Compendium of Jainism

Author(s): T K Tukol, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Prasaranga Karnatak University Dharwar

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COMPENDIUM OF JAINISM
was transitory and that there was in the himsā (injury) in name of religion. He decided to renounce the world much to the grief of his parents. He advised them about the ills of life and the greatness of true asceticism.
He went to a forest. On going there, he removed all bis ornaments and clothes. He removed his hair with his own hands and started observing all the rules of conduct of a Śravaņa. He observed fasts and penance. He acquired the mapahparyāya Jñāna or the knowledge of reading the thoughts of others. He radiated all affection and purity. It is said that when he was deeply engrossed in his meditation, Sambaradeva who was no other than Mahīpāla in his next birth, started pouring heavy rains and trying 10 cause all sorts of pain. The two Nāgas-Dharanendra and Padmāvati came to know it and spread their hoods on the Lord who was undisturbed by what was taking place. It is worthwhile to mention that the image of Lord Pārsvanātha has the hood of a cobra spread over his head like an umbrella. Cobra is his emblem.
Pārsvanātha continued his penances undisturbed and in full control of himself. At last, when he became absorbed in Sukla dhyāna (lustrous meditation), he obtained Omniscience on the fourth day in the dark half of the month of Caitra. He then started preaching the gospel of Jina and called upon all people to observe the vows of Ahimsā, Truth, Non-stealing and Nonpossessiveness or apurigraha. He went to different places in the country like Kāśi, Kosala, Magadha, Kalinga and Pāñcāia etc. After preaching till he attained 69 years and 9 months of his age, he proceeded towards the Sammedagiri and became engrossed in meditation. When he had reached 100 years of age, he attained Nirvāṇa on the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Srāvana in the year 939 B. C. The Sammedagiri which had been hallowed by the attainment of Nirvāņa by 19 Tirthankaras earlier came to be named after him as Pārsvanatha Hill which is regarded today as the holiest place of pilgrimage for Jainas.