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	'''Shamlaji''', also spelled '''Shamalaji''', is a major Hindu pilgrimage centre in [[Aravalli district]] of [[Gujarat]] state of [[India]]. The Shamlaji temple is dedicated to [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{Cite web\|title=About Shamlaji Temple {{!}} Shree Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir Trust\|url=https://www.shreeshamlajivishnutemple.org/about_temple.html\|access-date=2021-05-13\|website=www.shreeshamlajivishnutemple.org}}</ref> Several other [[Hindu temple]]s are located nearby.		'''Shamlaji''', also spelled '''Shamalaji''', is a major Hindu pilgrimage centre in [[Aravalli district]] of [[Gujarat]] state of [[India]]. The Shamlaji temple is dedicated to [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{Cite web\|title=About Shamlaji Temple {{!}} Shree Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir Trust\|url=https://www.shreeshamlajivishnutemple.org/about_temple.html\|access-date=2021-05-13\|website=www.shreeshamlajivishnutemple.org}}</ref> Several other [[Hindu temple]]s are located nearby.

	The present temple dedicated to Shamlaji, a form of [[Vishnu]] was perhaps started in the 11th century in [[Māru-Gurjara architecture\|Chaulukya style]],<ref name="Gujarat Tourism2"/>{{sfn \| ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' \| 2015 \|page=440-442}} but the present structure dates from the 15th-16th centuries. The sculpture of Vishnu in the sanctuary is probably 7th-8th century, and the small temple opposite houses a 6th-century sculpture of Shiva.<ref name="Michell, 307">Michell, 307</ref> The oldest intact temple is the small 9th-century Harishchandrani Chauri Temple, with a gateway nearby.<ref name="Michell, 307"/> Several ruins of temples, scattered idols and old brick-works surrounding the place establishes antiquity of the place.<ref name="Gujarat Tourism1">{{cite web \| title=Around Shamlaji, Shamlaji Temple, North Gujarat, Tourism Hubs, Gujarat, India \| website=Gujarat Tourism \| url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/10/70 \| accessdate=8 December 2015}}</ref~~><ref name="Michell, 307"/~~>		The present temple dedicated to Shamlaji, a form of [[Vishnu]] was perhaps started in the 11th century in [[Māru-Gurjara architecture\|Chaulukya style]],<ref name="Gujarat Tourism2"/>{{sfn \| ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' \| 2015 \|page=440-442}} but the present structure dates from the 15th-16th centuries. The sculpture of Vishnu in the sanctuary is probably 7th-8th century, and the small temple opposite houses a 6th-century sculpture of Shiva.<ref name="Michell, 307">Michell, 307</ref> The oldest intact temple is the small 9th-century Harishchandrani Chauri Temple, with a gateway nearby.<ref name="Michell, 307"/> Several ruins of temples, scattered idols and old brick-works surrounding the place establishes antiquity of the place.<ref name="Michell, 307"/><ref name="Gujarat Tourism1">{{cite web \| title=Around Shamlaji, Shamlaji Temple, North Gujarat, Tourism Hubs, Gujarat, India \| website=Gujarat Tourism \| url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/10/70 \| accessdate=8 December 2015}}</ref>

	A 4th-century [[Buddhist]] monastery and [[stupa]] at [[Devnimori]] is about 2 kilometres away, but is now under by the waters of the Meshvo Reservoir.<ref>Michell, 307-308</ref> This site dates to the [[Mauryan]] period, and a much older [[microlith]] site known as Dhek-Vadlo locally was found near Shamlaji.<ref name="Malik 1966 p=162">{{cite journal \| last=Malik \| first=S. C. \| title=The Late Stone Age Industries from Excavated Sites in Gujarat, India \| journal=Artibus Asiae \| volume=28 \| issue=2/3 \| pages=162–174 \| year=1966 \| doi=10.2307/3249352 \| jstor=3249352 }}</ref>		A 4th-century [[Buddhist]] monastery and [[stupa]] at [[Devnimori]] is about 2 kilometres away, but is now under by the waters of the Meshvo Reservoir.<ref>Michell, 307-308</ref> This site dates to the [[Mauryan]] period, and a much older [[microlith]] site known as Dhek-Vadlo locally was found near Shamlaji.<ref name="Malik 1966 p=162">{{cite journal \| last=Malik \| first=S. C. \| title=The Late Stone Age Industries from Excavated Sites in Gujarat, India \| journal=Artibus Asiae \| volume=28 \| issue=2/3 \| pages=162–174 \| year=1966 \| doi=10.2307/3249352 \| jstor=3249352 }}</ref>

