Page 2 - Shilanyas2

Iddhachalam means a mountain in homage of the Siddhas, i.e., those who have attained moksha (liberation from the cycle of life and rebirth). Teerthraj Shikharji is the place where 20 of our 24 Tirthankars of the current avasarpini, including Bhagwaan Parasvnath, attained moksha. The discovery that the layout of the Tonks of Shikharji almost mirrors the layout of Siddhachalam brings alive Acharya Sushil Kumarji’s sacred dream of replicating Shikharji at Siddhachalam.

The picture above seeks to signify Bhagwaan Parasvnath’s ascent to Siddhaloka, the permanent abode of liberated souls. Siddhaloka is often depicted in our literature as a crescent-shaped region that lies beyond the heavens at the apex of the universe (loka-akash).

When all karmic bondage is eliminated, the soul soars upwards to the border of cosmic space. Tattavarth Sutra, Chapter 10, line 5. That Which Is, translated by Nathmal Tatia, pp. 255.

There at the top of the world reside the blessed perfected souls, rid of all transmigration, and arrived at the excellent state of perfection…They have no visible form, they consist of life throughout and they possess paramount happiness which admits of no comparison. Verse 64 and 67, Lecture XXXVI, Uttaradhyana Sutra, translated by Fredrich Max Mueller.

The form of Bhagwaan Parasvnath atop Siddhalok is merely a reminder that in order to attain moksha, even He had to be born a human. And that all humans can aspire to be perfect.