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Jaina Tīrthařkaras and antiquity of Jainism
was born at Mithilā.368 But according to another tradition he was born at Mathurā. 369 His father Vijaya was the king of Mithilā and his mother's name was Vaprā$70 or Viprītā.371 According to the Jaina tradition, Naminātha descended for incarnation from the heaven Pränatadevaloka. 372 He ruled for long and subsequently took to a life of asceticism. He became a kevalin under a bakula373 or jambū tree374 at Mithilā after undergoing penance for nine months.375
According to the Jaina tradition, his height was 15 poles and he lived for 10,000 common years.376 His complexion has been mentioned as golden.377 His first ganadhara and āryā were Subha and Anilā respectively. 378 He attained moksa in the kāyotsarga posture 379 on Samet Sikhara.380
Neminātha - the twenty-second tirthamkara
Neminātha, the twenty-second tirthamkara, also called Aristanemi, 381 belonged to the Harivassa382 or the Yādava383 dynasty of the ksatriyas and was the cousin of Vasudeva Krsna 384 of Mahābhārata fame. Neminātha was born at
368. JI, p. 79; JAA, I, p. 16; TSPC, IV, pp. 353-4. 369. Ibid., p. 80; OIS), pp. 66-71. 370. JPV, p. 114; TSPC, IV, pp. 353-4. 371. Ibid., p. 114. 372. OISJ, pp. 66-71. 373. Ibid.; JPV, p. 116. 374.JPV, p. 116. 375. Ibid. 376. OISJ, pp. 66-71. 377. ERE, VII, p. 466; JAA, I, p. 16. 378. OIS), pp. 66-71. 379. Ibid., p. 66. 380. Ibid.; JAA, I, p. 16. 381. Ibid., p. 71; Ibid. 382. Ibid., p. 65; HP, Editorial; JAA, I, p. 50. 383. HP, Editorial; CUHI, I, p. 220. 384. Ibid.; JAA, I, p. 50.
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