Older than Himalayas,[1] Girnar, the mountain and its range are considered sacred and it's an important pilgrimage site for both Jains and Hindus, who gather here during the Girnar Parikrama festival. Significantly famous among Shiva devotees for the mystic space-time of the mountain range with known presence and turnover of different sects of Sadhu Babas, Nath sect, different Jain Tirthankaras to Girnar, its typical flora and fauna, the famous Maha Shivratri fair, Girnar hosts a number of temples and some historical spots across its range. Amidst the lush green Gir Forest, the mountain range serves as the hub of religious activity.
For Hindus this place is considered holy as Dattatreya stayed there. According to tradition, Pavahari Baba was first initiated into the mysteries of practical yoga on the top of mount Girnar. This mountain was considered holy to Buddhists as well.[2]
Main temples of Girnar are
Dattatreya Paduka, a climb of 9,999 stairs.
This is a holy place for Hindus and one of the most ancient, Lord Dattatreya, performed tapa for around 12000 years on this peak.
another important temple of Mata Ambaji, at 5000 stairs.
The main annual event for Hindus is the Maha Shivaratri fair held every year on 14th day of Hindu calendar month of Magha. At least 1 million pilgrims visit the fair to participate in pooja and parikrama of Girnar hill. The procession begins at ancient Bhavnath Mahadev Temple at Bhavnath. It then proceeds onwards to various akharasof 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 dhwaja at Bhavnath Mahadev temple. This fair is the backbone of economy ofJunagadh, as more than ten lakh pilgrims, who visit the fair generate a revenue of 250 million in only five days.[4][5][6]
Hindu Temples Paduka of Guru "Dattatreya" is situated at the top most tonk of Girnar.
Girnar have special place in the history of Hinduism, Guru Dattatreya is Adi Guru and is the combined form of Brambha Vishnu and Mahesh. Pilgrims from all parts of India and abroad come to Girnar, for Darshan. Many claim that Guru Dattatreya have given them Darshan in one or the other form. This place is most sacred for Naga Sadhus and Sanyasis.
The mention of this place is found in many puranas. Guru Dattatreya is well known Guru of Lord Parashuram. birth Lord Parashuram is prior to Lord Rama. such and many other references indicate that this Temple is very sacred and well known. the origin can be placed much before 2000 BC. Historians are the best persons to predict that.
Girnar parvat is considered to be older that Himalayas.
Amba Mata Temple : Is also one of the oldest temple.
lakhs of pilgrims specially newly weds come here for blessings.
Location and Transportation
The Girnar mountain is 5 km east from Junagadh city and about 400 km south west of Ahmedabad. It is easily accessible by trains and roads and state transport are also available.
Air: The Nearest airport is at Rajkot - about 100 km from Junagadh, is well connected with Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and many major Indian cities. The nearest International airport is in Ahmedabad.
Rail way: Nearest railway station is 5 km from Junagadh and easily available trains for Ahmedabad, Rajkot and other major cities.
By Road: State transport buses and private transport are available easily.
 |
| Nitin Pipaliya |
