Signs of cultural renaissance

Sammed Shikharji The decision to maintain the place of pilgrimage is encouraging from every point of view. It shows that the environment of India has changed. In this, we have seen the tableau of that renaissance, due to which the hope of rising up after recognizing India’s self has been strengthened. All tourism related activities have been banned at this pilgrimage site. We saw a nationwide intense agitation against the declaration of Sammed Shikharji area as a tourist destination. This is the immediate success of the movement, but from a long-term point of view, it is an epoch-making event. This whole episode shows how decisions are being made in a mechanical way within the governance. How was Sammed Shikharji i.e. Parasnath area declared a tourist destination without studying its religious-cultural importance and tradition etc.? The Government of Jharkhand had declared Parasnath as a tourist destination of international importance by issuing a notification on February 22, 2019. On August 2, 2019, a notification was issued by the Central Government on the request of the State Government, declaring a part of Parasnath as an eco-sensitive zone. Under this, eco-tourism was being promoted there. The question is why did all this happen? Behind this, the perception of the governments is responsible, in which they feel that if the areas of ancient importance from religious, historical and cultural point of view are developed by declaring them as tourist places, then it leads to the overall progress of the entire region and people get employment. . For this reason, such demands are usually made on behalf of common people, leaders and social organizations etc. Governments also take decisions after taking their cognizance. Same has happened in the case of Sammed Shikharji. The state government prepared its report and sent the request to the Centre.

Sammed Shikharji is not an ordinary place. It is the highest pilgrimage center for Jains. This is the place of salvation of 20 Tirthankaras out of 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism. Lord Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara, had also renounced his body in this pilgrimage while doing severe penance and meditation. First Tirthankar Lord Adinath i.e. Lord Rishabhdev attained salvation at Mount Kailash, 12th Tirthankar Lord Vasupujya at Champapuri, 22nd Tirthankar Lord Neminath at Mount Girnar and 24th and last Tirthankar Lord Mahavira attained salvation at Pavapuri. Apart from this, all the remaining 20 Tirthankaras left their bodies here. This is a proven area for Jainism and it has been called Tirtharaj. It has been a belief for centuries that if one makes a soulful visit to Sammed Shikharji Tirtha once in life, one will attain salvation.

The traditional identity of India has been the country of penance and meditation. However, in the concept of modern development, this basic identity of India has lost its importance. If this were the case, Sammed Shikharji would have been developed in such a way that people come here with the vision of penance and spiritual practice, and they get all the facilities and surroundings accordingly. Today Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs consider themselves separate from Hinduism. It was not like this earlier. The existence of Jainism and Buddhism emerged as a reform movement within Hinduism. Tirthankaras of Jainism have also been given a high place in Hinduism. Sammed Shikharji has been a place of harsh penance and meditation for not only Jain religious followers, but also for many kings-emperors, common people, Hindu sages-saints in ancient history. Foreign travelers have written that due to meditation, the environment there was such that tigers and goats used to play together. You will find the depiction of the wonderful environment there in the ancient texts. Truth be told, Sammed Shikharji must be one of the highest pilgrimage sites for the whole of India. In this way, this fight was not only for the followers of Jain religion, but it became like the struggle of the whole of India. Due to the victory in this struggle, an atmosphere of enthusiasm has been created, which has given proof of renaissance in India.

Policy makers should also take some lessons from this whole episode. In general, it is seen that when a tourist goes to a pilgrimage area, he has a sense of reverence and respect for the place. There he tries to avoid enjoyment etc. In such a situation, pilgrimage sites should be developed and publicized according to their nature, in order to generate respect among the common people and tourists as well as among the devotees for the places related to our faith. Efforts are being made to implement this spirit during the tenure of the Modi government. The trust formed for the construction of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya was named as Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Ayodhya is being developed as a pilgrimage area. All tourism related facilities are available there. Similarly, efforts are being made to implement the entire concept of development on the ground under many pilgrimage areas. Varanasi, Prayagraj, Char Dham of Uttarakhand, Somnath, Dwarka, Ramayana Circuit, Buddha Circuit, famous temples of South and many important places related to Sikhism etc. are examples of this. This is the proof of a changed India, indicating our cultural renaissance. It would be better to take care of religious and faith related sensitivities.
(daily)

Awadhesh Kumar