History of Jainism

SR No.: 006741
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: U K Sharma
Publisher: D K Print World
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 304
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 10 MB

Page 49

Jaina Tirthamkaras and antiquity of Jainism
queen of Ayodhya.92 According to the Jaina tradition, Rṣabha was the originator of agriculture, the ceremony of cremating the dead, building of the mounds, and the festivals in honour of Indra and the nagas.93 He is also said to have taught the arts of cooking, writing, pottery, painting and sculpture for the first time.94
According to the Jaina tradition, Rṣabha descended for incarnation from the heaven Sarvarthasiddha and ruled for a very long time. His height was 500 poles and he lived for 8,400,000 pūrva years. His complexion has been mentioned as golden.97 Rṣabha became a kevalin (attained omniscience) at Purimtāla under a banyan tree.99 He devoted a considerable part of his life to asceticism and sermonising. His first ganadhara (leading disciple) and ārya (leader of female converts) were Pundarika and Brahmi respectively.100 Rṣabha attained mokṣa in the padmasana posture101 on Aṣṭāpada 102 which is supposed to be Śatruñjaya hill in Gujarat.108
Ajitanatha
Ajitanatha, the second tīrthamkara,104 also called Ajitanatha Satparṇa, 10
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the second tirthamkara
92. JPV, p. 85; LDJC, p. 371.
93. LDJC, p. 19.
94. Ibid.
95. OISJ, p. 66.
96.
Ibid.
97. OISJ, p. 66; ERE, VII, p. 466; JAA, I, p. 14.
98. Ibid., pp. 66-7; JPV, p. 86.
99. Ibid.
100. Ibid.
101. Ibid., p. 66.
102. Ibid.; JPV, p. 86.
103. Ibid., p. 66.
104.
105. JI, p. 52.
Ibid., p. 67; JAA, I, p. 14.
急卐
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