Sri Shamlaji Vishnu Temple, Aravalli

Sri Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir, also known as Shamlaji Temple, is the most significant temple for the Vaishnava sect. It is an ancient and revered temple located on the banks of the Meshwo river, Shamlaji village, Aravalli District of the Gujarat state of Bharat.

In this temple, Lord Vishnu is worshiped as Shamla Ji. Also worshiped as Gadadhar holding a gada, or mace. This temple is also referred to as ‘Dholi Dhajawala’ due to the white silk flag that is hoisted atop its structure.

During the Mughal era, many temples faced destruction, however this temple was no exception.

The army of Aurangazeb marched towards village of Shamlaji. Rajputs and Thakores fought bravely against the army, however they could not withstand their mighty force. Hence, they hid themselves in the adjoining hills. They destroyed the whole village and temple also. They cut the nose and ear of Garuda Deva and other outer stone sculptures. As they approached to destroy the temple, a miracle happened. A group of wasps attacked the mighty army and drove them away.

The army could not resist the bite of wasp. The divine power showed his presence here.

To protect the Deity of Shamali Ji from further attack, the people of the village took it and hid inside Karambuj pond. Later an Adivasi found the Deity and started worshiping it. It was then passed on to Vaishnavas, who started worshiping according to Vaishnava Sampradaya.

The Sthala Purana of Sri Shamlaji Vishnu Temple is deeply rooted in devotion, faith, and ancient Hindu puranas.

According to the Purana, Lord Vishnu self-manifested here as Shamlaji or Gadadhar, the Lord who holds a mace or Gada. This place has been a sacred seat of worship since ancient times. He dwells here, blessing His devotees and upholding dharma.

According to another Purana, this temple has a connection with the epic Mahabharata. Pandavas have visited this temple during their exile period and offered their prayers. They initially built a small temple, and later, over centuries, it turned into a grand temple that can be seen today.

According to another local folklore, this connection is associated with the tribal Bhil community. A Bhil tribal devotee once discovered the beautiful and divine Deity of Shamlaji on the banks of the river Meshwo. A divine light was emanating from the Deity. Sensing the divinity of the Deity, they constructed a temple at the site where it was located. They consider Him to be their kula devata who protects them. Even today, the tribal communities of Gujarat and Rajasthan visit as a whole community on the auspicious day of Shamlaji Melo, and also on Kartika Purnima.

This temple is not just a place of Vaishnavism but also a blend of royal, Brahminical, and tribal devotion. It merges different cultural traditions and faiths into one spiritual tradition.

Shamlaji Temple is a wonder of Salanki or Chaulukya architecture, symbolizing architectural grandeur, elegance, skilled craftsmanship, and intricate carvings of gods and goddesses.

This temple can be dated back to the 11th century CE and is built from white sandstone and brick.

Built on the Nagara style of architecture, the shikharas are curvilinear, or with curved lines. This is one of the distinct features. This shikhara also has many ornamented carvings.

Inside the garbhagriha, the graceful Deity of Sri Shamlaji is seen standing on Sheshnag.

The outer wall of the temple depicts the marvelous art of sculpting. There are beautifully sculpted images of sages, dancing women, musicians, elephants, horses, gods, various designs and more. There are many carved scuptures depicting the story of Ramayana, Mahabharata and various other puranas.

On the walls of pillared mantapas or halls, there are finely carved motifs of floral pattens, dancers and other figures.

The pillars and halls are adorned with delicate carvings showcasing floral motifs, graceful dancers, and a variety of other intricate figures.

The Torana at the entrance of the temple has the symbolic carvings of Garuda.

There is also other small temples dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi Narayana, Gadadhar and Kashi Vishwanatha.

The peaceful riverside location enhances the temple’s sacred atmosphere, making it a serene site for meditation and worship.

Shamlaji Vishnu Temple celebrates many festivals throughout the year. Here are some of the few festivals celebrated at this temple.

Shamlaji Melo: This is a three-week mela celebrated in the month of November. Devotess from Gujarat and Rajasthan throng to this temple to have a holy dip in river Meshwo and then take the darshan of Shamlaji. Many cultural practices are also held.

Kartik Purnima: This is a fair held by tribal Bhil community. They refer to the Lord Shamlaji as ‘Kaliyo Bavji’. On this auspicious day, the fair reaches its peak level. Devotees come in huge numbers to take a holy dip in the river and take the blessings of Shamla ji.

Maha Shivaratri: This festival dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva is also celebrated with great devotion and faith.

Holi: This is a major festival celebrated with great joy and devotion at this temple.

Rama Navami: This is also one of the festivals celebrated here, dedicated to the worship of Lord Sri Ramachandra.

Raksha Trij: The festival of protection and victory is celebrated with great devotion at the Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir.

The darshan timings of Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir are as follows:

Timings: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Evenings: 4:00 to 8:00 PM

Morning Mangla Aarthi: 06:45 AM

Morning Shangar Aarthi: 09:15 AM

Noon Rajbhog Aarthi: 12:15 to 12:30 PM

Noon Utthapan: 2:15 PM

Evening Sandhya Aarthi: After 06:15 PM

The best time to visit the Sri Shamlaji Vishnu Temple is during the months of October to March. During these cooler months, you can make your journey comfortable since the weather is more pleasant. Also, during these months, the temple experiences less crowd, making you experience a peaceful journey.

Triloknathji Mandir: This temple is dedicated to Triloknathji, a form of Lord Vishnu in His four-armed. This is located just on the right side of the temple. Also, there is a Deity of Lord Shiva wearing a tiger skin, holding Trishu in his left hand, while a cobra circles in His right hand.

Khakh Chowk: It is located opposite Sri Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir. It is the ashramas of Ramanand Sadhus. Inside this ashram, there is the Deity of Sri Giridharji and Lakshmi Ji.

Kashi Vishwanatha Temple: This is an underground temple dedicated to the worship of Sada Shiva.

By Air: The nearest airport to Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. It is connected to many international cities. Also connected to many cities in India as well. From the airport, taxis or autos can be hired. Can also be traveled using bus.

By Railway: Shamlaji Road Station is the nearest railway station to Sri Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir. It is nearly 14 kilometers away from it. From here, taxis, cabs, auto or buses can be preferred.

By Road: The temple can be reached by accessing National Highway 8 or NH8. Frequent buses or taxis are available to reach from nearby towns like Himmatnagar, Ahmedabad, Modasa,