Sri Sangh Pilgrimage to Sammet Sikhar
By Unexhibited
Summary
Sri Sangh Pilgrimage to Sammet Sikhar Summary: This article describes a large Jain pilgrimage (sangh) to the holy mountain of Sammet Sikhar. Group pilgrimages to sacred sites are an ancient Jain tradition; the author notes that the last recorded sangh in eastern India occurred about 550 years ago under Acarya Paramānanda Suri’s guidance. In November 1971 a sangh of about 400 people from all four sections of the Jain order set out from Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, under the organisation of S.C. Challani and visited holy places across Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The group walked on foot through towns and villages, attracting local supporters who either joined the procession for short distances or received the pilgrims; over the months the number of participants swelled and monks, including Acarya Sri Jayant Suri Maharaj and Sadhvi Sri Sarvodya Sri Maharaj, joined. The sangh reached Sammet Sikhar in Bihar on 11 May 1972 and performed the customary ceremonies; on the ‘garland day’ on 18 May, about two thousand people gathered on the mountain to honour the pilgrims. Photographs accompanying the article show the departure of the Secunderabad sangh, its organising committee and the large crowd at the pilgrimage site. The author emphasises the unity displayed by Jains of different sects and lauds the organisers’ efforts in reviving an age‑old tradition.
Conclusion
The sangh pilgrimage to Sammet Sikhar illustrates the enduring importance of communal pilgrimages in Jain practice. By tracing the journey of hundreds of devotees across multiple states and highlighting the involvement of monks and laypeople, the article demonstrates how such events foster unity among diverse sects and reinvigorate religious fervour. The enthusiastic response at Sammet Sikhar underscores the continuing relevance of collective pilgrimage in contemporary Jain life.