Jain Journal 1968 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 28

Tirthankara-22
ARISTANEMI
It is now widely recognised, if not historically proved, that Jainism was a living religion even before Parsva. But how can history prove or disprove of illustrious personalities and notable events of the time when history itself was unborn ? History as we understand it is posterior to Mahavira even in the West ; it was born in this country only after the advent of the British rule. For prehistoric period therefore we have to rely on records that are ahistorical. In doing so, if we do not shrink to accept the evidence of stones and metals as they might have been shaped and used in prehistoric periods, is it not fantastic and ridiculous that we often reject the evidence of sacred literature on the ground of myth ? Regarding Aristanemi, apart from copious records in the Jaina Āgamas, there is corroboration in the Vedic texts and there is no reason we do not accept him as a historical person in the sense that he really lived in this land, attained the highest knowledge, worked for the liberation of mankind and ultimately carved a place for himself in the galaxy of Tirthankaras. Recounted here is the life-story of the twenty-second Tirthankara which is an adaptation from Srichand Rampuria's work in Hindi based on the Agamic texts.
“What are the animals put in the enclosure for ?”
“They will make a grand feast for the assemblage on the occasion of your wedding."
A simple question followed by a simple answer.. Who knew then that these simple words would be the genesis of a Tirthankara ?
Aristanemi, a junior cousin and contemporary of Krsna of the Mahābhārata-war fame, is the twenty-second Tirthankara of the Jainas. As per Scriptures, he descended from the Aparajita-mahāvimāna during the mid-night of the twelth day of the dark-half of the month of Kartika and entered the mother's womb, to be born just nine months after, again at mid-night, of the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Sravana. Thus both his descent and birth took place just at mid-night and both the events occurred during monsoon months.