Centre Directed To Maintain The Sanctity Of Holy Jain Site Shri Sammed Shikhar In Jharkhand

What Is Centre Directed To Maintain The Sanctity Of Holy Jain Site Shri Sammed Shikhar: Sammed Shikhar, the holy pilgrimage site of the Jain community, will no longer be a tourist area. The Environment Ministry issued a two-page letter regarding this. It reads, ‘Implementation of the provisions of Clause-3 of the Eco-Sensitive Zone Notification is immediately stayed, which includes all other tourism and eco-tourism activities. So, the State Government is directed to take all necessary steps immediately to ensure the sanctity of the holy pilgrimage site.

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Context

• The Jain community has been agitating for the last few days against the declaration of Sammed peak as a tourist area. Many Jain monks have also started fast unto death against this.
• In this, 2 Jain sage Sugyesagar Maharaj and  Muni Samarth Sagar had sacrificed their life.
• The central government on Thursday withdrew its order issued three years ago.

What Is The Timeline Of Shri Sammed Shikharji Issue?

• In February 2019, this holy religious place of the Jain community was declared a tourist destination by the then BJP government of Jharkhand.
• In August the same year, the Union Environment Ministry declared the Parasnath hill as an eco-sensitive zone and said the area had “tremendous potential to promote tourism”.
• Recently, the Government of Jharkhand declared it a tourist destination. With this decision, the pilgrimage has to be converted according to tourism.
• People belonging to the protesting Jain community say that this is a center of faith, not a tourist destination. On declaring it as a tourist destination, people will consume meat and alcohol here. Due to this the sanctity of this holy religious place will be broken. This cannot be tolerated.
• Apart from this, people are also furious about breaking the feet of Lord Adinath on Shatrunjaya mountain.
• Jain society demands that this place should not be declared as eco-tourism. Rather it should be declared a holy place so that its sanctity remains.
• By agreeing with the demands of the Jain Community, On Thursday, the central government has withdrawn this three-year-old order and also directed the Jharkhand government to immediately take all steps necessary to protect its sanctity.

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On what basis is the Eco Sensitive Zone declared?

• Such forest areas where urbanization and other developmental activities are prohibited are called eco-sensitive zones.
• In such areas biodiversity animals, animals-birds, mountains-stones, river-drain are completely safe.
• No construction work can happen here.
• Without declaring eco-sensitive zone, the work of breaking mountains, cutting trees and plants remain continue.

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Importance of Shri Sammed Shikharji

People belonging to the Jain community consider every particle of Sammed Shikharji sacred. This place is associated with the faith of the people. A large number of Hindus also consider it a great center of faith.

• Location: Shri Sammed Shikharji, also known as Parshwanath Parvat, is situated on the Parasnath hill in Giridih district of Jharkhand. It is highest peak of Jharkhand.
• Importance: Sammed Shikharji is a holy pilgrimage for Jains. It is considered to be the biggest pilgrimage site by both the Digambaras and the Svetambaras. It is believed that it is the place where 20 of the 24 Jain tirthankaras, who are Jain spiritual leaders, along with many other monks attained ‘moksha‘ or salvation after meditating. Toks are made on this hill, where the feet of Tirthankaras are present. It is believed that some temples here are more than two thousand years old.
• Religious Practices: People of Jain community visit Sammed Shikharji and worship in temples spread over an area of 27 kms. People who reach here eat and drink something only after worship.

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What Are The Beliefs About Shri Sammed Shikharji?

• According to Jain religious belief, 20 out of 24 Jain Tirthankaras and monks have attained salvation here.
• The word ‘Shikharji’ in itself means a ‘venerable peak’. Interestingly, the word ‘Parasnath’ comes from ‘Parshvanatha’, the 23rd Jain tirthankara who attained moksha here.
• According to beliefs of the Jain community, Shikharji is ranked with Ashtapad, Girnar, Dilwara Temples of Mount Abu and Shatrunjaya as the ‘Svetambara Pancha Tirth’ or the five principal pilgrimage shrines.
• If someone wants to do a pilgrimage of Shikharji, they must start with Palganj on Giridih road, where there is a small shrine dedicated to Parshvanatha.
• Then, they can make some offerings to the temples of Madhuban located at the base of Parasnath hill.
• Pilgrims have to cover a long trek of about 27km while doing a circumambulation of Shikharji.

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Has Centre Resolved The Issue?

• The Central Government has resolved this sensitive issue regarding maintaining the sanctity of Shri ‘Sammed Shikharji’ by agreeing with all the legitimate demands of the peaceful Jain Community.
• Centre has stayed all tourism activities at holy Jain site ‘Sammed Shikharji’ in Jharkhand.
• Environment Ministry has directed the Jharkhand government to immediately take all steps necessary to protect its sanctity.
• The state government has been asked to strictly enforce the relevant provisions of Management Plan of the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary that specifically prohibit damage to flora or fauna, coming with pet animals, playing loud music,and sale of liquor, among others.
• It has also been directed to strictly enforce the ban on the sale and consumption of liquor and non-vegetarian food items on Parasnath hill.

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