Jain Journal 1973 10

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

Page 13

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marriage procession was about to reach the bride's palace, Aristanemi heard the wails of animals that had been collected in a pen for the ensuing feast. This shocked Aristanemi. He released the animals with his own hands and asked his charioteer to turn the vehicle. He renounced the world; Rajimati too discarded her costly garments and voluntarily embraced austerities.
JAIN JOURNAL
Neminatha was initiated in the Sahasramravana. He wandered for 54 days and attained omniscience in the same park. There are many stories of the meetings between the Lord and Krsna. The Lord too visited Dvaraka more than once. He organised the Order, and entered into liberation on the Raivatagiri (Mount Girnar in Gujarat) which is a holy place of the Jainas to this day.
Parsvanatha Parsvanatha was born 250 years before the last Tirthankara and lived for 100 years. His parents were King Asvasena of Varanasi and queen Bamadevi. He was born on the 10th day in the first half of Pausa (December), with a snake as his emblem.
Prasenajita, the ruler of the small state of Kusasthala, had a daughter, Princess Prabhavati. The Yavana King of Kalinga heard of the princess' beauty and to seek her hand, he laid siege of her father's city. Prasenajita sought the aid of the King of Varanasi. King Asvasena sent his son to the rescue of Prasenajita. In recognition of his gratitude for the timely aid, Prasenajita offered Princess Prabhavati in marriage to Parsvanatha.
On the completion of his career as a prince, Parsva was initiated into monkhood in the Asramapada park. Thereafter he wandered for 84 days before he settled down again in the park of his initiation to attain omniscience later. He organised the order and was claimed by Sammeta Sikhara at the time of his liberation.
Mahavira-Mahavira, the last Tirthankara, was the senior contemporary of the Buddha. His father was Siddhartha, who was in the Iksvaku line and who ruled at Ksatriyakunda. He was born of Queen Trisala on the 15th day in the second half of Caitra (March), with the emblem of a lion. He was also called Vardhamana, because of the growing affluence of the state treasury. He was married to Princess Yasoda and had a daughter named Priyadarsana. According to Digambara tradition, he never married. He lost his parents at 28 and renounced the world at 30.