Shikhar ji is the most famous and religious Tirth of Jains. There is no
other pilgrimage like Shikharji and there would not be any. Jains
believe that 20 out of 24 Tirthankars of this cycle of time undertook
tapasya and attained moksha here.
Shikharji or Sri Sammed Sikharji (श्री सम्मेद शिखरजी), also known as the Parasnath Hills, located near Giridih, in Jharkhand state, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and is the most sacred place for Jains in the world.
Bhagwan
Parasnath's Tonk at Sunrise. For hundreds of years, it comprised only
of a pair of charan paduka on a rock. Later, a temple was built around
it. The temple has another set of Charans in the inner cave.
Every
year, hundreds of thousands of yatris visit this sacred land in the
wilderness of Jharkhand (INDIA). Yet, it is probably not the most
visited of Jain pilgrimages. Yatris are deterred by the insecurity or
inconvenience of travel or stay, or by the appearance of differences
among Jain sects.
The hill is also known as Parasnath, a name derived from Parshva, the 23rd Tirthankara who attained Nirvana here. The Sanskrit inscriptions at the foot of the images indicate that they were put in the temple in 1678 A.D.
Tirthankaras attaining Nirvana at Shri Sammed Shikharji
- Shri Ajitnath Ji
- Shri Sambhavanath Ji
- Shri Abhinandannath Ji
- Shri Sumatinath Ji
- Shri Padmaprabha Ji
- Shri Suparshvanath Ji
- Shri Chandraprabha Ji
- Shri Suvidhinath Ji
- Shri Sheetalnath Ji
- Shri Shreyansanath Ji
- Shri Vimalnath Ji
- Shri Anantnath Ji
- Shri Dharmanath Ji
- Shri Shantinath Ji
- Shri Kunthunath Ji
- Shri Aranath Ji
- Shri Mallinath Ji
- Shri Munisuvrata Ji
- Shri Neminath Ji
- Shri Parasnath Ji
Shikharji Tonks
Following are tonks at Shikharji. The actual temples are not numbered; hence there may be minor differences in the numbering of temples in various guidebooks and literature. The following numbering is based on the guidance provided by the local Shikharji resident supervisor. |
| Shri Gautam Swami (Ghandhar) |
 | ||
| Shri Kunthunath Prabhu (17th Tirthankar) |
 |
| Shri Naminath Prabhu (21st Tirthankar) |
 |
| Shri Arnath Prahbu (18th Tirthankar) |
 |
| Shri Mallinath Prabhu (19th Tirthankar) |
 |
| Shri Shreyansnath Prabhu (11th Tirthankar) |
 |
 |
| Shri Padam Prabhu (6th Tirthankar) |
 |
| Shri Munisuvrat Prabhu (20th Tirthankar) |
 |
| Shri Chandrah Prabhu (8th Tirthankar) |
 |
| Shri Adinath Prabhu (1st Tirthankar) |
 |
| Shri Anantnath Prabhu (14th Tirthankar) |
 |
| Shri Sheetalnath Prabhu (10th Tirthankar) |
 |
| Shri Sambhavnath Prabhu (3rd Tirthankar) |
Shri Vasupujay Prabhu (12th Tirthankar)
Shri Abhinandan Prabhu (4th Tirthankar)
Shri Dharamnath Prabhu (15th Tirthankar)
Shri Sumatinath Prabhu (5th Tirthankar)
Shri Shantinath Prabhu (16th Tirthankar)
Shri Mahavir Prabhu (24th Tirthankar)
Shri SuParasnath Prabhu (7th Tirthankar)
Shri Vimalnath Prabhu (13th Tirthankar)
Shri Ajitnath Prabhu (2nd Tirthankar)
Shri Neminath Prabhu (22nd Tirthankar)
Shri Parasnath Prabhu (23rd Tirthankar)
How to reach Sammed Shikharji
The nearest railway station of Parasnath is at a distance of nearly 25 kms from the tirth of Madhuban. It is also accessible from nearby towns and cities through arterial roads. Motor cars or passenger buses travel along the route from Dumri to Giridih and stop at Madhuban village. Bus service and private vehicles are available.
