History of Sammet Shikhar.

Jain tradition is linked to this (Sammet Shikhar) hills for infinite years. Its past starts from the salvation of bhagavan (tirthankaras) Ajit Nath. It is just uncountable that how old is the hill, as at first Ajitnath Bhagvan attained salvation and after him more of the 19 tirthankaras attained their salvation. It is very obvious that disciples and devotees of the respective tirthankaras had built the temples/jinalayas to show their respect towards their lord. But all these information today can only be imagined as history in regard to this has not been very transparent and informative..

Even though as per some of the old books and manuscript we are able to link various parts of the information dated back as much as 2nd century of Vikram Samvat (V.S) and proceeding further the linkage is as below:

About 2nd century Jain Acharya Padlipt Suri and Bappbhat Suri use to visit the shrine on sammed shikar.

In 9th century (v.s) Acharya Yashodev Suri disciple Sri Parduman Suri stayed for long time in Magadh, in this mean time he visited Sammet Shikhar several times. During this century due to some violence in this area all the jinalayas were destroyed.

In 13th century (v.s) son (Virchand) of (Shram Dev) and disciple of Acharya Parmanand Suri and under his supervision constructed the jinalayas/temples.

Around 16th century Sri Nanu minister of Akbarpur of King Maansingh also constructed some jinalayas

Around that time King Akbar being impressed by the character of Acharya Shri Harivijay Suri gifted this hill (Sammet Shikhar) and declared it as a sacred place and banned any violent activities.

Around 1670 there are some information’s that Sri Kumarpal Sonpal Lodha of Agra also constructed many jinalayas.

Around 1752 ,15th King Of Delhi Abu Alikham Bhadur honoured Seth MahtabRai with the title of “Jagat Seth” and handed Madhuban Kothi, Jaypaar Naala, Jalhar Kund and Parasavnath Hill as a gift, and even declared it as a tax free place for visiting the sacred shrine. Seth MahatabRai had a strong desire/wish to reconstruct the jinalayas and he forwarded his ideas to his seven sons,, which were also praised by them.

Unfortunately before the beginning of this highly devotional deed of construction, Seth MahtabRai died/expired. Then in 1822 king Alam honoured Sri Kushaalchand son of Seth MahatabRai with the title of “Jagat Seth”. In the supervision of the Seth Kushaalchand the construction of Jinalayas was going on with full speed and devotion, but a problem blocked his way, and that was about which place, which tirthankaras attained Nirvana. This information was neither available nor obtainable from anywhere. From the advice of Pandit Dev Vijay, Seth Kushaalchand started vigorous (worship/meditation) and pleased Adhisthayak Goddess Padmavati of Bhagvan Parasvanath. As goddess was pleased with Seth Kushaalchand she appeared (envisioned) in his dream and said that where there will be a sign of swastika painted with saffron solution, you should think that as a salvation place. Seth again asked, that how he would know that which tirthankaras attained salvation on which place? Goddess replied- number of swastika would indicate the rank of tirthankaras salvation. In this way, due to the power of Goddess Padmavati, 20 salvation places were decided and stupas/tonks were constructed and feet impression were installed, their holy inauguration was done in 1825 in Magh Sukla Tirthia by Acharaya Dharam Suri. Along with these constructions of Jinalayas Jal Mandir, Seven Temples In Madhuban, Dharamsalas And Temples For The Ruling Deities Shri Bhomiyaji was completed.

Welfare duties and other managing activites of the temples were handed over to Sri Jain Sewtamber Association. But due to high altitude and thunder storm, jinalayas constructed by Seth Kushaalchand were destroyed/demolished in few years. Again during the period of vikram smavat 1925 to 1933 this tirth was rebuilt, and inagurated by Shri Sinshantisagar Suri, Jinhans Suri, Jinchandra Suri, and in during this phase new jinalayas of Bhagvan Adinath , Bhagvan Vasupujay, Neminath Bhagvan Mahavir, Rishavanan, Chadranan, Vareshan, Vardhaman etc were also built.

Over the years passed due to some reasons whole hills of sammed shikar was acquired by King Palganj. King of Plaganj decided to sell Sammet Shikar in 1905-10 and made a public announcement. Seth Raidbhadur Shri Badridas Jouhree of Kolkata and Shri Bhadursingh Dugar of Murshidabad came across this announcement and they asked for support on Indian level of Swetamber Association Anadji Kalyanji to buy it

With the help of both respectable person the association purchased the hill on 9/3/1918 for Rs 242000/- and they again rebuilt and refurnished the tirth.

Around 1980, Acharaya Sagarnand Suri arrived Shikarji and was very pleased by visitng the sacred shrines and wished to rebuilt and refurnished the jinalayas. His commmunity’s female saint Shri Suprabhasri with her continous efforts around 2012 was able to start the reconstruction of jinalayas which was completed about 2017. And this was the 23rd reconstruction and refurnishing and what we are seeing is the scene of this last effort.