Parasnath Hills in Jharkhand

Key Facts about Parasnath Hills:

• Parasnath is a mountain peak in the Parasnath Range.
• It is located towards the eastern end of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Giridih district of the Indian state of Jharkhand.
• It has been named Parasnath after the 23rd Jain Tirthankara.
• It is a holy and revered sites for the Jain community, called it as “Sammed Sikhar”.
• Out of 24 Tirthankaras of Jains, 20 got NIRVANA on Parasnath Hills.
• On the mountain, A Jain temple is believed to be constructed by Magadha King Bimbisara (543-491 BCE.)

 

About Santhal Community:

• The Santhal tribe, one of the largest Scheduled Tribe communities in the country, has a sizeable population in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Assam and West Bengal.
• Santhals call parasnath hill “Marang Buru”. They celebrate a hunting festival on the full moon day in Vaishakha (mid-April).

 

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Q1) What is Nirvana in Jainism?

Nirvana is the shedding of all desires and ending of suffering, which finally leads to freedom from rebirth.

Source: Jharkhand: Tribal bodies threaten mega protest on Jan 10 to ‘free’ Parasnath hills from ‘clutches’ of Jains