________________
Jaina Tirthaskaras and antiquity of Jainism
Sambhavanātha - the third tirthařkara
Sambhavanātha, the third tīrthařkara, was born at Śrāvasti,123 which is Sahet-Mahet in Gonda-Bahraich district of Uttar Predesh.124 His father Jitāri was the king of Srāvastī and his mother's name was Senā Devī125 or Suşenā. 126 According to the Jaina tradition, Sambhavanātha descended for incarnation from the heaven Uvarimagraiveka. 127 His childhood was full of pleasure 128 He ascended the throne at his father's behest and ruled like a benevolent king. 129 Subsequently, he renounced his throne and lived the life of an ascetic and preacher.130 He attained omniscience under a śāla tree131 at Srāvastī 132 after fourteen years' hard penance. 133
According to the Jaina tradition, Sambhavanātha's height was 400 poles and he lived for 6,000,000 pūrva years. 134 His complexion has been described as golden. 135 His first gañadhara and āryā were Cāru and Syāmā respectively. 136 He attained moksa in the kāyotsarga posture137 at Samet Sikhara. 138
123. TSPC, II, pp. 232-4; JI, p. 54; OIS), pp. 66-7; JAA, I, p. 14. 124. HGAI, p. 124. 125. TSPC, II, pp. 232-4; JPV, p. 97. 126. JPV, p. 97; JI, p. 54. 127. OISJ, pp. 66-7. 128. TSPC, II, p. 240. 129. Ibid., pp. 241-2. 130. Ibid., pp. 246-52. 131. JPV, p. 97. 132. Ibid. 133. Ibid. 134. OISJ, pp. 66-7. 135. Ibid.; ERE, VII, p. 466; JAA, I, p. 14. 136. Ibid., pp. 66-7. 137. Ibid., p. 66. 138. TSPC, II, pp. 252-3; JPV, p. 97; JAA, I, p. 14.
