Jainism For All

 Lord Ananthanath is the fourteenth Jain tirthankara of the present avasarpini time cycle. His complexion is golden and the symbol is porcupine. The chaitya tree under which he got omniscience is asoka tree. In his past incarnation, he was the king of Arista town in the province Airavat in East Videha of Bharatvarsha. His name was Padmarath. After conquering all his enemies and after experiencing all possible pleasures of life, he changed himself into a devout person showing deep religious commitment. He took initiation from acharya Chittraksa. He accumulated body-making karma of a Tirthakrt and after death, he became a god in Pushpottara in Pranata. After completing his tenure in heaven, his soul descended into the womb of Suyasha, wife of king Sinhasena, in the city of Ayodhya. On the thirteenth day of the dark half of moon, in the month of Vaisakh Anantanath was born. His name was decided to be Anantanath because his father conquered infinite number of armies from his enemy ...

 Lord Vimalanath is the thirteenth Jain tirthankara of the present avasarpini time cycle. His complexion is golden and symbol is boar. The chaitya tree under which he got omniscience is jambu. In his previous incarnation, he was the king Padmasana in the city Mahapuri in East Videha. His mind was filled with the teachings of the Jinas. He always felt extreme disgust with his present existence. So , he decided to take initiation under guru Sarvagupta. By means of powerful sthanas, devotion to the Arhats etc., he acquired the body-making karma of a tirthakrt. After practicing severe penance for a long time, he died and became a powerful god in Sahasrara. After completing his life in heaven, the soul descended into the womb of queen Shyama, wife of king Kritavarman. On the third day of the bright half of Magh, the moon being in Uttarbhadrapada constellation, Vimalanath was born. Because his mother looked brilliant (Vimala) while he was in the womb, his father decided the name of th...

 Vasupujya is the twelfth Jain tirthankara of the present avasarpini time cycle. His complexion is red and symbol is buffalo. The chaitya tree under which he got omniscience is patala tree. In his previous incarnation, he was king Padmottara of Mangalavati , kingdom of East Videha. He always had in his mind the pure teaching of Jinas. During his ruling, his wealth and fame increased enormously. Later in his life, he realized that fortune, beauty, merit etc. are all transitory. So one day he decided to take initiation from guru Vajranabha under whose guidance, he practiced penance which helped him to transform his soul free from karma bound body. After his death, he became a powerful god in the heaven and spent many years. The soul of Padmottara descended into the womb of queen Jaya Devi, wife of king Vasupujya of Champa town (Bhagalpur, Bihar). When the baby was in the mother’s womb, Lord Indra came to pay his salutation to the future tirthankar. The baby was named Vasupujya. As...

 Sheetalnath is the tenth Jain tirthankara in the present avasarpini time cycle. His complexion is golden and symbol is kalpa vriksha. The chaitya tree under which he got omniscience is priyangu.  In his previous but one birth, he was the king Padmottar of Sushima town in the Pushkarvar island within Bharatvarsha. When his son was grown up, he gave his kingdom to his son and took initiation from monk Tristadha. Rigorous spiritual practices resulted him to acquire the tirthankara name and gotra-karma.  In the present birth, Sheetalnath was born in Bhaddilmur town in the subcontinent of Bharatvarsha. His father was king Dridhratha and mother queen Nanda. On the twelfth day in the month of Magh, Nanda devi gave birth to a son. During pregnancy, once king Dridhratha had high fever and intense burning in his body. All the medicines failed. As soon as the queen pressed his head with her palms, the king got relief. After this incident, the king decided to name the newborn child ...