Songadh, Bhavnagar district

Songadh is a census town in Bhavnagar district of Saurashtra in Gujarat, India. As of the 2011 Census of India, it had a population of 6,027 across 1252 households.[1] It is 8 km from Sihor town and 28 km from Bhavnagar town. The Songadh Jain temple is a notable landmark in the town.

Importance in Jainism

Main article: Songadh Jain temple

Kanji Swami, a mystical teacher of Jainism, was born into Śvētāmbara Sthānakavāsī and converted to a celibate Digambara lay scholar under influence of Kundakunda & Pandit Todarmal, at Songadh in 1934. Sonagadh became birthplace for Kanji Panth.[2] Kanji Swami, spent about forty years at Songadh so the village became one of the most important pilgrimage for Kanji Panth.[3]

Songadh along with Palitana, Girnar, Naliya, Kathara, Idar, Tarangaji, and Ahmedabad are planned to be promoted as Gujarat Jain circuit by Gujarat tourism department.[4]

References

1. "Songadh". 2011 Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
2. Wiley, Kristi L. (2009). The A to Z of Jainism. The A to Z Guide Series. Vol. 38. Scarecrow. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-8108-6337-8.
3. Shah, Natubhai (2004). Jainism: The World of Conquerors. Vol. 1. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 67. ISBN 9788120819382.
4. Dave, Kapil (2 March 2018). "Gujarat govt plans a Jain tourist circuit". Retrieved 6 June 2021.

21°42′52″N 71°53′11″E