Welcome to the King of Pilgrimages (Teerthraj). The particle of dust on this mountain is holier than anything else, for it has touched the feet of Tirthankaras. The journey of Sammed Shikhar Ji is not just a trek; it is a path to purify the soul.
👣 The Divine Route: Step-by-Step Journey
The total journey covers approximately 18 Miles (27 KM): 9 km Ascent + 9 km Parikrama (Tonk Darshan) + 9 km Descent. Yet, due to the power of this holy land, pilgrims rarely feel fatigue.
📍 1. The Starting Point
The journey begins from the Digambar Jain Beespanthi Kothi. Just 2 furlongs away stands the Kshetrapal Maharaj Gumti, the guardian deity of the region.
🌿 2. Gandharva Nala (The Resting Spot)
Walking 2.5 miles from the start, pilgrims reach Gandharva Nala. This is a traditional spot where travelers take a brief rest and have snacks/tea on their return journey.
💧 3. Sita Nala & Chopra Kund
1 mile further lies the Sita Nala. Here, pure water flows, which pilgrims use to wash their Puja materials (Rice, Almonds, etc.). Crossing this, one reaches Chopra Kund (1 mile away), housing a Digambar Jain Temple with idols of Lord Parshvanath, Chandraprabh, and Bahubali Swami.
⛰️ 4. The Ascent to the Tonks
Just 0.5 km from Chopra Kund, the sacred ascent begins towards the Tonk of Lord Kunthunath and Gautam Ganadhar. From here, the chain of 20 holy Tonks begins.
⚠️ Crucial Rule: Do not wear shoes, slippers, leather items, or woolen clothes during the Yatra. This purity is essential to avoid Paap Bandh (Binding of Sin).
✨ The Unimaginable Spiritual Fruit (Phal)
Why is every stone here worshipped? Because from this Giriraj, 20 Tirthankaras and a precise count of 86 Arab, 488 Kodakodi, 140 Kodi, 1027 Crore, 38 Lakh, 70 Thousand, 323 Munis have destroyed their Karmas and attained Moksha.
- The Merit of One Visit: A single vandana of this Teerth gives the fruit equivalent to 33 Crore, 234 Crore, 74 Lakh Fasts (Upvas).
- Liberation Guarantee: Scriptures state that even a sinful soul who visits this 12-Yojan (96 miles) wide area will destroy their karmas and attain liberation within 49 births.
- Divine Protection: Despite being a dense forest with wild animals, no pilgrim has ever been harmed—such is the glory of the Giriraj.
🙏 The Final Prayer
As Ganini Pramukh Aryika Shri Gyanmati Mataji quotes her Guru Acharya Veersagar Maharaj: "Life is incomplete without the Vandana of Sammed Shikhar and the Darshan of Acharya Shantisagar Ji."
"भगवन् ! इस सम्मेदशिखर का, पुन: पुन: दर्शन पाऊँ。 यही भावना है मन में, सिद्धों के गुण में रम जाऊँ।। इसी क्षेत्र से कभी मुझे, निर्वाण धाम भी मिल जावे。 सिद्धभक्ति मेरे जीवन में, सिद्ध अवस्था दिलवावे।।"