What is the news?

• In July 2022, as part of its tourism policy, Jharkhand government decided to “promote religious tourism” at Parasnath Hills.
• Parasnath hills hosts Sammed Sikharji, an important pilgrimage site for Jains. Jains fear that promoting tourism will affect the spiritual nature of the site.
• To that cause, Jains across Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi, have been organising peaceful protests.

More about Sammed Shikharji

• It is a pilgrimage site in Giridih district (Jharkhand).
• It is located on the Parasnath hills (the highest mountain in Jharkhand). The hill is named after Parshvanatha, 23^rd Jain Tirthankara
• It is believed that 20 of the 24 Tirthankaras (enlightened beings) attained moksha (salvation) here

Parshvanatha

• Birthplace: Varanasi.
• Only Tirthankara with a title Kalīkālkalpataru
• Lived in 8^th or 7^th BCE
• Successor of 22^nd Tirthankara, Neminatha
• He attained Moksha at Parasnatha hills (death place)
• Parshvanatha established the “fourfold restraint,” the four vows taken by his followers (not to take life, steal, lie, or own property). The fifth one (Brahmacharya) was added by 24^th and final Tirthankara, Mahavira. They together are called 5 mahavratas or 5 doctrines of Jainism.
• Symbol of Parshvanatha: snake

Model Question

Q. With reference to religious sites in India, Sammed Shikarji belongs to

(a) Buddhism

(b) Jainism

(c) Vaishnavism

(d) Sikhism

Answer: B

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