Palitana.
PALITANA is in the Kathiawar Political Agency of the Bombay Presidency and ranks as a second class state in Kathiawar. Its rulers are Gohel Rajputs, and are descended from Shahaji, second son of Sejakji, the chief of Bhawnagar being descended from the eldest son, and the chief of Lathi from the third.
The rulers of Palitana were for many years engaged in the dispute with the Jains concerning the control of Shetrunja hill, which rises above the town of Palitana and being covered with Jain temples, is the resort of innumerable pilgrims. From old records it seems that many years before the Gohel chiefs established themselves in Saurashtra, the Jains worshipped in Shetrunja. Prince Murad Baksh, in 1650 A. D. conferred the whole district of Palitana on a Jain jeweller by name Sand Das, who supplied the Mogul Prince with funds when he went with Aurangzeb in 1658 A. D. to fight with Dara at Agra and assumed the throne. On the decay of Mogul power, Palitana fell into the hands of the Gohel chiefs, who were tributaries to the Gaekwar. While, therefore, the whole mountain is regarded as a religious trust, it is under the jurisdiction of the Chief, for whose protection the Shrawakas have long paid a yearl subsidy for its protection.
Thakor Sur Singhji Pratap Singhji of Palitana died at Poona on the 24th November 1885 A.D. mourned and regretted by all classes of society in Western India, especially by his Palitana subjects. His son, Man Singhji, succeeded to the gadi of Palitana, and ruled till 1905 A.D. when he died. Since his death the State has been administered by the British Government owing to the minority of the present Chief.
The area of the State is 289 square miles. The population is 52,856 according to the census of 1901 A.D. The State contains one town Palitana, the capital, and 90 villages. The gross revenue is estimated at six lacs, chiefly derived from land. The State pays a tribute of Rs, 10,364 jointly to the Gaekwar of Baroda and the Nawab of Junagarh.
Palitana possesses the famous Shetrunja hill, which is the most sacred of the five hills of the Jains in India. Mr. Kinloh Forbes, the author of Ras Mala, describes it as the "first of all places of pilgrimages, the bridal hall of those who would win everlasting rest." The entire summit of the hill is covered with temples, which possess a great architectural skill.
The present Chief of Palitana, Thakor Saheb Bahadur Singhji, is entitled to a salute of 9 guns.
