Last year, I made a choice that changed my life. I decided to do the Sammed Shikharji Yatra. My friends told me it was very hard. My family said I was too old. But I knew in my heart that I had to go.

I had been sick for two years. Doctors gave me medicine but I was still sad and tired. My sister told me about Sammed Shikharji Yatra and how it helped many people find peace. She said the mountain has power. I decided I would try.

Getting Ready

I spent one month preparing for my Sammed Shikharji Yatra. I walked every day to make my legs strong. I bought good shoes and comfortable clothes. I read books about the mountain and the Jain leaders who went there.

But nothing could prepare me for what was coming.

The Day I Started My Sammed Shikharji Yatra

I left my house early in the morning with my two cousins. We were excited but also nervous. The bus ride took many hours. My legs were already hurting before we even reached the mountain.

When we got to the base, I saw the mountain. It was very big and very high. People were already climbing. I could see them far away, like small ants on the mountain.

I said a prayer and started my Sammed Shikharji Yatra.

The Climb Begins

The first hour was not so bad. The path was easy and my legs felt okay. I was walking with my cousins and we were talking and laughing.

But after one hour, everything changed.

My legs started to hurt very badly. The path became very steep. There were many stones and rocks. The sun was very hot and I was sweating a lot. I had only drunk a little water and I was already very thirsty.

I looked up at the mountain. I still had so much more to climb. I wanted to go back. I told my cousin that I could not do this. My cousin said, "You started your Sammed Shikharji Yatra. Now you must finish. The mountain is waiting for you."

The Middle Part - When I Almost Gave Up

After two hours, I was in real pain. My legs were like fire. Every step hurt. My feet had blisters. My back was hurting. I was breathing very hard and my chest hurt.

I sat down on a big stone and wanted to cry. I thought about going back down. I thought maybe I was too weak. Maybe this was not for me.

An old woman passed me. She was older than me and she was still climbing. She had a big smile on her face. She said, "Keep going, sister. The blessings are at the top." I felt ashamed. If she could do it, I could do it too.

That old woman's words gave me strength. I got up and kept walking.

The Hardest Part

The third and fourth hours were the most difficult. The path was very rocky and very steep. Some parts had 100 steps in a row. After each step, I had to stop and breathe.

My cousins were far ahead of me now. They kept coming back to help me. One cousin gave me water. The other cousin held my arm and helped me climb.

Many pilgrims passed me. Some were young. Some were very old. Some were sick. But everyone was climbing. Everyone was trying.

I thought about why I was doing this. I thought about my sickness. I thought about my sadness. I thought about the Jain teachers who climbed this mountain long ago. They did not have easy lives either. They suffered. But they kept going because they believed in something bigger than their pain.

This thought gave me power to keep climbing.

When I Reached the Top

After five and a half hours, my feet touched the top of the mountain.

I could not believe it. I fell down on my knees. I cried. My cousins hugged me. We had done it.

The view was incredible. I could see for many miles. I could see forests and villages. The sky was very blue. The air was fresh and clean.

But more than the view, I felt something inside my heart. I felt peace. I felt like God was there with me. All the pain in my legs and my body did not matter anymore.

In the Temples

We went to the temples at the top. We rang the bells. We said prayers. We sat down and meditated.

I thought about my journey. I thought about how difficult it was. I thought about how many times I wanted to give up. But I did not give up.

In that moment, I understood something. The climb was not just about climbing a mountain. The climb was about my life. My life was also difficult. I had sickness. I had sadness. But just like the mountain, I could keep going. I could reach the top of my problems too.

My Body Was Destroyed But My Soul Was Happy

My legs could not move the next day. I could barely walk. My whole body was in pain.

But I was the happiest I had been in two years.

I smiled all the time. My cousins were worried and they said, "You are hurting so much, why are you smiling?" I told them, "Because I did the Sammed Shikharji Yatra. I did something I thought I could not do. Now everything is possible."

What Changed After My Sammed Shikharji Yatra

After I came home from my Sammed Shikharji Yatra, many things changed.

First, my sickness went away. I don't know if it was the mountain or my belief, but I felt better. The medicine started working better too.

Second, I became strong. Not just my legs, but my mind became strong. When I had problems, I remembered the mountain. I remembered how I did not give up. So I did not give up on my problems either.

Third, my family changed. My sister saw how different I became. My cousins told everyone about the journey. Now my whole family believes that the mountain has power.

Why It Was My Most Difficult Journey

The Sammed Shikharji Yatra was the most difficult thing I have ever done. It was not because the mountain was so high or the path so hard. It was difficult because I had to face myself.

I had to face my fear. I had to face my pain. I had to face the voice inside me that said I could not do it.

But I did it. And now I know that I am stronger than I thought.

My Advice to Others

If you are thinking about doing the Sammed Shikharji Yatra, I want to tell you something.

It will be very hard. Your legs will hurt. You will feel tired. You might want to give up.

But please do not give up.

The mountain is not just a mountain. It is a teacher. It teaches you about yourself. It shows you that you are stronger than you think.

When you reach the top and you sit in the temple and you pray, you will understand. You will understand that all the pain was worth it.

Conclusion

The Sammed Shikharji Yatra was my most difficult journey. But it was also my best journey.

Every day I remember the mountain. I remember the pain. But more than that, I remember the peace. I remember the moment when I reached the top and I cried and I felt like I could do anything.

If I ever get sick again, I will remember that mountain. If I ever feel sad or weak, I will remember that climb. And I will know that I can do hard things.

This is my story. This is why the Sammed Shikharji Yatra changed my life.

If you go, the mountain will change your life too. I promise you this.