Jain Center of Greater Boston

Observance of Kartiki Purnima

Saturday, the 4th November

This year Kartiki Purnima falls on Saturday, the 4th November. It is also a special day for starting of pilgrimage to Shatrunjay (Palitana) after restrictions of such yatra for 4 months of monsoon.
It is said that Lord Adimath visited the hills of Shantrujaya for meditation a large number of times.  His chief disciple Pundarik Swami with a large number of his disciples attained Nirvan on Kartiki Purnima on the hills of Shantrujaya.
We will perform special obeisance to Lord Adinath at JCGB.
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Puja
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM – Specific Obeisance and ritual to Lord Adinath

Please let Mitaben Shah know at 508 660 1053 if you plan to attend by 3rd November.

More on Shantrujaya - Palitana

A pilgrimage to Shatrunjay-Palitana on this day is considered to be of great importance. Thousands of Jains go on pilgrimages on this day. This day also is celebrated as the birthday of Kalikalasarvajna, Acharya Bhagavant Srivijay Hemachandrasooriji who was born on this day. (in Vikram Samvat 1134 or 1078 A.D.).

The Palitana temples are located on Shatrunjaya hill by the city of Palitana in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India. The city of the same name, known previously as Padliptapur, has been dubbed "City of Temples". Shatrunjaya means a "place of victory against inner enemies" or "which conquers inner enemies".

This site on Shatrunjaya hill is considered sacred by Svetambara Jains. It is said that 23 of 24 Jain Tirthankaras, except Neminatha, sanctified the hill by their visits. There are approximately 863 marble-carved temples spread over 300 acres on the hills in nine clusters, some being vast temple complexes, while most small in size. The main temple is dedicated to Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara; it is the holiest shrine for the Svetambara Murtipujaka sect. The main temple is reached by stepping up 3500 steps. Along with Shikharji in the state of Jharkhand, the two sites are considered the holiest of all pilgrimage places by the Jain community Jains believe that a visit to this group of temples is essential as a once in a lifetime chance to achieve nirvana or salvation.

Of note, Digambara Jains have one temple here on the hills. Shantrunjaya Hills is also considered one of the holiest sites for Digambara Jains in some of the Digambar Jain literature.