Parasnath

Historically parasnath or sammed shikharji is an ancient Jain pilgrimage site it is a place where the 23rd tirthankara Parshwanath(also known as Parasnath) attained salvation here in 772 BCE.

It is noteworthy that the name of the Parasnath hill derived from the Jain Tirthankar Parshvanath who is also known as Parasnath or Parsva who attained salvation here during the 8th century BCE.

After preaching for 70 years, Parshvanath attained moksha at Shikharji on Parasnath hill.Some jain texts name the place as Mount Sammeta.{{sfn|Jacobi|1964|p=275}} It is revered in Jainism because 20 of its 24 tirthankars are believed to have attained moksha there.{{Sfn|Cort|2010|pp=130–133}}{{sfn|Wiley|2009|p=148}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=221}} at the age of 100 on Shravana Shukla Saptami according to Lunar Calendar.{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=30}} His moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) in Jain tradition{{sfn|Sangave|2001|p=104}} is celebrated as Moksha Saptami. This day is celebrated on large scale at Parasnath tonk of the mountain, in northern Jharkhand, part of the Parasnath Range{{sfn|Kailash Chand Jain|1991|p=13}} by offering Nirvana Laddu (Sugar balls) and reciting of Nirvana Kanda. Parshvanatha has been called {{IAST|purisādāṇīya|italic=yes}} (beloved of the people) by Jains.{{sfn|Jacobi|1964|p=271 with footnote 1}}{{sfn|Kailash Chand Jain|1991|pp=12–13}}{{sfn|Schubring|1964|p=220}}

The Santhal community use the name Marang Buru. They are in dispute with the Jain community as to certain ancestral worship and other rights, and these have been subject to judicial review historically.{{cite news|last=Deogharia |first=Jaideep|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/santhals-join-hands-to-claim-right-over-marang-buru/articleshow/118095889.cms|title=Santhals join hands to claim right over Marang Buru|date=9 February 2025 |access-date=27 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219230114/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/santhals-join-hands-to-claim-right-over-marang-buru/articleshow/118095889.cms|archive-date=19 February 2025}} Recent bans on meat and alcohol, upheld by the Jharkhand High Court in 2025, have exacerbated the conflict, curtailing Santal traditions and fueling protests and counter-petitions in the court.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-17 |title=Story of a sacred Jharkhand hill at the centre of old friction between Jains & Santals |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/story-of-a-sacred-jharkhand-hill-at-the-centre-of-old-friction-between-jains-santals-10011403/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} However Jains claim that santhal claim is implausible and illogical and that actually parasnath is a jain pilgrimage since ancient times. They also believe that Jains and Adivasis have co-existed at Parasnath Hill since ancient times, and that when the tirthankaras sought nirvana there, Adivasis traditionally carried them to the summit, a practice that continues today. The earliest literary reference to Shikharji(Parasnath) as a tirth (place of pilgrimage) is found in the Jñātṛdhārmakātha, one of the twelve core texts of Jainism compiled in 6th century BCE by chief disciple of Mahavira. Shikharji is also mentioned in the Pārśvanāthacarita, a twelfth-century biography of Pārśva. A 13th century CE palm-leaf manuscript of Kalpa Sūtra and Kalakacaryakatha has an image of a scene of Parshavanatha's nirvana at Shikharji.{{sfn|Eastman|1943|p=95}}

This all indicates Parasnath was a jain site since ancient times. Also many historians accept parasnath as the place of Moksh kalyanak(during 772 BCE) of the historical figure Tirthankar Parshvanath .{{Sfn|Balfour|1885|p=141}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=30}}{{sfn|Sangave|2001|p=103}}{{sfn|University of Calcutta|1845|p=256}}

{{OSM Location map

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At {{cvt|1365|m}} Parasnath is the highest mountain peak in the state of Jharkhand, and is theoretically inter-visible (by direct line of sight on a perfectly clear day) with Mount Everest over {{cvt|450|km}} away.{{Cite web|url=https://viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/ASIA/EVEREST-SOUTH.gif|title=View from Mt. Everest looking south.|website=ViewfinderPanoramas.org|access-date=2024-06-03}}

There is a beautiful Jain temple on the mountain peak known as "Svarna Bhadra koot " ("cottage of golden grace").{{Cite web |date=2023-01-21 |title=Shri Sammed Shikharji - Encyclopedia of Jainism |url=https://encyclopediaofjainism.com/106134-2/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |language=en-US}} The temple is made of marble.There is another marble jain temple on hill known as Jal Mandir.

