Parasnath
Parasnath Hill is a mountain peak in the Parasnath hill range. It is located towards the eastern end of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Giridih district of the Indian state of Jharkhand. The hill is named after Parshvanatha, the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, who attained liberation here in 8th century BCE. In this connection, there is the holiest Jain pilgrimage, Shikharji on the top of hill. The hill is also known as Sammet Shikhar by other autochthonous of the region in religious contexts.
Geography
At Parasnath is the highest mountain peak in the state of Jharkhand, and is theoretically inter-visible with Mount Everest over away. The foothills of the Himalayas are about 180 miles away to the north over the Ganges.There is a Jain temple on the mountain peak known as "Svarna Bhadra koot ". 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.
Geology
The underlying rock is metamorphosed fine-grained sedimentary rock with granodiorite igneous intrusions through these older formations.Fauna
As originally described several landsnails were only found in the Parasnath Hills area but the fauna is otherwise typical for Bengal.History
Historically, Parasnath or Sammet Shikharji has been an ancient Jain pilgrimage site. It is a place where the 23rd tirthankara Parshvanath 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 attained moksha at Shikharji on Parasnath hill. Some Jain texts name the place as Mount Sammeta. It is the most revered in Jainism because 20 of its 24 tirthankars are believed to have attained moksha there. at the age of 100 on Shravana Shukla Saptami according to Lunar Calendar. His moksha in Jain tradition 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 by offering Nirvana Laddu and reciting of Nirvana Kanda. Parshvanatha has been called by Jains.The earliest literary reference to Shikharji as a tirth 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.
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 23rd Tirthankar, Parshvanath.
Jain heritage
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, twenty attained nirvana at Parshvnatha Hills.On the mountain, there are the Shikharji Jain temples, an important tirthakshetra or Jain pilgrimage site. For each Tirthankara there is a shrine on the hill.
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 Parasnath is located in the valley at Palganj. The idol is believed to be 2500 years old.
During 772 BCE at the age of 100 on Shravana Shukla Saptami according to Lunar Calendar. Tirthankar Parswanath moksha in Jaina tradition 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 by offering Nirvana Laddu and reciting of Nirvana Kanda.