Stories by Arpit

The Nirvan Bhumi (salvation land) of 20 Jain Tirthankars , Sammet Shikharji (“ Shikharji ”) is one of the most important pilgrimages of Jains since the ancient era. This paramount pilgrimage was known by various names like Sammeyal Giri, Samet Shail, Sametachal, Samet Giri, Samet Shikhar, Samadhi Giri etc . At present, it is known as Sammet Shikharji by Shwetambars and as Sammed Shikharji by Digambars or Parshwanath Hill. The holy hill is one of the highest peaks of India and is situated in the Giridih district of Jharkhand, India. However, years of disregard, various internal disputes and forceful acquisition by the State Government has marred the tirth into a lot of controversies.  Parasnath Tunk, the place where Lord Parshwanath attained Moksha As the #SaveShikharji movement gains momentum, lakhs of petitions have been signed by all Jains to prevent the Jharkhand Government to turn the pious Shikharji hill into a tourism destination. However, the question arises h

Ask any Jain layperson whether he/she has ever been on a pilgrimage to Shikharji, Shatrunjay, Shankheshwar, Shravanabelgola etc.; The answer would most probably be a ' yes '. But if anyone was asked whether they had ever been on a pilgrimage to the Jain Stupa at Kankali Tila, Mathura  where a “ Dev-Nirmitta-Stupa ” (a stupa installed by a demi-god) once existed containing almost the entire ancient history of Jainism – the answer would most probably be a ‘no’. Ruins of Kankali Tila before excavations (Source: British Library) While most of us may have never heard the name of this place before, this place has been extensively excavated and researched by Archaeologists, historians, Jainologists, Indologists and scholars across the world, which has thrown immense light on the history and antiquity of Jainism . I had been researching on this subject since long and after reading thousands of pages about the excavations and its significance, I was startled to find t

જીવ છે એના માં પણ , દર્દ થાય એને પણ , ધૃજી ઉઠે છે એનું શરીર , જ્યારે મૌત સામે દેખાય છે ! આંખથી વહે છે આંસુ ! પણ એ અબોલ પશુ શું કરે ? તડફડે એના કૈદમાં , બીજું કંઈનાં કરી શકે ! શું જમાનો છે આ ! જ્યાં ધોવાય ગઈ છે  કરુણા  ! જ્યાં આનંદ આવે , હત્યામાં ! ત્યોહારો ઉજવાય , લોહીની નદિયોંમાં! એટલોજ શોખ છે ' બલી'  નો , તો આપો પોતાના અહંકાર ની બલી ! , આપો પોતાના ક્રોધ ની બલી ,! આપો પોતાની માયા ની બલી ,! આપો અજ્ઞાનતા ની બલી ! નાં! પણ તમે તો આપશો મુક પશુઓની બલી! કોઈને મારતા પેહલા , સૌ વાર વિચારજો! એ જીવ પણ કોઈની સંતાન છે ! એ જીવ પણ કોઈની માં છે ! એ જીવમાં પણ જીવ છે !