Shikharji: The holiest shrine in Jainism, turned into a picnic spot

There is a difference between a holy place and a picnic spot. It is not a thin line but a thick boundary. And it needs to be respected. But in the case of Shikharji, the holiest place in Jainism isn’t being respected as a sacred shrine and has been reduced into a picnic spot. 

In fact, a social media campaign has started to preserve the sanctity of Shikharji with several popular Twitter handles speaking up about it. 

Why Shikharji is central to Jainism? 

Arun Bothra, a celebrated cop, tweeted, “Shikharji is the holiest place of Jains. 20 out of 24 Tirthankaras attained Moksha here.”

Adherents of Jainism have regarded Shikharji as the ‘Mahatirtha’ for over three millennia. Pilgrims climb the hill, located in Jharkhand, barefoot, and they even avoid food and water while performing its 27 km ‘parikrama.’

Shikharji getting reduced into a picnic spot

Despite being of paramount importance to Jainism, Shikharji is facing the issue of rampant tourism and all the problems that get associated with it. 

A pilgrimage is necessarily a place to purify the mind and soul, whereas tourism essentially involves relaxation of the mind and escaping concrete jungles in the metro cities. The point of tourism is to have fun and indulge in recreation. 

Pilgrimage, on the other hand, has nothing to do with merrymaking and recreation. It involves tremendous discipline including strict dietary controls. Especially in the case of Jainism, vegetarianism forms the core of religious practice.

Jains are strict vegetarians. In fact, they don’t even eat root vegetables and certain fruits. So, in a Jain pilgrimage, you wouldn’t expect people to consume non-vegetarian food and alcohol. But this is not the case with Shikharji. Bothra tweeted, “Today it (Shikharji) has become a mere picnic spot where people freely consume non-veg & alcohol.” The cop added, “Jains are struggling to save the holy place. Perils of being a real minority.” 

Another Twitter handle- “Jainism_jewells” has disclosed more such information. The handle stated, “It’s an matter of shame, that jains have to protest for banning nonveg food at one of their biggest place of worship “Shikhar Ji”.” 

The handle added, “Availability of alcohol and drunkards in the surrounding areas and near the foot of shikharji is very easy Jains have to start their yatra early morning 3 or 4 am so it’s really an risky affair in such conditions.” 

Members of the Jain community protesting to save Shikharji

In 2018, it was reported that members of the Jain community had planned a series of protests against the Jharkhand government’s alleged plan to develop Shikharji into a tourist centre. 

Jains have also urged the central government to declare the ‘Parasnath Hill’ in Jharkhand as the Jain community’s official place of worship. Shikharji in Giridih, Jharkhand is located on the Parasnath hill- the highest peak in the state. 

In October 2018, the Jharkhand government issued an office memorandum accepting Shikharji hill as the world’s Holiest Place and expressed its commitment to maintaining its sanctity. 

But latest tweets point out how Shikharji hill is being reduced into a picnic spot and tourism hub. This may bring local economic prosperity but it ends up going against the basic structure and fundamental character of a Jain pilgrimage. 

Saving Shikharji thus needs a fresh campaign, so that the holiest Jain shrine can retain its sacred character.