Study in the Origins and Development of Jainism

Author(s): S N Shrivastava
Publisher: Rekha Publication Gorakhpur

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A Study in the Origins and Development of Jainism
persons in various texts of the Jain literature, a systematic and detailed description of these are found in the Triṣa şti salakapuruşa Charit of Hema chandra. Their names are:
TIRTHANKARA 1. Risabha Natha 2. Ajitanatha 3. Sambhavanatha 4. Abhinandan 5. Sumati 6. Padamaprabha or Suprabha 7. Supărśva 8. Chandraprabha 9. Puspadanta or Suvidhi 10. Śitalanatha 11. Sreyamsa 12. Vasupūjya 13. Vimala 14. Ananta 15. Dharmanatha 16. Santinatha 17. Kunthu 18. Aranatha 19. Malli 20. Suvrata 21. Naminatha 22. Aristanemi 23. Pārsvanatha 24. Mahāvīra
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CHAKRAVARTI- 1. Bharata 2. Sagara 3. Madhava 4. Sanatkumãra 5. Shanti 6. Kunthu 7. Arah 8. Subhūma 9. Mahāpadma 10. Hariṣena 11. Jaya 12. Brahmadatta.
BALABHADRA- 1. Achala 2. Vijai 3. Bhadra 4. Suprabha 5. Sudarsana 6. Ananda 7. Nandana 8. Padma 9. Balarama.
VASUDEVA- 1. Tripriṣṭha 2. Dvipriṣṭha 3. Svayambhū 4. Purusottama 5. Puruşa Singh 6. Puruşa Pundarika 7. Datta 8. Nārāyaṇa 9. Kriśṇa.
PRATI-VASUDEVA- 1. Aśvagrīva 2. Tāraka 3. Meraka 4. Madhu 5. Nisumbha 6. Bali 7. Prahalada 8. Ravana 9. Jarāsamdha.
A perusal of these lists of names shows that some of the names are overlapping. They also contain the names of Hindu deities, which indicates intermingling of traditions.
The Jain tradition gives credit of rise, development and propagation of Jainism to these distinguished men. It is unfortunate to note that excepting a few Tirthankaras, no details of these distinguished men are available and only their names are mentioned in Jain texts. More unfortunate is the fact that whatever detailed accounts of some of the Tirthankaras are