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TAE TIRTHANKARAS AND LORD MAHAVIRA
35
Mahāvīra was the founder of Jainism. I would therefore refer only to such of them as are considered to be of historical environments.
Muni-Suvrata :
Muni-Suvrata is the 20th Tin, hankara who is said to have been born in the nic nth of Vaišākla, on the second day of the dark half of the north. He was born at RājagȚha or Kuśágra. nagara. His father was Sumi:sarà ja while Padmavati was the name of his mother. His embleri was Tortoise. He attained salvation on the in Pāras inath on the 12th day of the dark half of the month of Phālguna. Dr. Kamta Prasad has refered to the mention of Kūrma-Rși in the Rigveda (2-3. 27-32) as also to his teachings which it is possible to identify with this Tirthankara. He also refers to Kūrma Purāia. There is no other evidence.2
Aristanemi or Ne niinätha
Arista nemi has been mentioned in the ligveda as already referred to. He was born at Mathurā on the second day of the bright half of the month of Śrāvāna. His father was Samudravijaya while his mother was Sivādevi. Vasudeva, the father of Sri Kțiśņa was the younger brother of Samudra-vijaya. They belonged to Yăduva Kshatriya clan. According to Jaina Purāņa, king Ugrasena had a daughter by name Räja mati. It had been settled hit Neminātha should marry Rājamati. So while he was proceeding in procession to the house of his father-in-law, he beard the groaning of some animals and saw some of them tied to pillars. When he questioned others, he was told that the animals were intended to be killed for food to some of the guests attending the marriage. His heart melted with pity and he drove back his chariot. He renounced the world and took to asceticism inspite of the entreaties of Shri Kșşņa and other relatives. When Rājamati came to koow of the turn of events, she too abandoned her royal life and became a nun. He preached the religion of compassion, self-control
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