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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">{{cite web |title=Shamlaji Fair |url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/fairs-festivals/major-festivals/shamlaji-fair |access-date=8 December 2015 |website=Gujarat Tourism}}</ref>{{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 seventh-8th century, and the small temple opposite houses a sixth-century sculpture of Shiva.<ref name="Michell, 307">Michell, 307</ref>  The oldest intact temple is the small ninth-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 | access-date=8 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="Michell, 307"/>

A fourth-century [[Buddhist]] monastery and [[stupa]] at [[Devnimori]] is about {{convert|2|km|spell=in}} 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 sixth 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|isbn=978-1-884446-05-4 |url-access=subscription}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> It is also referred to as ''Dholi Dhajawala'' due to white silk flag fluttering on top of the temple.

The temple of Śāmalājī aka Śāmḷājī houses an idol of Viṣṇu in Trivikrama form. Idols of the Trivikrama form of Viṣṇu hold a [[Gada (mace)|gadā]] (mace), cakra (discus), padma (lotus), and śaṁkha (conch) in each of the four arms. The mace is notably larger than normal, leading to the image's other name as Gadādhara Viṣṇu. Recently however, the temple and idol has been slightly [[Krishnaism|Krishnaized]], and a small golden flute was added to his right hand.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Rangarajan |first=Haripriya |title=Spread of Vaiṣṇavism in Gujarat up to 1600 A.D. (A Study with Special Reference to the Iconic Forms of Viṣṇu) |publisher=Somaiya Publications |publication-date=1990 |pages=48}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mallison |first=Françoise |title=Bhakti in Current Research, 1979-1982, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Early Devotonal LIterature in New Indo-Aryan Languages |publisher=Dietrich Reimer Verlag |year=1983 |editor-last=Thiel-Horstmann |editor-first=M. |pages=245–55 |chapter=Development of Early Krishnaism in Gujarat: Viṣṇu-Raṇchoḍ-Krishna}}</ref>

On the outer wall there are carvings of Viṣṇu, Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, and various episodes from the ''Bhāgavata Purāṇa'' and ''Rāmāyaṇa''.<ref name=":0" />

There is an inscription on the base of a Garuḍa image dating to 1584, and the temple itself is dated to the 15th-16th centuries CE.<ref name=":0" />

==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]], {{cvt|2|km}} from Shamlaji, has remains of a Buddhist monastery dated to third-fourth 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 bathe in the river. Silver ornaments, metalwares, clothes and household items are sold during the fair.<ref name="Gujarat Tourism2"/>

==Connectivity==
Shamlaji is around 20&nbsp;km from [[Bhiloda]] and 29&nbsp;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&nbsp;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 sixth Century Art in Western India'', Brill, 1985, {{ISBN|9004069410}}.

==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline}}

{{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]]