Jain Center Los Angeles CA 1988 07 Jain Bhavan Inauguration

Author(s): Jain Center So CA Los Angeles
Publisher: USA Jain Center Southern California

Page 17

park and finally attained kevalgnan or total and perfect knowledge.
Lord Rushabhdev - Left Side 2 The first Tirthankar of the Jains. Rushabhdey, is the founder of the Jain four-fold order. He was the first to renounce the world to embrace and indicate the spiritual path. It should be noted that the life of Rushabhdev as recorded in the Jain scriptures is corroborated by the Bhagavata wherein he has been acknowledged as an incarnation of Vishnu.
Lord Parshvanath organized the Jain Order and named ten Gandharas. He attained Nirvana or the liberation of his soul at Samet Shikhar which is now considered a holy place of pilgrimage by Jains.
In the Jain view, the advent of the first Tirthankara
esam view, the advent of the nurst Tirankara became necessary in that phase of the time-cycle when lapses had started appearing on the part of human beings and due to the growing barrenness of the subsistance trees (Kalpa Vrukshas). So it became necessary for a leader to establish order and impart training in the art of living.
With his earthly mission nearing completion, Lord Rushabhdev gave up his mortal frame through fasting. His final moment was spent on the Ashtapada mountain. This was an occasion of great sorrow for all. Lord Rushabhdev had left behind a huge family of spiritual stalwarts who were to uphold the Lord's path on earth and propagate it to future generations. Lord Parshvanath - Right Side 3 Lord Parshvanath, the twenty-third Tirthankara, was born of King Asvasen of Varanasi and Queen Bhamadevi on the tenth day of the month of Pausha. He is recognized as an historical figure who lived around 800 B.C. His emblem of a cobra refers to a similar snake that was seen by his mother when she was pregnant.
Ghantakarna Mahavir (Yaksha) 4
- Right Gonkh On the second On the second day of the bright half of the month of Magsar in the year 1980 of the Vikram Era, the temple of Ghantakarna Mahavir, a miraculous god, was set up in Mahudi the place of pilgrimage near Vijapur in Gujarat. Acharya Buddhisagarsuriji saw from the altar a stupendous great man. He drew the figure on a wall with a chalk stick and sculptors gave it a shape. Its worship gave a new vigor to people. Of the fifty-two Virs (brave men) Ghantakarna Mahavir is the thirtieth Vir. He is regarded as a god in the fourth stage of development (Gunasthan). Every year a million pilgrims visit Mahudi to do obeisance to him. Oblations are offered on the fourteenth day of the dark half of the month of Ashvin. On that occasion nearly thirty-five thousand pilgrims visit the place. Ghantakarna Mahavir has great prowess and he supports the Jain Shasan (order).
Padmavati (Yakshini) - Left Gonkh5 Padmavati is the Yakshini, divine guardian associated with Lord Parshvanath. She protects his worshippers and all faithful Jains.
As a prince he saved a threatened kingdom without resorting to violence. He spiritually uplifted a dying cobra which was being burnt in a sacrifical fire. In a subsequent life, this cobra became the celestial King Dharnendra who gave shelter to Lord Parshva- nath while he was meditating and the forces of evil were showering him with a rainstorm.
Nearly 2842 years ago, in the times of Tirthankar Parshvanath, Padmavati came into being. By merely remembering her one can get rid of evils. Various difficulties are removed by bowing to her. Her worship raises the worshipper's level of divinity. It is believed that as Saraswati she imparts knowledge and as Laxmi she showers wealth. Since she fulfills our desires, she is called 'Kamada". She is supreme and famous as a goddess. Being the wife of the great celestial King Dharanendra, she is an Indrani. Moreover, on account of the rise of her great punya karma she possesses great beauty. Padmavati supports and safeguards the Jain Shasan (order).
On the completion of his career as a Prince, he was initiated into monkhood in the Asramapada park. He broke his fast by accepting an offering from a lay man named Dhanya. Thereafter he wandered for eighty-four days before he settled down again in the
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