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Jaina Tīrthařkaras and antiquity of Jainism
Anantanātha descended for incarnation from the heaven Pranatadevaloka.278 He married due to his father's command and ruled for long.279 Thereafter, he resorted to a life of asceticism.280 He became a kevalin under an aśoka281 or pīpal tree282 at Ayodhyā after penance for three years. 283
According to the Jaina tradition, his height was 50 poles and he lived for 3,000,000 common years.284 His complexion has been described as golden. His first ganadhara and āryā were Jasa and Padmă respectively.285 He attained moksa in the kāyotsarga posture286 on Samet Sikhara 287 Anantanātha is also called Anantjit.288
Dharmanātha - the fifteenth tirthamkara
Dharmanātha, the fifteenth tirthamkara, was born at Ratnapura289 or Ratnapurī.290 His father Bhānu was the king of Ratnapura and his mother's name was Suvratā.291 According to the Jaina tradition, Dharmanātha descended for incarnation from the heaven Vijayavimāna.292 He married due to the insistence of his parents and ruled for long.293 Subsequently, he led the
278. OISJ, pp. 66-9. 279. TSPC, III, p. 113. 280. Ibid., pp. 114-32. 281. JPV, p. 107; OISJ, pp. 66-9. 282. Ibid., p. 107. 283. Ibid. 284. OISJ, pp. 66-9. 285. Ibid. 286. Ibid., p. 66. 287. TSPC, III, p. 133; JPV, p. 107. 288. Ibid., p. 113; OISJ, p. 69. 289. Ibid., III, pp. 135-6. 290, OISJ, pp. 66-9. 291. TSPC, III, pp. 135-36; JPV, p. 107. 292. DISJ, pp. 66-9. 293. TSPC, III, p. 137.
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