Shri Parasnath Prabhu (23rd Tirthankar)
The foot of the Sammet Shikhar mountain is called
Madhuvan. Sammed Shikharji has a lot of Jain Temples, apart from these tonks.
There are several places of attraction as:
SHWETAMBAR KOTHI and TEMPLE
There is an attractive temple of Shree Bhomiaji Maharaj, inside the Kothi. There is also a huge Jina temple in the form of a cluster of eleven temples. A 90 cm. idol of Baghavan Parshwanath is installed here as the principal deity.
DIGAMBAR JAIN TERAH PANTH KOTHI
There is a majestic temple of Lord Shree Chandraprabhu in the middle of the Kothi. Samvasaran temple has been built on the left side of the third door of this temple.
KACHCHHI BHAWAN
Fifty-two Jinalayas have been built here. This temple houses the idols of many Jain Tirthankars.
JAIN MUSEUM
This Museum has been built by Shree Jityasha Foundation, Kolkata. On the first floor of the museum many articles related janism have been collected. In front of the sprawling hall the most majestic 6 feet high idol of Lord Parsvwanath in the meditation posture is seated. All around on the walls there is an exhibition of pictures depicting Jain architecture. The museum also contains a collection of all the postage stamps issued on Jainism. On the first floor there is a collection of ancient art-pieces made of ivory and sandal-wood. On the second floor of the museum, 50 scenes depicting special sequence of events of Jainism have been shown.
SHWETAMBAR KOTHI and TEMPLE
There is an attractive temple of Shree Bhomiaji Maharaj, inside the Kothi. There is also a huge Jina temple in the form of a cluster of eleven temples. A 90 cm. idol of Baghavan Parshwanath is installed here as the principal deity.
DIGAMBAR JAIN TERAH PANTH KOTHI
There is a majestic temple of Lord Shree Chandraprabhu in the middle of the Kothi. Samvasaran temple has been built on the left side of the third door of this temple.
KACHCHHI BHAWAN
Fifty-two Jinalayas have been built here. This temple houses the idols of many Jain Tirthankars.
JAIN MUSEUM
This Museum has been built by Shree Jityasha Foundation, Kolkata. On the first floor of the museum many articles related janism have been collected. In front of the sprawling hall the most majestic 6 feet high idol of Lord Parsvwanath in the meditation posture is seated. All around on the walls there is an exhibition of pictures depicting Jain architecture. The museum also contains a collection of all the postage stamps issued on Jainism. On the first floor there is a collection of ancient art-pieces made of ivory and sandal-wood. On the second floor of the museum, 50 scenes depicting special sequence of events of Jainism have been shown.
Shri Digambar Jain Madhyalok Research Centre
This Research Centre, which has been recently built depicts the 'Madhyalok' as described in the Jain scriptures. The main building houses a massive statue of Bhagavan Shri Parshwa Nath in a huge hall. A library is being developed along-with research facilities for Jain scholars. The president of the Centre is Shri Chand Mal Ji Saraogi from Kishanganj, Bihar.
This Research Centre, which has been recently built depicts the 'Madhyalok' as described in the Jain scriptures. The main building houses a massive statue of Bhagavan Shri Parshwa Nath in a huge hall. A library is being developed along-with research facilities for Jain scholars. The president of the Centre is Shri Chand Mal Ji Saraogi from Kishanganj, Bihar.
The nearest railway station of Parasnath is at a distance of nearly 25 kms from the tirth of Madhuban. It is also accessible from nearby towns and cities through arterial roads. Motor cars or passenger buses travel along the route from Dumri to Giridih and stop at Madhuban village. Bus service and private vehicles are available.
Nearest
Railway Station is Parasnath { PNME } 25 Kms(45 minutes journey) away
from Sammed Shikharji. Parasnath Railway Station is well connected from
Delhi, Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi, Mumbai, Agra, Ahmedabad, Indore etc. For
exact details of train please visit:- www.irctc.co.in /
www.indianrail.gov.in