Shikharji Panchtirth SHIKHARJEE Shri Shikharji is the holiest of all Jain teerths. Twenty of two-four Tirthankars of the current avasarpini, and countless other siddha, attained moksa here.Parasnath hill which is 4431 ft height is the highest mountain south of the Himalayas . It is located at the latitude of 23 degree ,9 minutes North and longitude of 86 degree ,3 minutes East. It was made accessible since the construction of a road in 1838 . It is situated on a group of eight hills called the Parasnath Hills in Giridih, Jharkhand. 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 GIRIDIH History of Giridih District is a part of the history of its parent district, Hazaribagh as well as also of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The entire territory of Chhota Nagpur, known as Jharkhand was believed to be covered with inaccessible hills and forests. As per the history of Giridih District, Chota Nagpur division including the district of Giridih appears to have remained unexploited. The succession of Akbar to the throne of Delhi in 1556 AD opens a new chapter in the history of Jharkhand. To the Mughal Emperors it was also known as Khukra.The travellers visiting this district can also have an adventurous experience with the options available. The important tourist attractions of Giridih District are Usri Fall, Khandoli, Madhuban, Parasnath, Jharkhandi Dham and Harihar Dham. DEVGHAR The temple of Baidyanath or Shiva is the most important of all the temples in the courtyard. The temple faces the east and is a plain stone structure with a pyramidal tower, 72 feet tall.The top contains three ascending shaped gold vessels that are compactly set, and were donated by the Maharaja of Giddhaur. Besides these pitcher shaped vessels, there is a Punchsula (Five knives in Tridenta shape), which is rare. In the inner top there is an eight pettaled lotus jewel called Chandrakanta Mani.There are different porches in the temple. One porch leads to the cell where the lingam is fixed. The second porch is in front with a row of pillars spanned by blocks of basalt and on the right side there is a sandstone image of nandi MANDARGIRI It is a great holy place related to the salvation of 12th Teerthankar 1008 Bhagawan Vasupoojya Swami. This place is related to the three Kalyanka – Tup, Gyan & Moksha of Bhagawan Vasupoojya. It means that this is the place where Vasupoojya Swami accepted penance, achieved the super natural knowledge and finally got salvation the final liberation from world. His first precept was also delivered here.Near the place of salvation, there is a place where Lord Vasupoojya attained the Kevalgyan (Supernatural Knowledge), there also 3 pairs of ancient feet images are installed. A little ahead, at the place of accepting penance by Lord Vasupoojya, here also a pair of feet image is installed. Near the place of salvation, a beautiful cave temple with 5 feet high standing idol is also viewable. CHAMPAPURI Champapuri was the capital of the king Lomapada of Anga Kingdom as per epic Ramayana.As per epic Mahabharata, Karna is mentioned as ruling the Anga kingdom from Champapuri (12:5). Apart from Champa Karna also ruled a city called Malini gifeted to him by Jarasandha of Magadha Kingdom.ChampapurI is 65 KM far from Mandargiri. ChampapurI is the only ‘Panch Kalyanaka Kshetra’ in the world. It is related to Panch Kalyanaka: - “(i) Garbha, (ii) Janma, (iii) Tapa, (iv) Gyan and (v) Moksha” of 12th Teerthankar Bhagwan Vasupoojya (The first ascetic saint). The red colored Padmasana idol of Bhagwan Vasupoojya Swami present in centre of main altar is quite attractive and miraculous. The color of this idol is comparable to the actual complexion of Bhagwan Vasupoojya. NAWADA Nawada is situated in the Magadh subdivision of southern Bihar. Nawada has been a place of historical imminence, King Brihadratha founded the Magadh Empire in the region and the area was dominated by many dynasties like Brihadratha, Maurya, Kanah and the Gupta that ruled over many states of middle and north India. Before being formed as a new district, Nawada was a part of the Gaya district. Historians believe this place was a reputed religious center for the Hindus in the period of Pals.The origin of the name Nawada is believed to be a corruption of Nau-abad or the new town which was earlier known as The Eliot Market (Bazaar).It is an ancient place and also spiritually important for Jainism for places such as Pawapuri-Tirthankara Mahavirs Nirwan Sthal, Jal Mandir and Gunawan Ji Mandir and finds mention in the Mahabharata epic. GUNIYAJI The temple belongs to the times of Bhagawan Mahavir. There is a mention that Bhagawan Mahavir wandered about here many times and many times his samvasarans were constructed here. It is believed that Gautam Swami, the