Jharkhand

• 31 May 2022

Jain shrine Parasnath

Why in News?

• Recently Dr. Singh, Associate Professor of the Botany Department of Vinoba Bhave University. The study being conducted by Prashant Kumar Mishra and his team has revealed that Parasnath and its terai forest cover has been continuously declining for the last four decades due to increasing human activities.

Key Points

• The Parasnath Hills are a range of hills located in the Giridih district of Jharkhand, the highest of which is 1350 meters high.
• Jains call it Sammed Shikhar. This hill has been named Parasnath after the 23rd Jain Tirthankara.
• Parasnath is a major centre of Jain Religion, as out of 24 Jain Tirthankaras, 20 Tirthankaras attained Kaivalya here. For each of these a temple (Gumti or Tuk) has been built on the hill.
• It is noteworthy that the Santhals call this hill Marang Buru. They celebrate a hunting festival on the full moon day in Vaishakha (mid-April).