Jain Journal 1972 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 47

Sri Sangh Pilgrimage to Sammet Sikhar
Taking out community or Sangh on a pilgrimage to Jaina holy places has been considered to be a religious activity of very high order from times immemorial and there are on record many such Sanghs moving out on pilgrimage in the whole of the Vira era. This Journal (Mahavira Jayanti Number, April, 1971) printed the account of one such Sangh pilgrimage based on the description given in Merutunga's Prabandha Cintamani. This was organised around the beginning of the 13th century A.D. by the great minister Vastupala who took the Sangh to Satrunjaya and other Jaina holy places. Vastupala was also a great builder of temples. The last big pilgrimage on record in eastern region is one organised by one Kurpal Tejpal Sing Soni under the guidance of Acarya Sri Paramananda Suri about 550 years ago. It started from Agra.
It is extremely heartening that in the current year a Jaina Sangh consisting of about 400 people from all the four sections of the Jaina
perhaps the biggest among those on record-came out from Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and visited the Jaina holy places in eastern India. Organised by Sri S. C. Challani, Sri C. C. Challani and others of Secunderabad, it had among its participants quite a few Jaina monks and nuns, notably Acarya Sri Jayant Suri Maharaj, Sri Vikram Suri Maharaj, Sri Navin Suri Maharaj and Sadhvi Sri Sarvodaya Sri Maharaj. It started on November 9, 1971 and reached its destination which was Sammet Sikhar in Bihar on May 11, 1972. The Sangh passed through five States, Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on foot. On the way, the number swelled, as people accompanied the pilgrims over short distances, or came out to receive them or see them off. On the 'garland day on which the organisers were honoured in a public ceremony, which took place on May 18, there was a grand gathering of 2000 people on the holy mountain.