________________
History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
was born at Vinītā.106 His father Jitasatru was the king of Vinītā (Ayodhya) and his mother's name was Vijayā Devī. 107 According to the Jaina belief, Ajitanātha descended for incarnation from the heaven Vijayavimāna. 108 He married at the insistence of his father and lived a happy married life.109 He renounced the world after ruling for long and resorted to a life of asceticism.110 He attained enlightenment (bodhi) under a sāla tree111 at Ayodhya112 after twelve years' hard penance.113
According to the Jaina tradition, his height was 450 poles and he lived for 7,200,000 pūrva (great) years.114 His complexion has been described as golden. 115 His first gañadhara and āryā were Simhasena and Phālgū respectively. 116 Ajitanātha attained moksa in the kāyotsarga posture117 on Samet śikhara. 118 Pārsvanātha hill (Samet Sikhara) is situated in the Hazaribagh district of Bihar.119 It stands in a dense forest infested with wild animals and is the second highest mountain south of the Himalayas.120 It is frequently visited by the Jainas from all parts of India. 121 There is a Digambara Jaina temple at the top of this hill and some Svetambara Jaina temples at its foot. 122
106. TSPC, II, p. 28; HGAI, p. 67. 107. Ibid., pp. 28-9; JPV, p. 95. 108. OISJ, pp. 66-7. 109. TSPC, II, p. 73. 110. Ibid., pp. 89-91. 111. OISJ, pp. 66-7. 112. JPV, pp. 95-6. 113. Ibid. 114. OISJ, pp. 66-7. 115. Ibid.; ERE, VII, p. 466; JAA, I, p. 14. 116. Ibid., pp. 66-7. 117. Ibid., p. 66. 118. TSPC, II, pp. 219-20; OISJ, p. 66; JAA, I, p. 14. 119.HGAI, p. 249; GD, p. 176. 120. Ibid., p. 249. 121. Ibid. 122. Ibid.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
