About Sammed Shikharji

About Sammed Shikharji (Importance / Greatness of Sammed Shikharji Kshetra) :

Shri Sammed Shikharji Teerth Kshetra has the top rank among all the Digambar Jain Teerth Kshetras, being the salvation place of 20 Teerthankaras and large number of saints. So this is called Teerthraj (King of Teerths) Since very ancient time it is a belief that Sammed Shikharji and Ayodhya are two main Teerth Kshetras, existence if these two is parallel to the existence of Universe, means immortal. All the Teerthankaras born at Ayodhya and attain salvation from Sammed Shikharji. But due the effect of Hundavsartpiniee Kaal, there was the birth of only five Teerthankaras at Ayodhya and salvation if 20 Teerthankaras from Sammed Shikharji. In addition, infinite number ascetic saints/munies also attained salvation from here by practicing deep penance and meditation. In ancient texts number of munies attaining salvation from the particular places of Teerthankara’s salvation is being described which is in millions and billions. This is the only reason that when a devotee starts pilgrimage for Sammed Shikharji, his heart and mind gets filled with great enthusiasm, joy and ingenuous devotion towards Teerthankaras. Impact of pilgrimage of infinite ascetic’s salvation places is such that an ocean of devotion evades in the heart of pilgrims. Pandit Dhyanatraiji has written in his ‘Pooja’ (Poem of worship) if one goes for adoration of Sammed Shikharji once in his life, he does not go in lives of animal and in the hell. According to ethics if a person adorates Sammed Shikharji engaging his full mind and heart (i.e. with full devotion), he attains salvation in maximum 49 lives of his near future and thus he gets free from worldly affairs, affection and aversion. This all happens by thinking about the work of Teerthankaras their life free from worldly affairs, their penance and meditation, by thinking about the preaches they delivered in Samavsharan and ultimately applying their education and principles in one’s life by accepting ascetism. This way this Kshetra is highly sacred. Due to sacredness, so many cruel animals living here in the forest like lion tiger etc., never harm to pilgrims even while coming in front of each other. The absence of natural cruel in the heart of violent animals and fearlessness in the mind of pilgrims, is due to the effect of this great Teerth. This is the only the efficacy of Sammed Shikharji that from the ancient times so many Kings, Acharyas, Bhuttarakas and Shravakas came here with vast groups of devotees for pilgrimage with the purpose of self welfare and due to the devotion towards Teerthankaras and ascetic saints who attained salvation from here. Description in Ethics: According to Jain Texts Ist Teerthankara Bhagwan Adinath (Rishabhdev) attained salvation from Kailash Parvat, 12th Teerthankaras Bhagwan Vasupujya from Champapuri, 22nd Teerthankara Bhagwan Neminath from Girnar Parvat, and last 24th Teerthankara Bhagwan Mahaveer from Pavapuri, remaining twenty (20) Teerthankaras attained salvation from Sammed Shikharji. During 13th Century, great ascetic scholar ‘Yati Madan Kirti’ writes in ‘Shasan Chatustrinshatika’. According to this poem - Saudharma Indra here installed the idols of 20 Teerthankaras, nimbus of idols is incomparable being equivalent to their size, at that Sammed Shikhar tree, vigorous persons reach there through stairs and due to good luck they worship those idols, no other person is able to reach there. This Digambar Dharma is immortal i.e. existing here continuously. In the famous text ‘Tiloypannatti:’ Acharya Yativrishabha has described in full about 20 Teerthankara’s salvation, that’s translation is given below - (1) 2nd Teerthankara Shri Ajitnath Jinendra (Bhagwan) attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Chaitra Shukla – 5 during Nakshatra (Constellation) “Bharani’, before noon with one thousand munies. That particular place was named ‘Siddhavar Koot’. (2) 3rd Teerthankara Shri Sambhavnath Swami attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Chaitra Shukla – 6 during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra (Constellation at the time of Birth) afternoon with one thousand munies. That particular place was named ‘Dhaval Koot’. (3) 4th Teerthankara Shri Abhinandannath attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Vaishakh Shukla – 7 during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra before noon with one thousand munies. That particular place was named ‘Anand Koot’. (4) 5th Teerthankara Shri Sumatinath Swami attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Chaitra Shukla – 10 during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra (Constellation) before noon with one thousand munies. That particular place was named ‘Avichal Koot’. (5) 6th Teerthankara Shri Padamprabh attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Falgun