It is easily accessible from Parasnath railway station.

File:Shikharji Parasnath Giridih.jpg

{{Main|Shikharji}}

This is one of the most holy and revered sites for the Jain community. They call it Sammed Sikhar. It is a major pilgrimage site. Out of 24 Tirthankaras of Jains, 20 got nirvana on Parshvnatha Hills.

On the mountain, there are the Shikharji Jain temples, an important tirthakshetra or Jain pilgrimage site.[http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=78102 "Shikharji." Jain V. Herenow4u.net] Accessed 26 May 2012 For each Tirthankara there is a shrine (gumti or Tonk) on the hill.{{Cite web|url=https://giridih.nic.in/tourist-place/parasnath/|title = Parasnath | DISTRICT GIRIDIH, GOVERNMENT OF JHARKHAND | India}}

The Jain temple is believed to be constructed either by the Magadha King Bimbisara or by the Kalinga King Avakinnayo Karakandu.

An ancient idol of Lord Parasnath is located in the valley at Palganj. The idol is believed to be 2500 years old.{{cite web |title=The forgotten taleti of Shikharji - Palganj |date=15 January 2020 |url=https://www.storiesbyarpit.com/2020/01/the-forgotten-taleti-of-shikharji.html |access-date=2023-05-03 }}

During 772 BCE at the age of 100 on Shravana Shukla Saptami according to Lunar Calendar.{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=30}} Tirthankar Parswanath moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) in Jaina tradition{{sfn|Sangave|2001|p=104}} is celebrated as Moksha Saptami. This day is celebrated on large scale at Parasnath tonk of the mountain, in northern Jharkhand, part of the Parasnath Range{{sfn|Kailash Chand Jain|1991|p=13}} by offering Nirvana Laddu (Sugar balls) and reciting of Nirvana Kanda.

File:Lotus Jain Temple.jpg|Shwetambar temple of Lord Parshwanath at foothills of Parasnath hill

File:Footprint at Parshwanath Tonk, Shikharji.jpg|charan paduka of lord parasnath

File:Tonk SHRI 10008 PARASNATH BHAGVAN.jpg|"Swarna Bhadra Koot"Temple of lord parasnath on mountain peak

File:Shikharji Notice.jpg|Notice board on mountain

File:Sitanala at Parasnath Hill.jpg|waterfall on hill

File:Shikharji Jain temple.jpg|"Jal Mandir"A Jain temple over hill

File:Valley parasnath temple.jpg|Temples in valley

File:Pushpadanta idol, Shikharji.jpg|deity of lord pushpadant

• List of mountains in India
• List of mountains by elevation
• Shikharji movement

{{reflist}}

• {{citation |last=Jacobi |first=Hermann |title=Jain Sūtras (Translation) |editor=Max Muller (The Sacred Books of the East Series, Volume XXII) |url=https://archive.org/stream/jainsūtrasparti029233mbp#page/n333/mode/2up |year=1964 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (Original: Oxford University Press) }}
• {{citation |last=Cort |first=John E. |title=Framing the Jina: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History |url={{Google books|MDBpq23-0QoC|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-19-538502-1 }}
• {{citation |last=Dundas |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Dundas |title=The Jains |url={{Google books|X8iAAgAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes}} |edition=Second |date=2002 |orig-date=1992 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-26605-5 |location=London and New York }}
• {{citation |last=Wiley |first=Kristi L. |title=The A to Z of Jainism |url={{Google books|cIhCCwAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes}} |year=2009 |volume=38 |publisher=Scarecrow |isbn=978-0-8108-6337-8 }}
• {{citation |last=Sangave |first=Vilas Adinath |title=Facets of Jainology: Selected Research Papers on Jain Society, Religion, and Culture |url={{Google books|QzEQJHWUwXQC|plainurl=yes}} |date=2001 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |location=Mumbai |isbn=978-81-7154-839-2 }}

{{Jharkhand}}

• {{citation |last=Jain |first=Kailash Chand |title=Lord Mahāvīra and His Times |url={{Google books|8-TxcO9dfrcC|plainurl=yes}} |date=1991 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0805-8 |ref={{sfnref|Kailash Chand Jain|1991}} }}
• {{citation |last=Schubring |first=Walther |title=Jinismus, in: Die Religionen Indiens |volume=3 |publisher=Stuttgart |date=1964 }}

Category:Mountains of Jharkhand

Category:Highest points of Indian states and union territories

Category:Giridih district

Category:Mountains in Jainism