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox Mandir
| name = Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir
| image = Shamlaji Temple2 (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = The temple from behind
| map_type = India Gujarat
| map_caption = Location in Gujarat
| coordinates = {{coord|23|41|17|N|73|23|13|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| devanagari =
| sanskrit_translit =
| tamil =
| marathi =
| bengali =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Gujarat]]
| district = [[Aravalli district]]
| location = Shamlaji
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Vishnu]] as Gadadhar Shamlaji
| festivals = Annual fair on Kartik Poornima
| architecture =
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 11th century
| creator =
| website =
}}
'''Shamlaji''', also spelled '''Shamalaji''', is a major Hindu pilgrimage centre in [[Aravalli district]] of [[Gujarat]] state of [[India]]. The Shamlaji temple is dedicated to [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Shamlaji Temple {{!}} Shree Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir Trust|url=https://www.shreeshamlajivishnutemple.org/about_temple.html|access-date=2021-05-13|website=www.shreeshamlajivishnutemple.org}}</ref> Several other [[Hindu temple]]s are located nearby.

The present temple dedicated to Shamlaji, a form of [[Vishnu]] was perhaps started in the 11th century in [[Māru-Gurjara architecture|Chaulukya style]],<ref name="Gujarat Tourism2"/>{{sfn | ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' | 2015 |page=440-442}} but the present structure dates from the 15th-16th centuries. The sculpture of Vishnu in the sanctuary is probably 7th-8th century, and the small temple opposite houses a 6th-century sculpture of Shiva.<ref name="Michell, 307">Michell, 307</ref> The oldest intact temple is the small 9th-century Harishchandrani Chauri Temple, with a gateway nearby.<ref name="Michell, 307"/> Several ruins of temples, scattered idols and old brick-works surrounding the place establishes antiquity of the place.<ref name="Gujarat Tourism1">{{cite web | title=Around Shamlaji, Shamlaji Temple, North Gujarat, Tourism Hubs, Gujarat, India | website=Gujarat Tourism | url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/10/70 | accessdate=8 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="Michell, 307"/>

A 4th-century [[Buddhist]] monastery and [[stupa]] at [[Devnimori]] is about 2 kilometres away, but is now under by the waters of the Meshvo Reservoir.<ref>Michell, 307-308</ref> This site dates to the [[Mauryan]] period, and a much older [[microlith]] site known as Dhek-Vadlo locally was found near Shamlaji.<ref name="Malik 1966 p=162">{{cite journal | last=Malik | first=S. C. | title=The Late Stone Age Industries from Excavated Sites in Gujarat, India | journal=Artibus Asiae | volume=28 | issue=2/3 | pages=162–174 | year=1966 | doi=10.2307/3249352 | jstor=3249352 }}</ref>

Shamlaji was an important Hindu centre in the 6th century, probably the home of a sculpture workshop whose creations are found as far away as [[Mumbai]], where the [[Parel Relief]] was found. Most of the ancient sculpture found at Shamlaji, in blueish [[schist]], has now been removed to museums, especially to Mumbai and [[Vadodara]].<ref name="Michell, 307"/>

==Shamlaji temple==
[[File:Shamlaji Temple1.jpg|thumb|Shamlaji temple - side view]]

{{Split|Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir|date=May 2021}}

Shamlaji temple is located on the banks of the Meshvo river in the valley surrounded by well wooded hills.{{sfn | ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' | 2015 |page=440-442}}<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Schastok, Sara L.|url=http://www.oxfordartonline.com/view/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.001.0001/oao-9781884446054-e-7000078000|title=Shamalaji|volume=1|doi=10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t078000|access-date=2018-07-25|via=[[Oxford Art Online]]|year=2003}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> It is also referred to as ''Dholi Dhajawala'' due to white silk flag fluttering on top of the temple.