Krishna - 4 afternoon during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra with 324 munies. That particular place was named ‘Mohan Koot’. (6) 7th Teerthankara Shri Suparshva Jinendra (Bhagwan) attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Falgun Krishna – 6 before noon during the presence of his Anuradha Nakshatra with 500 munies. That particular place was named ‘Prabhas Koot’. (7) 8th Teerthankara Shri Chandraprabhu Jinendra attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Bhadrapad Shukla – 7 during the presence of his Jyeshtha Nakshatra before noon with one thousand munies. That particular place was named ‘Lalit Koot’. (8) 9th Teerthankara Shri Pushpadanta Bhagwan attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Ashwin Shukla – 8 afternoon during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra with one thousand munies. That particular place was named ‘Suprabh Koot’. (9) 10th Teerthankara Shri Sheetalnath attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Kartik Shukla - 5 before noon during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra with one thousand munies. That particular place was named ‘Vidhyutprabh Koot’. (10) 11th Teerthankara Shri Shreyansnath attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Shravan Shukla – 15 before noon during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra with one thousand munies. That particular place was named ‘Sankul Koot’. (11) 13th Teerthankara Shri Vimalnath Swami attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Asharh Shukla – 8 in the evening during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra with 600 munies. That particular place was named ‘Suveer Koot’. (12) 14th Teerthankara Shri Anantnath Bhagwan attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Chaitra Krishna – 15 in the evening during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra with 7000 munies. That particular place was named ‘Swayamprabhu Koot’. (13) 15th Teerthankara Shri Dharamnath Jinendra attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Jyeshtha Krishna – 14 in the evening during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra with 800 munies. That particular place was named ‘Sudattawar Koot’. (14) 16th Teerthankara Shri Shantinath Teerthankara attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Jyeshtha Krishna – 14 in the evening during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra with 900 munies. That particular place was named ‘Kundprabh Koot’ (Prabhas and Shanti Prabhu). (15) 17th Teerthankara Shri Kunthu Jina attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Vaishakh Shukla – 1 in the evening during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra with 1000 munies. That particular place was named ‘Gyandhara Koot’. (16) 18th Teerthankara Shri Arahnath Bhagwan attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Chaitra Krishna – 15 in the evening during the presence of his Janma Nakshatra with 1000 munies. That particular place was named ‘Natak Koot’. (17) 19th Teerthankara Shri Mallinath Teerthankara attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Falgun Krishna – 5 in the evening during the presence of Bharni Nakshatra with 500 munies. That particular place was named ‘Sambal Koot’. (18) 20th Teerthankara Shri Munisuvratnath Swami attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Falgun Krishna – 12 in the evening during the presence of Janma Nakshatra with 1000 munies. That particular place was named ‘Nirjar Koot’. (19) 21st Teerthankara Shri Naminath Swami attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Vaishakh Krishna – 14 in the morning during the presence of Janma Nakshatra with 1000 munies. That particular place was named ‘Mitradhar Koot’. (20) 23rd Teerthankara Shri Parshvanath Jinendra attained salvation from Sammed Shikhar on the day of Shravan Shukla – 7 in the evening during the presence of Janma Nakshatra with 36 munies. That particular place was named ‘Suvarnabhadra Koot’. For the information of viewers, details of Teerthankaras attaining salvation from places other than Sammed Shikharji is given below: - (1) First Teerthankara Bhagwan Rishabdev attained salvation from Kailash Parvat on the day of Magha Krishna – 14 in the before noon during the presence of Uttarasharh Nakshatra. (2) 12th Teerthankara Bhagwan Vasupoojya attained salvation from Champasal Van (forest) of Champapuri on the day of Bhadrapad Shukla – 14 in the afternoon during the presence of Ashvini Nakshatra. (3) 22th Teerthankara Bhagwan Neminath attained salvation from Girnar Parvat (Urjayant giri) on the day of Asharh Shukla – 7 in the evening during the presence of Chitra Nakshatra. (4) 24th, the last Teerthankara Mahaveer Swami attained salvation from Padma Sarovar of Pavapuri on the day of Kartik Shukla – 15 in the morning during the presence of Swati Nakshatra.

