Parasnath Hills - Shikharji

Name : Shikharji - Parasnath Temple

Location :

Parasnath Hills are a range of hills located in Giridih district of Jharkhand. The highest peak is 1350 metres.

History :

The earliest reference to Shikharji as a tirth (place of pilgrimage) is found in the Jñātṛdharmakatha, one of the twelve core texts of Jainism: at Shikharji, Mallinatha, the nineteenth Jina practiced samadhi. Shikharji is also mentioned in the Parsvanathacarita, a twelfth century biography of Parsva.

Description :

Shikharji (Śikharji) means venerable peak. Parasnath is highest hill in Jharkhand, towering to an elevation of 4480 feet. The site is also called Sammed Śikhar or Sammet Shikhar, meaning the peak of concentration because it is a place where twenty of twenty-four Tirthankaras attained a state of mokṣa through meditative concentration. The word Parasnath is derived from Pārśva, the twenty-third Tirthankara to attain nirvana at the site.

It is one of the most important pilgrimage centre for Jains. They call it Sammet Sikhar. The hill is named after Parasnath, the 23rd Tirthankara. Twenty of the twenty-four Jain Tirthankaras attained salvation on this hill. According to some, nine Tirthakaras attained salvation on this hill. For each of them there is a shrine (gumti or tuk) on the hill. Some of the temples on the hill are believed to be more than 2,000 years old. However, although the place is habited from ancient times, the temples may be of more recent origin. The popularity of Shikharji as a site of pilgrimage followed that of Vulture Peak, Bihar, where it is believed Sariputra attained enlightenment.

Bihar state acquired Shikharji under the Bihar Land Reforms Act leaving the rights of Jains in doubt. Use of Shikharji as a tourist destination also impacts on the religious beliefs of the Jain. Sports such as paragliding and parasailing may take place at Shikharji.

The base of Sammed Shikharji is called Madhuvan because of the trees sprinkling with drops and crystals of Madhu (Honey) all around the bottom of the mountain.

Shikharji Pilgrimage :

The pilgrimage to Shikharji is a round trip of 27 metres (0.017 mi) through the Madhuban forest. After 2 miles from Madhuban there comes Gandharva nala and further up there is another stream Sita nala. The section from Gandharva Nala stream to the summit is the most sacred to Jains. It is easier to reach Parasnath from its northern side. 

The pilgrimage is made on foot or by a doli (palanquin, palkhi or litter) carried by a doli wallah along a concrete paved track. Along the track are shrines to each of the twenty revered Tirthankaras and vendors of tea, coffee, water, fruits and snacks.

In Sammed Shikhar pilgrimage the Tonk of Lord Parshwanath is the highest and the final destination in the tirth journey. The unique attraction quality of the pilgrimage is also  because no other Jain temple in the world is situated as high as Sammed Shikharji. It is considered to be the holy destination, not only of Lord Parshwananth but also of the entire Jainism.

Temples :

The temple at Shikharji is a new construction with some parts dating to the eighteenth century. However, the idol itself is very old. Sanskrit inscriptions at the foot of the image date to 1678 AD. At the base of Shikharji is a temple to Bhomiyaji (Taleti). On the walls of the Jain Temple at the village of Madhuban, there is a mural painting depicting all the temples on Parasnath Hill. Temples along the track include,

Ganadhara, Kunthunath, Rishbhanan, Chandranan, Naminatha, Aranath, Mallinath, Shreyansanath, Suvidhinath, Padmaprabha, Munisuvrata, Chandraprabha, Adinath, Anantnath, Sheetalnath, Sambhavanath, Vasupujya, Abhinandannath, Ganadhara, Jal Mandir, Dharmanath, Vardhman, Varishen, Sumatinath, Shantinath, Mahavira, Suparshvanath, Vimalnath, Ajitnath, Neminath, Parshvanatha

Festivals :

Parasnath is the "Marang Buru "or hill deity of the Santhal of Hazaribagh, Manbhum, Bankura and Santhal Parganas and each year they assemble at the period of the full noon in Baisakh (mid April) from these district and celebrate a religious hunt for three days.

On one hand the Hill is place of worship and adoration on the other hand it is worthseeing place in the sense of tourism. Tourists start to visit from the second fortnight of December to last week of January.

Websites :

http://shikharjiup.org/sammed_shikharji.html

http://wikitravel.org/en/Parasnath_Hills

Chinnamasta Temple, Rajrappa

Name : Chhinnamasta Temple

Location :

Chhinnamasta temple is located at Rajrappa, 65 km away from Hazaribagh along NH-23 in the Ramgarh district in the North Chotanagpur division division of the state of Jharkhand, India. It is situated on a hillock at the confluence of the Damodar and Bhera (Bhairavi) Rivers near the Rajrappa falls.

Etymology :  Chhinnamasta (Sanskrit: छिन्नमस्ता, Chinnamastā, "She whose head is severed"), often spelled Chinnamasta and also called Chhinnamastika and Prachanda Chandika, is one of the Mahavidyas, ten Tantric goddesses and a ferocious aspect of Devi, the Hindu Divine Mother. Chhinnamasta can be easily identified by her fearsome iconography. The self-decapitated goddess holds her own severed head in one hand, a scimitar in another. Three jets of blood spurt out of her bleeding neck and are drunk by her severed head and two attendants. Chhinnamasta is usually depicted standing on a copulating couple.