Built of white sandstone and brick it is surrounded by a wall with a gateway. It is of two stories, supported on pillars, and a canopy with arches on each side. The lower courses of richly carved stone are of great age. Above them runs a frieze with an unintelligible pattern, and, above this, running right round the building, a fringe of elephants' heads and forequarters carved in stone. Above this is a very ranch worn frieze full of figures in bass-relief, men on horseback with bows, and animals. The elephant is a very frequent emblem. Besides the fringe frieze above mentioned, there are, on the outer wall, between every two angles, larger figures of semi-rampant elephants standing out in relief, and, in front of the entrance, stands on either side of the doorway a gigantic cement elephant. Above the shrine, a pyramid-based tower rises into a spire like a high-shouldered cone with flattened sides. The forepart of the roof consists of a number of small domes springing from a flat roof, or rather of a flat trabeate roof, with domes here and there, the largest being in the centre. Outside at all the angles of the roof are figures of animals and the gargoyles.{{sfn | ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' | 2015 |page=440-442}} On walls, there are some scenes from the epics [[Mahabharata]] and [[Ramayana]].<ref name="Gujarat Tourism2">{{cite web | title=Shamlaji Fair | website=Gujarat Tourism | url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/fairs-festivals/major-festivals/shamlaji-fair | accessdate=8 December 2015}}</ref>

Of the two inscriptions, one is to the left in the upper story and bears date 94 AD and 102 AD. This writing, cut in stone, is not very archaic and could not be of the date it professes to record. It may be a transcript of an older inscription or the record of an old tradition. The other, on copper at the entrance of the temple, records repairs executed in 1762 AD by the then Thakor of Tintoi. From these two inscriptions, name of the deity seems to be Gadadharji, the holder of the club, a well known title of Vishnu, Krishna, or Shamlaji.{{sfn | ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' | 2015 |page=440-442}} The cow idols are also worshiped depictiong childhood of Krishna as cowherd. It is one of the 154 important pilgrimage sites of [[Vaishnavism]].<ref name="Gujarat Tourism2"/>

The temple was claimed by Jains in the past.{{sfn | ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' | 2015 |page=440-442}} Years ago the [[Idar State]] rulers gave the fiefdom of Shamlaji temple to the Modhari Rao Saheb with other villages like Revdar, Devdar, Napada, Khalsa, Sunsar, Modhari, etc. The Rao of Modhari still holds trusteeship of Shamlaji Temple.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

==Other places of interest==
[[File:Shamlaji 13.jpg|thumb|Relief of Krishna and [[jali]] screens on the main temple]]
Near the Shamlaji temple the river forms deep pools, much resorted to by persons bewitched or devil-possessed. To the north the waters of the Karmanu pond, and the Surya reservoir have the property of washing away sin.{{sfn | ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' | 2015 |page=440-442}}

Nearby Old Shamlaji temple is said to have been the original temple. The temple dedicated to Somnarayan, is, except the adytum, open on all sides, with a flat ceiling, surmounted by a pyramidal roof, supported on plain square stone pillars with carved capitals. Part of the shrine walls seem to have been formed of a series of upright stone slabs with sculptured figures in low relief. Many of these still remain. The most curious thing about the building is that, at the front and rear and both sides, in the centre of the facade the roof ends in a triangular pediment composed of boldly sculptured figures. Inside the building near the shrine, and, on the left hand as one faces it, is a remarkable human head in high relief standing out from the base of the span of an arch. The features are more human-looking than those generally seen in Hindu temples, and the arrangement of the hair is curious. There is a corresponding face on the other side but it is much worn or broken, while this is fresh and clear in its lines. In the shrine, part of the original altar or image seat still remains. It has been roughly heightened by bricks loosely piled on it, and on the raised superstructure stands a slab with a representation said to be of Somnarayan. This slab probably originally formed part of the outer wall of the shrine.{{sfn | ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' | 2015 |page=440-442}}
[[File:Shamlaji 5.jpg|thumb|[[Pranala]] in the form of a [[makara]]]]