Sammed Shikharji Hill Teerth Darshan

First of all there comes Tonk of Gautam Swami after ascending some distance on hill, here a room is existing which comes in use of pilgrims for rest. In the left of Gautam Swami Tonk, there are fifteen Tombs for adoration. These Tonks are called Koot also. At Tonks foot images of Teerthankaras are installed. According to inscriptions on foot images, these all were reverenced in V.S. 1825. Details of these Tonks (Koots) are given below -

1. Gautam Swami Tonk - There are 32 images of white marble are installed in an alter. Out of alter a foot pair of black stone are present.

2. Kunthunath Tonk (Gyandhar Koot) - a pair of black foot images is installed here with a length of 5 inch. An inscription of V.S. 1825 is available here. Near to this foot images of Sudharma Swami, Chandranan Tonk & Rishabhanan Tonk are present, recently constructed by Shwetambar Jains.

3. Naminath Tonk - A pair of foot images of black stone about 6 inches in length (12 fingers are present here with an inscription of V.S. 1825. At a little distance from here, foot images of Shree Veerbhadra. The Ganadhara of Bhagwan Parshvnath are present, length is 14 fingers (about 7 inches)

4. Arahnath Tonk (Natak Koot) - Foot images of black stone 10 fingers in length (about 5 inch) inscription of V.S. 1825.

5. Mallinath Tonk (Sambal Koot) - Foot images of black stone 10 fingers in length (about 5 inch) inscription of V.S. 1825.

6. Shreyansnath Tonk (Sankul Koot) - Foot images of black stone, length 7½ inch, inscription of V.S. 1825.

7. Suvnidhinath (Pushpadanta) Tonk (Suprabh Koot) - White stone, foot images of 7½ length, inscription of V.S. 1825.

8. Padmaprabh Tonk (Mohan Koot) - Foot images of black stone, length 7½ inch, inscription of V.S. 1825.

9. Munisuvratnath Tonk - (Nirjar Koot) - Black foot images of 7½ inch length, inscription of V.S. 1825.

10. Chandraprabh Tonk (Lalit Koot) - This Tonk is at a large distance from 9th Tonk and is the highest. Here foot images of black stone, 7½ in length, inscription of V.S. 1825.

11. Adinath Tonk - While one return from the same way towards Jal - Mandir, this Tonk comes. Here foot images of white stone, 7½ inch in length are installed, inscription of V.S. 1825.

12. Sheetalnath Tonk (Vidyut Koot) - There are two Tonks each of Bhagwan Sheetalnath at a short distance to each other, foot images of black stone having length of 7½ inch are installed on both places inscription of V.S. 1825 is also same on both Tonks.

13. Sambhavnath Tonk (Dhaval Koot) - Foot images of white stone, length 7½ inch, inscription of V.S. 1825.

14. Vasupoojya Tonk - here five foot image of white stone with a length of 7 inch are installed inscription of V.S. 1926

15. Abhinandan Nath Tonk (Aanand Koot) - Foot images of black stone, length 7½ inch, inscription of V.S. 1825.

From Abhinandan Nath Tonk, descending on hill, we reach to Jal - Mandir; here a huge temple is existing. In previous, this was Digambar Jain Mandir, but at present this is under the management of Shwetambar Jain. They have also constructed two Dharamashalas here.

From Jal - Mandir we again reach to Gautam Swami Tonk, from where ways are available in all directions, in left to Kunthunath Tonk, in right to Parshvanth Tonk, in front to Jal - Mandir, and in back to Madhuvan. So pilgrims must move towards west direction for adoration of nine Tonks. Details of these Tonks are as under -

1. Dharamanath Tonk (Sudatlavar Koot) - A pair of foot images of black stone, 7½ inch in length are installed here. An inscription of V.S. 1825 is available here.

2. Sumatinath Tonk (Avichal Koot) - A pair of foot images of black stone, 7½ inch in length are installed here. An inscription of V.S. 1825 is available here

3. Shantinath Tonk (Shantiprabh Koot) - A pair of foot images of black stone, 7½ inch in length are installed here. An inscription of V.S. 1825 is available here

4. Mahaveer Swami Tonk - A pair of foot images of white stone, 7½ inch in length are installed here. An inscription of V.S. 1825 is available here.

5. Suparshvanath Tonk (Prabhas Koot) - A pair of foot images of black stone, 7½ inch in length are installed here. An inscription of V.S. 1825 is available here

6. Vimalnath Tonk (Suveer Koot) - A pair of foot images of black stone, 7½ inch in length are installed here. An inscription of V.S. 1825 is available here

7. Ajitnath Tonk (Siddhavar koot)- A pair of foot images of white stone, 7½ inch in length are installe here. An inscription of V.S. 1825 is available here.

8. Naminath Tonk (Mitradhar Koot) - Here 3 pairs of white foot images are installed length in 6 fingers (3 inches).

9. Parshvanath Tonk (Suwarnabhadra Koot) - This is the last and main Tonk of this side, where a beautiful temple has been constructed with a mandapa and sanctum. In sanctum, on an alter foot images of Bhagwan Parshvanth are installed, these are black in color, 9 fingers (4.5 inch approx.) in length having an inscription of V.S. 1949.
Bhagwan Parshvanath‘s Tonk is the highest among these Tonks. While one sees all around standing from here the scene is highly agreeable, can’t be expressed in words, heart gets filled with joy and cheer.
From here Ajay River in north and Damodar River in South may be seen. In such delightful natural scenery mind automatically gets expressed in meditation worship and hymn. After reaching here all pilgrims do worship of Teerthankaras.