Save Shikharji

EXAMPLES

Across India, there are numerous hill, lakes, rivers that are considered as sacred place, place of worship and object of worship. The world at large is not alien to acknowledge the hills and lakes as sacred. These sacred places have legal recognition. Govt. of respective countries have also framed rules and regulations including restrictions on scaling hills, construction of modern amenities like railways, etc. for protection of piousness and maintenanceof dignity.

TIRUMALA

As stated in the Jain scriptures, the shrines on the Shirkarji, mountain derives its importance from Shikharji Hill. Shikharji as a Hill is being worshiped since time immemorial as a pious place. The entire Jain community is connected with this holy land by faith and hence has given innumerable sacrifices for this tirth in the past. Therefore, Shikharji is an integral and inseparable part of the Jain religion.

MT. NARSING AND OTHER HILLOCKS

Buddhists, a minority community in India, have been showered with accolades by recognizing their sacred caves, lakes, hills, hot springs and even rocks as place of worship. Govt. is committed to maintain and secure the sanctity of the place.

NIYAMGIRI HILL

The tribal community, DongriaKondh, at the foothills of Niyamgiri, which are less than 10,000 in number had opposed establishment of a project “Vedanta” worth billions of as it was sacrilegious to their hill deity Niyam Raja. The Govt. keeping aside the prospects of growth, economic development, employment creation, foreign investments and host of economic benefits banned the entire project.

UDWADA PARSI TEMPLE

A 200-acre agricultural land near the Fire temple, Iranshah Atashbehram, was said to be converted into an industrial area by Private Developers. The Parsi Community voiced their concern before the Govt. about desanctification and pollution around the fire temple. Valsad District administration cancelled permission of the same. The acquirers approached Revenue Tribunal which ordered a status quo on the matter.

GRAND CANYON

In The Grand Canyon, an area considered as sacred in The US, the Govt. rejected to build a tram line in the area to protect the sacredness of the area.

RED ROCK ULURU

A big rock known as Red Rock Uluru is revered as sacred by PitjantjatjaraAnangu, the aboriginal tribe of the area. Recently the Australian Govt. decided to ban climbing of the Rock respecting the wishes of the said tribe. As evident across India and worldwide, hills, lakes, caves, rocks etc. are considered as sacred place of worship. Govt. is committed to support various communities in restoring and maintaining the prestige and sanctity of place of worship and environment around it. Shikharji Hill is considered as the topmost sacred place of worship and object of worship for Jain Community. Unfortunately, the Govt. is not inclined to accept the fact that the entire Shikharji Hill is a place of worship while it considers demands of other communities and has happily given their hills much needed recognition. Govt. is also taking steps towards distorting the environment and damaging the sanctity of the Shikharji Hill. Govt. is discriminatory towards Jain community, breaching their Right to Equality. Jains are even deprived of their fundamental right to worship.

Declare Shikharji as #PlaceOfWorship of Jains