The layout of Siddhachalam mirrors the layout of Shikharji's tonks
Deepawali 2009
by Jaipat Singh Jain
Jai Jinendra.
A transcript of a lecture given by Guruji that is available at the front desk when one visits Siddhachalam is entitled "When I was Fourteen or Fifteen." In it, Guruji reminiscences the virtual conversation he once had with Roopchandji Maharaj in the course of his morning meditation. Guruji considered Roopchandji Maharaj his inspiration. Guruji writes that Roopchandji Maharaj asked Guruji what he thought his purpose in life was. Guruji recalls having said that it was two-fold: to be a perfect yogi, and to build many temples.
Guruji was a perfect yogi. And Siddhachalam, he said, was the place he saw in his vision when he was a child.
Siddhachalam is also the place where he mastered the secrets behind the Namokaar Mantra and wrote the book "Song of the Soul" about the mantra. He gave this place the name Siddhachalam, that is, a mountain in homage to the siddhas. A homage to all souls who have achieved moksha. In due course, thanks to Guruji's tyaag, tapasya and vision, Siddhachalam came to be called the world's first tirth outside India.
Guruji often said that his vision was for Siddhachalam to have replicas of the great tirth's of India.
And as it happens, the layout of Siddhachalam mirrors the layout of tirthraj Shri Sammed Shikharji's 30 tonks and Jal Mandir. Click here for the map of Siddhachalam and its various nature and meditation trails.
Alongside this column is a map of Shikharji that Siddhachalam commissioned in early 2009. It was prepared by well-known cartographers, Maps of India. Click here for the map of Shikharji and its various tonks.
Also alongside this column is a photo essay by Vivek Jain of each of the 30 tonks, Jal Mandir and Bhomiyaji's temple. The map, layout and related details have been confirmed with satellite images, personal inspections and preliminary review of literature.
Collectively, they likely provide the most authentic map and presentation of Shikharji's tonks that is available in public domain. In due course, Siddhachalam will add more materials to this Website so as to make available definitive information about Shri Shikharji tirthraj - the loftiest of all tirths.
If the map of Shri Shikharji is condensed to about a third in scale and then superimposed over the map of Siddhachalam by aligning the north entrance of Siddhachalam with the entrance of Shikharji, one finds that the Jal Mandir of Shikharji sits on the old spring house located at Siddhachalam. Furthermore, almost all of the 30 tonks of Shikharji get spread on our nature and meditation trails.
