________________
Tirthamkaras
59
and family history. He was probably born about 817 and died about717 B.C. His father Aśvasena was the King of Benares. His mother's name was Vāmä or Brahmā. Pāríva was a brave warrior and once he carried his victorious arms down to Kalina ga. He marricd the daughter of King Prasenajit, King of Kosala, but like Prince Siddhārtha, he left his princess to follow the life of an ascetic at 30 years of age. He preached his doctrines of love and universal fraternity for about 70 years and finally attained liberation or Moksa on Mt. Summet Sikhara non called after him Giri Pārsvanātha Hill, in South Bihár.
A little history mixed with niythology is accredited to Pārsvanātha. The story how he saved a serpent from being burnt by an ascetic namned Kaļha may be studicd critically and iconographically. One day Pārsi va scęs Katha surrounded by a great concourse of people, performing the severe five-fire penance. And he secs that Katha has thrown a great serpent into a fire-pan. He asks the reason for this pitiless practice, inconsistent with Katha's own austerities. Katha replies that kings might understand clephants and horses, but the sages alone understood religion. Pārk va has the fire put out; the agonized serpent comes out and Pārsva makes his people show honour to him. Absorbing the essence of their worship, the serpent is reborn as Dharaṇa, the wealthy king of the Nāgas in Pātāla, Katha, as the result of his false practice, is reborn as an Asura by name of Meghamālin. One day, "Pārs va happening to see on the wall of his palace a picture of the Arhat Nemi, who had taken the vow early in life, decides to do the same...... He wanders from place to place, instructing and acclaimed as a Saint. While standing in the forest of Kaušāmbi in the kārotsarga posture, the serpent king Dharana comes in great state to do him honour, performs a mimic representation and during three days holds an umbrella over his head to protect him from the sun. The Asura Meghamālin (the soul of Kamațla) allacks Lord Pārsva with tigers, elephants etc. Dharana, then excoriates Meghamālin's hatred of the Lord, pointing out he had donc him no injury but on the contrary, had saved him from the sin
1. वाराणस्यामभूद्विश्वसेनः काश्यपगोत्रजः ।
ब्रह्मास्य देवी सम्प्राप्तवसुधारादिपूजना ।।
Uttara P.
