Mount Girnar

About Mount Girnar

• Location: It is located in Junagadh district of Gujarat, in the Saurashtra region.
• It is also known as Revatak Parvata.
• Geology: Mount Girnar is a major igneous plutonic complex that formed during the Deccan Trap period.
• It is part of the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Religious Significance:
  • Jainism:
    • Girnar is associated with Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara, who is believed to have attained Moksha here.
    • The 12th-century Temple of Neminath is the largest and oldest among the Jain temples on Girnar.
  • Hinduism:
    • Amba Mata: The temple is visited by newly-weds who worship for a happy marriage.
    • Major Shrines: Girnar has temples dedicated to Gorakhnath, Dattatraya and Kalika.
    • Gorakhnath Peak: The Gorakhnath Temple is situated on Gujarat’s highest peak at 1117 m.
• Historical Reference: In the 7th century, the Chinese traveller Hsuan-tsang mentioned Girnar as a place of “supernatural monks”, highlighting its religious importance.
• Ancient Inscriptions in Mount Girnar
  • Ashoka’s Major Rock Edicts: The edicts are written in a Pali language and in the Brahmi script and date to about 250 BCE.
    • They promote peace, non-violence, religious tolerance, animal welfare and public health.
  • Rudradaman I Inscription: The inscription is written in Sanskrit and dates to about 150 CE. It records the repair and restoration of Sudarshana Lake.
  • Skandagupta Inscription: The inscription is written in Sanskrit and dates to about 450 CE.
    • It records the renovation of Sudarshana Lake by Chakrapalita, son of Gupta governor Parnadatta.
    • It also notes the construction of a Vishnu temple on Urjayat (Girnar) hill to celebrate the restoration.