Path of Arhat

SR No.: 001745
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T U Mehta
Publisher: Sohanlal Smarak Parshwanath Shodhpitha Varanasi
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 262
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Spiritual, Religion, & Principle
File Size: 15 MB

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The Path of Arhat: A Religious Democracy
'One who has taken birth to teach the path of Kaivalya (Pure Knowledge )'. 'Maha-muni' ( a great saint ), 'one who possessed devotion, knowledge and non-attachment'.
The above references exalting Rṣabhadeva in Vedas and Puranas of Hindus make us to believe that he belonged to the Aryan stock and adopted Śramana practices for spiritual progress. However, it is an uphill task to ascertain his date. Traditional Jaina sources contend that he lived millions of years before in pre-historic times. His father Nabhi Rajā is considered, even by Hindu scriptures as the last of Manus ('Manu' was not the name of any particular person but it was the name given to a designation of one who led the society). If this means that Rṣabhadeva ruled Ayodhya (Vinita ) after the advent of Aryans in India, the period of his reign can hardly be fixed 5000 years ago from today. Since he belonged to Ikṣvāku dynasty of Rulers of Ayodhya to which many illustrious rulers including Dasaratha and his son Rama, the venerated hero of Ramayana belonged, it is reasonable to conclude that this great master, the first Tirthankara of the Jainas, must have flourished 5 to 6 thousand years ago, and became the principal exponent of Śramaņa tradition. In addition to Ṛşabhadeva we have historical references of 22nd Tirthankara Neminatha, a cousin of Śrikṛṣṇa, Śrī Pārsvanatha, 23rd Tirthankara and Śrī Mahavira, the 24th and the last Tirthankara only. Śri Neminatha
The 22nd Tirthankara was born in the illustrious 'Yadu' family of Srikṛspa of Mahabharata. His father Samudravijaya was the elder brother of Vasudeva, the father of Srikṛṣpa thus being Śrīkṛṣṇa's nearest cousin. He was also known as Ariṣṭanemi and is referred to as such in Rgveda (2. 33. 10) and again in its 6th Adhyaya ( Chapter).
Yadavas were a brave, virile and prosperous race of Ksatriyas of Northern India. Jarasandha, the ruler of Magadha, was a very powerful monarch, feeling envious of the