Kashi Vishwanath Mahadev temple, is seven feet below ground level and its pyramidal roof rise to the level of the land round it. It is entered through a gateway by a gradually deepening passage. Perhaps the temple was originally built in a hollow which has filled up. It
looks old though not so old as Somnarayan' s the most ancient looking building in the place. In a small shrine between the Shamlaji temple and the river, late-Gupta period idol of standing [[Ganesha]] is worshiped.{{sfn | ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' | 2015 |page=440-442}} Trilokeshwar is a small temple opposite the Shamlaji temple dedicated to [[Shiva]] having idol with [[trident]]. On the opposite bank of the river, there is a temple dedicated to Ranchhodji, another form of Krishna.<ref name="Gujarat Tourism1"/>

The temple at [[Harishchandra]] ni Chori dates back to tenth century. The structure is enclosed within courtyard with lost walls except the ornamental gateway (''Torana''). There is a rectangular sanctum and a large pavilion in front of it.<ref name="Gujarat Tourism1"/>

[[Devni Mori]], 2 km from Shamlaji, has remains of a Buddhist monastery dated to 3rd-4th century. The inscribed casket with body relics of [[Buddha]] was found from the [[Stupa]] excavated here.<ref name="Gujarat Tourism1"/>

The tomb of Navgaja Pir, a maulvi, is revered by many tribals.<ref name="Gujarat Tourism1"/>

Shyamalvan is a theme-based garden developed by Forest Department of [[Government of Gujarat]]. It was inaugurated by then Chief Minister of Gujarat, [[Narendra Modi]], on 18 July 2009.

==Fair==
{{main|Shamlaji fair}}
A large annual fair is held on Kartik Sud 15th (October).{{sfn | ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha'' | 2015 |page=440-442}} The tribal community revers the Shamlaji as ''Kaliyo Dev'' or the Dark Divine. The large number of devotees visit the place and bothe in the river. Silver ornaments, metalwares, clothes and household items are sold during the fair.<ref name="Gujarat Tourism2"/>

==Connectivity==
Shamlaji is around 20 km from [[Bhiloda]] and 29 km from [[Modasa]]. Located off [[National Highway 8]], Shamlaji is frequented by state transport buses from [[Himmatnagar]] and [[Ahmedabad]].

'''Train''' : '''[[Shamlaji Road railway station]]''' is nearest (14 km) railway station to Shamlaji. There are two daily passenger trains operated by the Indian railways on meter gauge track.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Shamlaji 23.jpg|A temple from the front
File:Shamlaji 15.jpg|Carved plinth of the main temple
File:Shamlaji 8.jpg|Main temple carvings
File:Shamlaji Shiva.tif|Sculpture of [[Shiva]] from Shamlaji.
File:Meshvo Dam.jpg|Meshvo Reservoir at Shamlaji

</gallery>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dLUBAAAAYAAJ|year=1880| ref={{sfnref | ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha''| 2015}}|publisher=Government Central Press| pages=440–442}} {{PD-notice}}
*Michell, George (1990), ''The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India, Volume 1: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu'', 1990, Penguin Books, {{ISBN|0140081445}}
* Sara L. Schastok, ''The Śāmalājī Sculptures and 6th Century Art in Western India'', Brill, 1985, {{ISBN|9004069410}}.
{{commons category}}

{{Hindu temples in Gujarat}}

[[Category:Villages in Aravalli district]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Gujarat]]
[[Category:11th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:11th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:Vishnu temples]]

Shamlaji - Revision history

Banti: basic expand article to improve readability and improved wording

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