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BIRTH
BHAGAVĀNA PARŚVANĀTHA
Bhagavāna Parsvanatha was born in Varanasi City of the Kāśī State on Pausa Kṛṣṇā eleventh. His parents were King Viśvasena and queen Vāmādevī. In some Jain books the names his parents are mentioned as Asvasena and Varmila or Varma. King Aśvasena belonged to the Ugra clan of Kāśyapa gotra (caste name). He was a descendant of Brahmadatta Cakravarti. In Hindu Purāņas also his name can be found in the list of descendants of Brahamadatta Cakravarti. In Buddhist Jataka literature this name is mentioned as Viśvasena. On his birth Indras, gods, and humans celebrated the auspicious birth-event with great fan fare. He was the twenty-third Tirthankara.
PROMINENCE OF VARIOUS HERMITS
During that period Varanasi was considered to be one of the more affluent cities. It had trade connections with distant countries through land and river routes. The inhabitants were happy and affluent.
Besides being a commercial center this city was also a religious center. During that period the banks of river Ganges remained ever crowded with hermits who had renounced household. In a variety of garbs these hermits indulged in strange practices. Their garb and practices had hardly any relation with religion or rationality. The Hottiya hermits made sacrificial offerings in fire. The Kottiya hermits slept on the ground. The Pottiya were dressed. The Jaņņi hermits performed yajña. The Thālas carried all their belongings. The Humboṭṭas carried a bowl. The Dantukkhaliyas ate raw grains grinding them with their teeth. Miyaluddhayas killed animals. The Ambuvāsīs remained standing in water. Besides these many more hermits including Bilavāsī, Jalavāsī, Rukkhamūla, Sevālabhakkhi, etc. frequented that area. A detailed and interesting description of these hermits is available in Uvavāi Sūtra.
In Buddhist Jataka literature also, description of strange forms of penance of those days is available. Some hermits would continuously
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