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Appendix-2
O Lord Kunthunatha! I am able to understand the intricate nature of Reality only through Your incontrovertible Teachings.
Lord Aranātha
Lord Aranatha, the eighteenth Tirthankara and the seventh cakravarti, was born in the town of Hastinapura, to Queen Mitrā and King Sudarśana on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Margaśīrṣa – magasira śukla caturdaśī. His pious soul had descended from Aparajita (anuttara) super-heaven which has the maximum life-span of 33 sägaropama.
Lord Aranatha, was born as 999,99,89,000 years (1000 crore - 11000 years) deducted from one-fourth of a palyopama passed after the birth of the seventeenth Tirthankara, Lord Kunthunatha.
The Lord attained the height of 30 dhanusa.
After spending 21,000 years as youth (kumārakāla), Lord Aranatha ruled for 42,000 years (rājyakāla).
After 21,000 years of rule as the King, Lord Aranatha became a cakravarti. He won six divisions of earth in all directions and spent the remaining 21,000 years of His rajyakāla as the King of Kings.
Lord Aranatha left, as a mere nothing blade of grass, His boundless empire as He developed a deep sense of renunciation for the world after once reflecting on His past incarnations. After 16 years (chadmasthakāla) of karma-destroying austerities He attained the all-embracing knowledge - Omniscience (kevalajñāna). He preached the Noble Doctrine of Truth for 20,984 years.
Lord Aranatha lived for 84,000 years and attained liberation (nirvāna) from Sammeda Sikhara on the new moon day of the dark half of the month of Caitra - caitra kṛṣṇa amavasyā.
Chief among the Lord's Apostles (ganadhara) was sage Kumbha Svāmī.
O Lord Aranatha! Engrossed in your Noble Virtues, even the close at hand objects of sense-indulgence appear unattractive to me!
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