Discover Palitana ~ The World’s First Vegetarian City

The mountainous city of Palitana in India is the world’s first vegetarian city. The sale of eggs and meat here is prohibited, as well as the slaughter of animals Check out the complete plate article for future insights ~ WHERE IS PALITANA? Palitana, a vegetarian city situated in Gujarat, India, is a genuine off-the-beaten-path destination. Distanced from major tourist hubs, it requires a 13-hour drive to reach Mumbai, the closest major city. Visitors aiming to explore the heart of Palitana must ascend 3,800 stone steps. This climb is particularly strenuous for older individuals due to the high temperatures and the hour-and-a-half it takes to complete.   WHAT IS JAINISM AND THE JAIN DIET? Jainism is a peaceful, non-violent religion whose followers are strict vegetarians. Jains emphasize self-discipline and self-control to lead a peaceful life.  Jainism teaches against the consumption of meat and eggs, but consuming dairy products is allowed. Modern vegans will of course argue that consuming dairy products also harms animals. However, the Jain vegetarian diet does include other aspects of animal conservation. For example, Jains don’t eat any vegetables that grow underground, such as potatoes, garlic, or onions – so as not to harm small insects or microorganisms. They also try to avoid destroying the entire plant by not harvesting it from its roots. No Animal Slaughter Is Allowed ( Source: Google Images) In 2014, 200 Jain monks decided that they’d rather die than continue tolerating the slaughter and consumption of animals within the city. In June 2014 they started a hunger strike, threatening to continue until they die, unless the government declares the city a “meat-free zone.” In August 2014 the Gujarat government banned the sale of meat and eggs, as well as the slaughter of animals within the city. The Beautification and Presence Of Auspicious Temples For Jains ~ The Palitana temples of Jainism are located on Mount Shatrunjaya, in the city of Palitana, in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India. The city of the same name, known previously as Padliptapur, has been nicknamed the “City of Temples”. Along with Sammet Shikhar, earlier in Bihar state, now of Jharkhand, the two sites are considered the holiest of all pilgrimage places by the Jain community. As the temple city was built to be an abode for the divine, no one was allowed to stay overnight, including the priests. Every Jain believes that a visit to this group of temples is essential once in a lifetime to achieve nirvana or salvation. The Jain’s sacred site of Shatrunjay contains hundreds of Palitana temples. There are approximately 863 marble-carved temples on the hills. Jain temple in Palatine (Source: Google Images)     The temples of Palitana display exquisite architecture and are heavily and very richly ornamented and adorned. The brilliance of the temple architecture lies in the fact that it has been constructed in such a unique way that the sunlight transforms the marble structures into some sort of ivory shield. Out of the 863 temples, the holiest one is the temple of Adishwar. This Tirth Sthal for Jains is primarily made out of marble with tall and heavy pillars with several openings, like a typical Hindu temple. The interiors are very intricately and finely carved completely with geometric lace designs, elaborately carved ceilings, and clustered forms of canopies. The marble image of the deity is adorned with gold ornaments studded with precious jewels. It is considered to be a sculptural grandeur.    Palitana Temples Complex, Palitana, India ( Source: Google Images)  Adinatha temple built in the 6th century is the grandest of the temples on Shatrunjaya Hill. This temple was rebuilt in the 12th century. Dedicated to the first Tirthankara ‘Rishaba’, this temple houses his 7 feet marble statue in a sitting position. People make it a point to visit this temple and then the ‘Nine Enclosures'. From afar, the temples of Shatrunjaya resemble a fortress with a wall surrounding them. The Adinatha shrine located on the southern summit is the most visited. People circumambulate the shrine thrice thereby covering the rest of the temples besides. The southern summit is the highest point on Shatrunjaya hill.  Jains believe in reincarnation and seek to attain ultimate liberation - which means escaping the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth so that the immortal soul lives forever in a state of bliss. Liberation is achieved by eliminating all karma from the soul. Jainism is a religion of self-help. The three guiding principles of Jainism, the 'three jewels', are right belief, right knowledge, and right conduct. “All breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away.” — Lord Mahavira