Shikharji

Shikharji
शिखरजी / Śhikharjī (Hindi)

Shikharji

Jain Temples at Shikarji, (Parasnath hills)
Shikharji
Location within Jharkhand
Basic information
Location Giridih, Jharkhand, India
Geographic coordinates 23°57′40″N 86°08′14″E / 23.9611°N 86.1371°E / 23.9611; 86.1371Coordinates: 23°57′40″N 86°08′14″E / 23.9611°N 86.1371°E / 23.9611; 86.1371
Affiliation Jainism
Festivals Paryushana
Country India
Elevation 1,350 m (4,429 ft)

Shikharji (Śikharjī), Giridih district, Jharkhand, India, is located on Parasnath hill, the highest mountain south of the Himalayas. It is the most important Jain Tirtha (pilgrimage site) for the Jains. [1] believed to be the place where twenty of the twenty-four Jain tirthankaras along with many other monks attained Moksha, according to Nirvana Kanda and other texts.[2][3]

Etymology

Tonk of Parshvanatha, Shikharji

Shikharji means the "venerable peak". The site is also called Sammed Śikhar or Sammet Shikhar "peak of concentration." because it is a place where twenty of twenty-four Tirthankaras attained Moksha through meditation. The word "Parasnath" is derived from Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Jain tirthankara, who was one of those who is believed to have attained Moksha at the site.

Geography

Shikarji is located in an inland part of rural east India. It lies on NH-2, the Delhi-Kolkata highway in a section called the Grand Trunk road.[4] Shikharji rises to 4,429 feet (1,350 m) making it the highest mountain in Jharkhand state.[5]

History

The earliest reference to Shikharji as a tirth (place of pilgrimage) is found in the Jñātṛdhārmakātha, one of the twelve core texts of Jainism. Shikharji is also mentioned in the Pārśvanāthacarita, a twelfth century biography of Pārśva.

The popularity of Shikharji as a site of pilgrimage followed that of Vulture Peak, Bihar, where it is believed the Buddhist Sariputta attained enlightenment.

Jharkhand acquired Shikharji under the Bihar Land Reforms Act, leaving the rights of Jains in doubt. Use of Shikharji as a tourist destination also impacts on the religious beliefs of the Jain.

Approach

Trail map showing tonks on Parasnath Hill
Doli

The pilgrimage to Shikharji is a round trip of 27 km through the Madhuban forest. The section from Gandharva Nala stream to the summit is the most sacred to Jains. The pilgrimage is made on foot or by a litter or doli carried by a doliwallah along a concrete paved track. Along the track are shrines to each of the twenty four tirthankaras and vendors of tea, coffee, water, fruits and snacks.

There is an option for parikrama of the entire Parasnath Hill, a pilgrimage of 54 kilometres (34 mi). The parikrama path is through the forest and is walking only.

Temples

The temple at Shikharji is a new construction with some parts dating to the eighteenth century. However, the idol itself is very old. Sanskrit inscriptions at the foot of the image date to 1678. At the base of Shikharji is a temple to Bhomiyaji (Taleti). On the walls of the Jain temple at the village of Madhuban, there is a mural painting depicting all the temples on Parasnath Hill. Temples along the track include:

Replicas

In Jainism, the building of replica temples is seen as auspicious and worthwhile. On August 13, 2012, the world's first to-scale complete replication of Shikharji was opened in Siddhachalam in New Jersey over 120 acres of hilly terrain.[6] Called Shikharji at Siddhachalam, it has become an important place of pilgrimage for the Jain diaspora. There is a small scale replica of Shikharji at Dadabari, New Delhi.

Transport

Nearest railway station named "Parasnath Station" is situated in Isri bazar, Dumri Jharkhand. Its around 25 km from Madhuban. Parasnath station is situated on Delhi-Howrah Grand Chord via Kanpur, Allahbad, Mugalsarai, Gaya, Asansol. Many long distance have halt at Parasnath Station. Daily connectivities to Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kolkata, Patna, Allahbad, Kanpur, Jammutavi, Amritsar, Kalka etc. are available. Even 12301-12302 Howrah Rajdhani Express via Gaya Junction has a halt on Parasnath station which run 6 days in a week.

By Airway; Nearest airport is Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, Durgapur (RDP ) West Bengal and 1 hour drive from airport.

Durgapur has direct flights from Kolkata and Delhi

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jain V. "Shikharji." Herenow4u.net 15 April 2011
  2. ↑ "On a spiritual odyssey – Hindustan Times Travel." Travel.hindustantimes.com 14 January 2011
  3. ↑ Hachette India (25 October 2013). Indiapedia: The All-India Factfinder. Hachette India. ISBN 978-93-5009-766-3.
  4. ↑ "Parasnath." Google Maps Accessed 23 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Shikharji." Jharkhandtourism.in Accessed 26 May 2012
  6. ↑ Shikharji at Siddhachalam
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