Parshvanatha
Context: Marang Buru, also known as Parasnath Hill in Jharkhand, is a sacred site for both the Santal Adivasi and Jain communities, recently highlighted due to a Jharkhand High Court directive enforcing a ban on meat and alcohol sales there.
Important Pointers:
Historical Significance: Parshvanatha is considered the earliest Jain Tirthankara with historical evidence, estimated to have lived between the 9th and 8th centuries BCE.
Birth and Lineage: Born in Varanasi (Kashi) to King Ashvasena and Queen Vamadevi of the Ikshvaku dynasty.
Spiritual Contributions: Renounced worldly life to become an ascetic and founded a monastic community.
Teachings: Taught the Fourfold Restraint (Chaturyama Dharma): non-violence (Ahimsa), truthfulness (Satya), non-stealing (Asteya), and non-possession (Aparigraha).
Attainment of Moksha: Achieved liberation (moksha) at Mount Sammeda (now Parasnath Hill) in present-day Jharkhand, a significant Jain pilgrimage site.
Iconography: Depicted with a canopy of a serpent (usually seven-headed) over his head, symbolizing protection.
Influence on Jainism: Preceded Mahavira by approximately 250 years; Mahavira is considered his spiritual successor.
Legacy: Widely revered across Jain sects; numerous temples and statues are dedicated to him, including the Parshvanatha temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
Parasnath Hill: A Shared Sacred Site
Jain Significance: Known as Sammed Shikharji, it's the most important Jain pilgrimage site due to the moksha of multiple Tirthankaras, including Parshvanatha.
Santal Reverence: Referred to as Marang Buru, it's the supreme deity and sacred site for the Santal community, central to their religious practices.
Ongoing Dispute: Recent enforcement of bans on meat and alcohol sales around the hill, respecting Jain sentiments, has led to tensions with the Santal community, who assert their traditional rights and rituals associated with the site.