Description :

Chinnamasta Temple dedicated to Goddess Chinnamasta is a hindu pilgrimage centre and located in Rajrappa, in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand. The place attracts devotees from all parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. It is located on top of the hill from where Rajrappa Waterfall comes down  forming a 20 feet high waterfall. Boating facilities are available here.

The temple enshrines the Goddess Chinnamasta (the beheaded Goddess Kali), one of the ten forms of the Goddess Durga. The statue shows the goddess holding her own head in her left hand and her head drinking the blood oozing out of her neck. The headless idol of Goddess Chhinnamastika stands on the body of Kamdeo and Rati ( Manmadhan & Rathi ) in Lotus bed. Many smaller temples have been build around the main temple such as the temples of Ashtamatrika and Dakshina Kali. The temples of Mahavidyas built in a series nearby are Tara, Shodashi, Bhubneswari, Bhairavi, Bagla, Kamla, Matangi, Dhumavati.

The temple is very old and the place Rajrappa finds mention in the Vedas, Puranas and Hindu scriptures as a "Shakti Peeth" which is flocked by devotees from Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal Assam and Nepal for worship of Goddess Chinnamastika. Vedic book Durga Saptashati also mentions the temple. The art and architectural design resembles the design of temples of Tantrik importance. The temple is considered as notable as the tantrik site of Kamakhya Temple of Assam which has a similar architecture. The temple is one of the 10 Mahavidhyas. The ancient temple of Goddess was destroyed and later a new temple was constructed and the original idol of Goddess was placed in it. Animal sacrifice is still practised in the temple. The sacrificial animals are killed on Tuesdays, Saturdays and during Kali puja.

A large number of pilgrims arrive here throughout the year. Large congregation of people takes place here during the full Moon and New Moon nights. Owing to the religious importance of the place, it is also popular among the disciples for marriage and ritual of Mundan or shaving the head. Vehicle owners come here to get blessings for their new vehicles as they believe that the first worship of vehicles here multiplies the life of vehicles and brings luck to the owners. Tantriks look upon this place for Tantric accomplishment.

Rajrappa also is a pilgrim centre for the Santals and other tribals who come for immersion of the ashes of their loved ones in the Damodar. They come mostly during the month of December, in groups known as yatri. As per their mythology it is their final resting place. In their folk songs Rajrappa is referred to as "Thel Kopi Ghat" (Water Ghat) and they use oil after bathing. They come in significant numbers from the southern parts of Jharkhand state such as East and West Singhbhum and Saraikela districts. Maa Chinmastika devi is also known as Manokamna devi due to the belief that it fulfils the wishes of the devotees. Devotees tie a red thread around a rock in the temple for the fulfillment of their wishes.

In the month of January a special fair is held here on the festival of Makar Sankranti and attended by lakhs of people. A fair is also organized during the festival of Vijaydashmi, Vijayadashami and attended by large number of people. Visitors take holy bath in the river.

Besides religious importance the place is also a famous picnic spot owing to its natural beauty. Hilly landscape covered with lush forest and river are some of its features. The hot water spring located here increases the beauty of the region. The Bhera River joins the Damodar River from a height of 20 feet creating a waterfall. The location offers boating facilities and visitors enjoy boat rides in the locality having various rock formations along the river bank. The place also attracts many foreign tourists due to its natural and religious importance.

The region around the temple is quite and eerie after sunset. Due to this Satyajit Ray chose Rajrappa as the setting for Feluda adventure Chhinnamastar Abhishap.

Website :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhinnamasta_Temple

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhinnamasta 

Jagannathpur Temple, Jharkhand

Restored Temple as on January 2008

Name : Jagannathpur Temple, Jharkhand

Location :

Jagannathpur Temple is located about 10 km from the main town, the temple is on top of a small hillock near to a place called Firayalal chowk (The temple is not located near Firayalal Chowk) or (Albert Ekka chowk) in Ranchi.

Description :

The Jagannathpur Temple was constructed by the king of Barkagarh Jagannathpur, Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo. The Jagannathpur Temple at Ranchi was completed on 25th December, 1691.

This temple of Ranchi is placed over the top most point on a small hillock. To reach the top visitors can climb the stairs or take the vehicle route. There are many steps and the climber needs to rest intermittently before resuming. People also take the vehicle route leading directly to the top . To facilitate the arduous climb to the top the management of the temple have made provisions for fresh water and the shade of a huge tree that many tourists generally make use of once they reach the top. The view of the city from the top is breathtaking.

The temple resembles the Jagannath Temple of Puri  in the state of Orissa quite a lot with similar architectural style. It is however smaller in size than the Jagannath Temple in Orissa.

Festivals : At the Jagannathpur Temple, an annual fair is also held every year during the month of Aashaadha of Ratha Yatra. This fair is also quite similar to that of the Ratha Yatra at the Puri's Jagannath Temple. This is a major attraction in Ranchi as thousands of pilgrims flock to the Jagannathpur Temple including the tribal as well as the non tribal devotees not only from Ranchi but also from neighbouring villages and towns and is celebrated with much pomp and vigor.

The temple collapsed on 6 August 1990. With the active participation of the then State Government of Bihar, and some devoted patrons the reconstruction of the temple started on 8th February 1992 and has now been fully restored. The temple has regained back its former glory. And devotees and ardent worshippers make a beeline to the temple every year.

Website :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath_Temple,_Ranchi