Shikharji is located on Parasnath, the highest mountain of the Parasnath Range. It is a Jain Tirtha 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.
Shrine’s History
The earliest reference to Shikharji as a tirth is found in the Jñātṛdhārmakātha, one of the twelve core texts of Jainism: at Shikharji, Māllīnātha, the nineteenth Tirthankara, practised samadhi. Shikharji is also mentioned in the Parsvanathacarita, a twelfth-century biography of Parsva. 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. Sports such as paragliding and parasailing may take place at Shikharji
Architectural Relevance of This Shrine
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. On the walls of the Jain temple at the village of Madhuban, there is a mural painting depicting all the temples on Parasnath Hill
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
The nearest Bus Stop is Hazaribagh
By Rail
The nearest airport is Parasnath
By Air
The nearest airport is Ranchi Airport
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Paryushana
