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78 : JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD
Sammet Shikhar or Sammed Shikhar Mount, near Madhuvan, in Jharkhand State, also called Mount Parasnath, a great city of temples and one of the most famous pilgrimage centres of the Jains. There, according to their tradition, twenty Tirthankara with among them Pārsva attained their liberation. This mountain with numerous peaks (kūta) is 1366 meters high. It takes four hours to reach its summit with numerous chapels and a big Svetāmbara temple. From there, one has a splendid view on the surroundings.
Beyond the nice Pārsva's temple and his footprints worshipped by pilgrims, one may spend hours to admire art wonderings gathered here together. This place is visited by Jains of all the obediences. To reach the top, old or weak persons can use palanquins (dolí) carried by men of the region who are in quest of some rupees. There is also a “dharmaśālā”nearby.
Vaishali, in North Bihar, ancient capital of the Licchavi, where in the suburb of which, at Kundagrama, Mahāvīra is said to be born, a Digambara Jain temple, a museum of archaeology and a "Research Institute" on Jainism,
Veerayatan, see Rajgir.
We should also mention, in these States, Jain temples and “dharmaśāla" at: Ara, Badrikapuri, Baraket, Dantar, Gaya, Giridih, Gunava, Isri, Kaluha, Kshatriyakund, Kuhapahd, Nathnagar, Rijuvaluka, Simhabhumi, etc.
• GUJARAT
Jains are numerous in this State (more than 500,000) and their temples are of an extraordinary artistic value. Some of these sanctuaries suffered damage caused earlier by Muslim invaders and recently by an earthquake in January 2001, but their restoration is under way.
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