first Ganadhar of Bhagawan Mahavir attained omniscience here. There is a mention that Bhagawan Mahavir stayed here many times in the Gunashil. Chaitya ‘Guniyaji’ is a deformation of ‘Gunashil’. And that is the reason why this tirth is important.The style of construction of this temple is quite distinct. The outer arched gate of the temple is an excellent specimen of supreme artistry. PAWAPURI During ancient times about 2600 year ago, Pawapuri was one of twin capital of Mall Mahajanpad which later became the part of Magadha Kingdom and was called Madyama Pawa or Apawapuri, Ajatshatru, who was one of the greatest disciples of Lord Mahavira was the King of Magadh during the lifetime of Mahavir. During the reign of Ajatshatru, Hastipal was the King of Pawapuri. When Lord Mahavira came to Pawapuri he stayed in King Hastipals Rajikshala.Around 5th Century BCE, Mahavira, the last of the twenty-four Tirthankara achieved Moksha or Nirvana. He was cremated at Pawapuri, also known as Apapuri (the sinless town). There was a great rush to collect his ashes, with the result that so much soil was removed from the place of his cremation that a pond was created. KUNDALPUR It is famous for the miraculous colossus of Bade Baba (Adinath) in sitting (Padmasana) posture. It is 15 feet in height.This is also the place of salvation of Antim Kevali Shridhar Kevali.There are 63 temples of various types. Among them 22nd temple is famous for Bade Baba Bhagwan Adinath the principal deity. This is the oldest temple at Kundalpur. According to an inscription of Vikram Samvat 1757, the temple the temple was re-discovered by Bhattaraka Surendrakirti of Mulasangha-Balatkaragana-Sarasvati Gachchha and was rebuilt from ruins by his disciple, with assistance from Bundela ruler Chhatrasal.A temple called Jal Mandir is an attractive temple situated in the middle of beautiful pond Vardhaman Sagar. NALANDA Nalanda was an ancient center of higher learning in Bihar, India. The site is located about 88 kilometres south east of Patna, and was a religious center of learning from the fifth century AD to 1197 AD.Nalanda flourished between the reign of the sakraditya (whose identity is uncertain and who might have been either Kumara Gupta I or Kumara Gupta II) and 1197 AD, supported by patronage from the Hindu Gupta rulers as well as Buddhist emperors like Harsha and later emperors from the Pala Empire.The complex was built with red bricks and its ruins occupy an area of 14 hectares. (488 by 244 metres) At its peak, the university attracted scholars and students from as far away as Tibet, China, Greece, and Persia.Nalanda was ransacked and destroyed by an army under Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193. The great library of Nalanda University was so vast that it is reported to have burned for three months after the invaders set fire to it, ransacked and destroyed the monasteries, and drove the monks from the site. In 2006, Singapore, China, India, Japan, and other nations, announced a proposed plan to restore and revive the ancient site as Nalanda International University. RAJGIRI The name Rajgir came from Rajagiha house of the king or royal house, or the word rajgir might have its origian in its plain literal meaning, royal mountain. It was the ancient capital city of the Magadha kings until the 5th century BC when Ajatashatru moved the capital to Pataliputra. In those days, it was called Rajgrih, which translates as the home of Royalty.The epic Mahabharata calls it Girivraja and recount the story of its king, Jarasandha, and his battle with the Pandava brothers and their allies Krishna.It is also mentioned in Buddhist and Jain scriptures, which give a series of place-names, but without geographical context. The attempt to locate these places is based largely on reference to them and to other locations in the works of Chinese Buddhist pilgrims, particularly Faxian and Xuanzang. It is sacred to the memory of the founders of both the religions: Buddhism and Jainism and associated with both the historical Buddha and Mahavira. 1 DAY TOUR Shikharjee To Rijuwalika, Giridih, Nawada, Guniyaji,Pawapuri, Kundalpur, Nalanda, Rajgiri Night Halt. 3 Days Tour Day 1: Shikharjee To Giridih, Devghar, Mandargiri, Bhagalpur, Champapuri Night halt. Day 2: Champapuri To Nawada, Guniyaji, Pawapuri Night halt. Day 3: Pawapuri To Kundalpur, Nalanda, Rajgiri Journey End. 4 Days tour Day 1: Shikharjee To Rijuwalika, Champapuri Night halt. Day 2: Champapuri To Lachhwad Nightholt. Day 3: Lachhwad To Guniyaji, pawapuri Nightholt. Day 4: Pawapuri To Kundalpur, Nalanda, Rajgiri Journey End. .....THANK YOU ....SRREE PARASNATHJEE TRAVELS SHIKHARJEE ..MOBILE NO- 09431194547 ,08251637209 ,06558232326 ..NARESH BHAI
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 05:52:09 +0000