Book Title: Art of Enlightenment
Author(s): Kalpana Desai
Publisher: Kalpana Desai

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Page 26
________________ सद GATE Shree Sammet Shikhara Tirtha Shree Sammet Shikhar or Shikharji located in eastern India is one of the most important pilgrimage places of the Jains. Twenty out of twenty-four Tirthankaras spent the last days of their lives on this great mountain and attained their final liberation or moksha here. This is commemorated by a shrine known as 'tonk', in the name of each of them. There are twenty such tonks enshrining their foot prints. The pilgrimage starts with the 'tonks' one after the other and in between there is a solitary temple of Shamaliya Parshwanatha. The temple is known as Jala mandir as it is surrounded by ponds. Parshvanatha is seated in meditation in the centre under the dome in an arched pavilion. Suvidhinatha and Mallinatha are enshrined to his right and left respectively. A very interesting part of the painting is the identified shrines having footsteps of the 24 tirthankaras. The pathway leading to these places is quite busy with several pilgrims. Every Jain desires to make a pilgrimage to Shikharji at least once in his lifetime. Jain Education International For Private Personal Use Only 25 www.jainelibrary.org

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