Jainism in a Global Perspective - Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago

SR No.: 014010
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 402
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 23 MB

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Jainism in a Global Perspective
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After Lord Rşabha, the first Tirtharkara, there was a succession of twenty three other Tīrtharikaras, who came one after the other at intervals varying in duration. In this way, the Jaina traditionof 24 Tinhankaras was established in the course of historical times beginning from the first
Tīrthankara Lord Rşabha and ending with the 24th Tīrhankara Lord Mahāvira.
Thus it is now an accepted fact that Mahāvīra (599-527 B.C.) was the last Tīrtharikara, or prophet of Jaina religion and that he preached the religion which was promulgated in the 8th century B.C. by his predecessor Părśvanātha, the 23rd Tīrtharkara with certain modifications in code of conduct suiting to his age. The historicity of Tirthankara Pārsavanātha (877-777 B.C.) has been established. Pārsvanātha, the son of King Viśvasena and Queen Vāmādevi of the kingdom of Kāśi, led the life of an ascetic, practised severe penance, obtained omniscience, became a Tīrtharkara, propagated Jaina religion and attained nirvana or salvation at Sammed Shikhar, i.e. Pārašanātha Hill in Hazaribagh District of Bihar State. Eminent historians like Vincent Smith, R.C. Majumdar and R.K. Mookerji regard Pārsvanātha as a historical personage and great preacher of Jaina religion.
The predecessor of Pārsvanātha was Neminātha or Aristanemi, the 22nd Tirthankara whose historicity like that of Pārsvanátha, can be easily established. Neminātha, according to the Jaina tradition, was the cousin of the Lord Krsna of the Mahābhārata fame as Samudravijaya, the father of Neminātha and Vasudeva, the father of Krsna, were brothers. Neminātha was unique personality due to his great compassion towards animals, This is clearly revealed by a significant incident in his life. While Neminātha was proceeding at the head of his wedding procession to the house of his bride, Princess Rājulakumāri, the daughter of King Ugrasena of Gujarat, he heard the moans and groans of animals kept in an enclosure for some meat-eaters and instantly decided not to marry at all as his marraige would involve a slaughter of so many innocent animals. Immediately Neminātha renounced his royal title and became an ascetic. Learning this renunciation of Neminātha, the betrothed princess Rājulakumāri or Rājamati also became a nun and entered the ascetic order. Nemi after achieving omniscience preached religion for a long time and finally attained nirvāna on the Mount Gimnar in Junagadh