Jainism in Bihar

Author(s): P C Roy Choudhary
Publisher: P C Roy Choudhary Patna

Page 51

annual hunt of the Santhals declined.
has, however, somewhat
Parasnath hill is held so sacred by the Jains that in their zeal the two most prominent of the Jain sects, Swetambars and Digambars, had carried out prolonged litigation between themselves to have a more assured position of the hill. For many years the Swetambars enjoyed the shrines at whatever place they selected. This matter was also litigated in Hazaribagh Courts and the Patna High Court and ultimately there was also a litigation between themselves regarding the manner of worship to be observed at the shrines on the hill. The dispute was however amicably settled. At one time the Encumbered Estates Department, which was incharge of the estates of the Tikait of Palganj which included Parasnath hill wanted to build houses for Europeans on the hill. The Jains disliked this and offered to buy the hill from the Encumbered Estates Department. Ultimately the hill was bought by the Jains from the Wards and Encumbered Estates Department. A subsequent dispute regarding the ownership between Nawagarh Gadi in Manbhum and Palganj Gadi through the Encumbered Estates Department was also amicably settled. The purchase of the hill by the Jains from the Wards and Encumbered Estates Department was followed by another set of litigation between the two sects in a title suit which was decided by the High Court in favour of the Swetambars and their Trustees are in charge of the management of the hill. Recently under the Land Reforms Act the management of the hill has been notified to to be taken over by the Government and there has been a protest from the Jain community for release of the hill from Government management on the ground that this would affect their religious sentiment.
According to the Archaeologists the existing temple edifices on Parasnath hill do not date beyond 1765 A. D. This is not surprising and does not conflict with the hoary
35