Study of Jainism

Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 64

Other Tirthankaras
After about four months of the practice of severe penance and meditation Parsvanatha attained the state of kēvala jñana (omniscience). This was in the early hours of the morning of the 4th day Caturthi of Bahula Caitra
This auspicious news spread through out the country. The king Afvasena and Vamadevi, his parents along with the princes and subjects, came and offered their respects. According to the Digambaru tradition the first disciple was Svayambhu and the Prathama Āryika was Sulocana 58 Bhagawan Parsvanatha established the tirtha of the four orders of society. His preachings were effective and various groups called gaņas were established. Digambara tradition maintains that there were 10 ganadharas and 10 gaņas 59 But according to Syetambara tradition 8 gañadharas and gaņas were established. 60
In his wanderings from place to place preaching his doctrine tirthankara Parsvanatha came to the mountain Sammeta (Sammeta S'ikhara), with 33 munis (monks). This was the finale and the consummation of his life as a tirthankara. He took the vow of fasting and sat for meditation on the auspicious day of Sravana sukla aştami (8th day of the brighter half of Sravana). In the Visakha Nakșatra tirthankara Parsvanatha attained the highest state of perfection mokşa.61
Parsvanatha is supposed to have attained nirvana about 250 years before the nirvāņa of the 24th tirthankara Vardhamana Mahavira. He lived for one hundred years. He renounced the world at the age of thirty and practised severe penance on the mount Sammedasikhara. It is located in West Bengal. The mount is even now called Parsvanatha hill. He preached his doctrines to the people for seventy years, and after attaining the age of one hundred years in 777 B.C attained the supreme state of nirvana. Zimmer says, 'His life, or rather lives, following as they do the pattern typical for the orthodox biographies of Jaina saints, will serve as an introduction to the trials and victories of the last supreme of the four aims of Indian life, that of spiritual release (mokşa). The saint's biography is offered as a model for all those who would put off the heavy load of earthly birth. 62