Jain Heritage and Beyond

Author(s): Shailesh Shah
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK

Page 65

Parshvanathji The 23rd Tirthankar
FICH
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Bhagvan Parshvanath was born about 350 years before the Nirvana of Bhagavan Mahavir or in the 10th century B.C.
Past Incarnation:
Like other Tirthankars, important events of earlier incarnations of the being that became Bhagvan Parshvanath are available in Jain scriptures. Study of these incidents reveals that amnesty and compassion played a major part in his life and progress toward purity of soul. In every incarnation his rival, Kamath, continued to torture him and he continued to forgive and forget.
Descending from the Pranat dimension of gods, the being that was Marubhuti came into the womb of Vama Devi, wife of king Ashvasen of Varanasi. On the tenth day of the dark half of the month of Paush Vama Devi gave birth to a son. At the time of his naming ceremony king Ashvasen announced that during her pregnancy Vama Devi one night saw a snake slithering on the bed near his flank. She woke him up and saved him from the impending danger. As such he was naming the new born as Parshva (flank).
Parshva was averse to the bond of marriage. However, his parents persuaded him and he could not hurt their feelings. He was married to Prabhavati but led a simple and detached life.
One day prince Parshva was enjoying a view of the town from the balcony of his palace. When he saw groups of men and women, carrying items for worship, passing by, he asked out of curiosity if it was some day of religious ceremonies. His attendants informed him that
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