| Parasnath | |
|---|---|
| Sammet Shikhar[1]Marang Buru[2][3][4] | |
 Parasnath Hill | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,365 m (4,478 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,017 m (3,337 ft) |
| Listing | List of Indian states and territories by highest point, Ribu |
| Coordinates | 23°57′48″N86°07′44″E / 23.9634°N 86.129°E /23.9634; 86.129[5] |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Sarak bhumi (Sanskrit) |
| Geography | |
  Parasnath Location of Parasnath peak in Jharkhand | |
| Location | Pirtand CD Block,Giridih,Jharkhand,India |
| Parent range | Parasnath Range |
Parasnath Hill (alsoSammet Shikhar,Marang Buru) is a mountain peak in the Parasnath hill range.[4] It is located towards the eastern end of theChota Nagpur Plateau in theGiridih district (Hazaribagh district in British India) of the Indian state ofJharkhand.[6] The hill is named afterParshvanatha, the 23rdJainTirthankara, who attained liberation here in 8th century BCE.[3] In this connection, there is the holiestJain pilgrimage,Shikharji on the top of hill. The hill is also known as Sammet Shikhar (lit. 'great mountain', the supreme deity) by otherautochthonous of the region in religious contexts.[1][7][8]
At 1,365 m (4,478 ft) Parasnath is the highest mountain peak in the state of Jharkhand, and istheoretically inter-visible (by direct line of sight on a perfectly clear day) with Mount Everest over 450 km (280 mi) away.[9] The foothills of theHimalayas are about 180 miles away to the north over theGanges.[10]
There is a Jain temple on the mountain peak known as "Svarna Bhadra koot " ("cottage of golden grace").[11] The temple is made of marble. There is another marble Jain temple on hill, known as Jal Mandir.
It is easily accessible fromParasnath railway station.
The underlying rock ismetamorphosed fine-grainedsedimentary rock withgranodioriteigneous intrusions through these older formations.[12]
As originally described several landsnails were only found in the Parasnath Hills area but the fauna is otherwise typical for Bengal.[10]
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| Jainism |
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Historically, Parasnath or Sammet Shikharji has been an ancient Jain pilgrimage site. It is a place where the 23rd tirthankara Parshvanath (also known as Parasnath) attained liberation 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 liberation here during the 8th century BCE. After preaching for 70 years, Parshvanath attainedmoksha atShikharji on Parasnath hill. Some Jain texts name the place as Mount Sammeta.[13] It is the most revered in Jainism because 20 of its 24tirthankars are believed to have attained moksha there.[14][15][16] at the age of 100 on Shravana Shukla Saptami according to Lunar Calendar.[17] Hismoksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) in Jain tradition[18] is celebrated as Moksha Saptami. This day is celebrated on large scale at Parasnath tonk of the mountain, in northernJharkhand, part of the Parasnath Range[19] by offering NirvanaLaddu (Sugar balls) and reciting ofNirvana Kanda. Parshvanatha has been calledpurisādāṇīya (beloved of the people) by Jains.[20][21][22]
The earliest literary reference to Shikharji (Parasnath) as atirth (place of Jain pilgrimage) is found in theJñātṛdhārmakātha, one of the twelve core texts of Jainism compiled in 6th century BCE by chief disciple ofMahavira. Shikharji is also mentioned in thePārśvanāthacarita, a twelfth-century biography of Pārśva. A 13th century CE palm-leaf manuscript ofKalpa Sūtra andKalakacaryakatha has an image of a scene of Parshavanatha'snirvana at Shikharji.[23]This all indicates Parasnath was a Jain site since ancient times. Also many historians accept Parasnath as the place of Nirvan Kalyanak of the historical figure and the 23rdTirthankar, Parshvanath.[24][17][25][26]
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 24Tirthankaras of Jains, twenty attained nirvana at Parshvnatha Hills.
On the mountain, there are theShikharjiJain temples, an importanttirthakshetra or Jain pilgrimage site.[27] For each Tirthankara there is a shrine (gumti or Tonk) on the hill.[28]
The Jain temple is believed to be constructed either by theMagadha KingBimbisara or by the Kalinga King Avakinnayo Karakandu.
An ancient idol of Parasnath is located in the valley at Palganj. The idol is believed to be 2500 years old.[29]
During 772 BCE at the age of 100 on Shravana Shukla Saptami according to Lunar Calendar.[17] Tirthankar Parswanathmoksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) in Jaina tradition[18] is celebrated as Moksha Saptami. This day is celebrated on large scale at Parasnath tonk of the mountain, in northernJharkhand, part of the Parasnath Range[19] by offering NirvanaLaddu (Sugar balls) and reciting ofNirvana Kanda.
The local Santhal community, which comprises 26% of the population of Jharkhand, use the nameMarang Buru to refer to both their deity and the mountain.[4] 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.[2] 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.[30] However Jains claim that Santhal claim is implausible and illogical and that actually Parasnath is a Jain pilgrimage since ancient times. They also observe 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.[30]
