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the end he attained nirvana at Sammeda śikhara. His symbol was deer. His attending deities were Garuda Yakṣa and Mānasi Yakṣiṇī.
Hastināpura, the birth-place of Bhagavāna śānti Nātha is a famous Jain pilgrimage center. It was here that the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth Tīrthankaras, Sānti Nātha, Kunthu Nātha, and Ara Nātha respectively, were born. Even the four auspicious events (descent, birth, initiation, and omniscience) of each of these Tīrtharkaras occurred here only. These three Tīrthankaras were fifth, sixth, and seventh Cakravartīs as well.
It is believed that like Ayodhyā, Hastināpura city was also constructed by gods. It was visited by many Tīrthankaras including Rşabhadeva, Malli Nātha, Pārśva Nātha, and Mahāvīra. It was here that Bhagavāna Rşabhadeva accepted his first meal, after initiation, from prince Śreyānsa. This pious date was Vaišākha śukla third. Due to Bhagavāna's accepting food this became a pious day popularly known as Akşaya Tștiyā. The name of prince Śreyānsa became popular as the Dāna Tīrtha Pravartaka (propagator of the pious system of charity that leads to liberation). This incident is credited with the commencement of the tradition of charity. Satī Sulocanā, famous for the miraculous incidents of her piety and chastity, was the wife of Megheśvara Jayakumāra, the son of King Somaprabha, the elder brother of prince Sreyānsa Kumāra. Somaprabha was the founder of Somavaṁsa or Candravamsa (the Candra clan). Jayakumāra was the commander-inchief of the first Cakravarti Bharata. Hastināpura was also the capital of the fourth Cakravarti Sanatkumāra. Thus this place can boast of four successive Cakravarties and three successive Tīrthankaras.
It was at Hastināpura that on getting the kingdom for seven days, some ministers lead by Bali had cordoned seven hundred ascetic disciples of Akampanācārya to sacrifice them in a yajña. At that time muni Vişnukumāra transformed himself into Vāmana (a dwarf) and begged for land measuring his three steps. When Bali made the promise the muni employed his Vaikriya power (power of transforming oneself to desired dimension) to enlarge his body to an immense size. He then put his first step on Sumeru mountain and second on Mānusottara mountain. Thus covering the whole universe he demanded further land to take the third step. The universe got terror stricken. Bali and his accomplices trembled with fear. They fell at the feet of muni
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