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JANUARY 2017 PRABUDHH JEEVAN
PAGE No. 43 The 23rd Tirthankara Parsvanatha - By Dr. Renuka Porwal, Mob.: 098218 77327
The 23rd Tirthankara Parsvanatha was born in the year 877 B. C. in Iksavaku / Ugra dynasty. He was the son of king Asvasena and queen Vama of Varanasi.
Once ascetic Kamatha was performing yajna and put a giant wooden bar into it; Parsvantha was passing by he saw with his knowledge that a naga couple is burning inside. He immediately ordered his subordinate to save the snakes. Later on the couple was reborn as Dharanendra and Padmavati of Patallok. The Kamath became Asur Meghamali.
He took Sanlekhana-vrat in the year 777 B.C. at Parsvanath hill which is also famous as Sametshikhara.
Parsvanath renounced the world and became an ascetic at the age of 30. Once he was performing Kausagga Dhyan, Meghamall attacked him with heavy showers and thunder lightening. The water reached up to his neck, Dharanendra and Padmavati came to rescue him. Later on Meghmali realised his bad deeds and asked for forgiveness.