Answer

From the Jain perspective, Girnar is sacred because Lord Neminath attained moksha there, and Jain tradition reveres it as a major tirth. The same hill is also associated in Hindu tradition with Dattatreya, so the site became a shared sacred geography rather than a purely Jain one. ( junagadh.nic.in)

Explanation

I cannot honestly say it was “illegally captured” as a settled fact. What the available record shows is a long-standing dispute over the 5th peak: Jains identify the foot imprints there as those of Lord Neminath, while Hindus identify them as Dattatreya’s. The Gujarat High Court records also show that competing claims were being examined, and the court said the issue could not be conclusively decided without proper fact-finding. ( indiankanoon.org)

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, the main point is not political ownership but reverence for Bhagwan Neminath’s sacred liberation place. Even when a tirth becomes disputed, Jain teaching remains centered on truth, non-violence, restraint, and respectful worship. ( junagadh.nic.in)

Takeaway

So, in simple words: Girnar is holy for Jains because of Neminath, but it is also claimed by another tradition. The situation is a dispute over sacred space, not something I can verify as a proven illegal takeover. ( junagadh.nic.in)