Golden Steps To Salvation

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

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and performed a severe penance. Getting rid of his Karmas (actions) he attained Kevaljnāna (the highest enlightenment). Then, establishing four Sanghas (societies) he began preaching to people the way to attain salvation. In this manner, he became the 22nd Thirthankar and he is the 22nd of the 24 Jain Thirthankaras (those who help us to cross the ocean of samsār).
Even the life of Parshwanāth, the 23rd Thirthankara is connected with ahimsā (non-violence). Before he received Deekshā, that is before he became a Jain Muni, he was called Parshwakumar. That was his original name. Once, he was going on an elephant with his mother, Vamadevi, in the outskirts of Benaras. He happened to see an ascetic performing a sacrifice called Panchagni; and said to him, “Where there is violence, there is only a show of Dharma; not Dharma (true religion). In your very presence, a couple of cobras are being burnt in the sacrificial fires and you think that this is Dharma." He asked some workers there to take out the Cobras from the fire. While the people who were there, condemning the ascetic, he returned home. एवं खु णाणिणो सारं
fans faiqui il Evam khu nānino sāram
Jam na himsai kinchanan. “The essence of the knowledge of an enlightened man is that he does not cause violence to any creature."
A man becomes an ahimsak or a non-violent person by acting thus.