Lord Anantanath, the 14th Tirthankar

 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 kingdoms during his presence in his mother’s womb. When he attained youth, he got married and thereafter ruled the kingdom to please his father and served his duties towards the society. He was a decent and humane king. After many years of ruling as king, Anantanath decided to give up the kingdom and embrace ascetism. He wandered three years as an ascetic. He attained omniscience on the fourteenth day of the dark half of moon in Revati star under an asoka tree inside a grove named Sahasramravana. Lord Ananthnath delivered a sermon on seven Tattvas. They are: jiva (soul), ajiva (non-soul), asrava (channels for acquiring karma), samvara (methods of impeding karma), nirjara (destruction of karma), bandha (bondage) and moksa (emancipation).

Lord Ananthanath wandered different places through villages, towns and cities, enlightening people about religion and its beneficial features. Knowing that his time for emancipation is near, he went to Mt. Sammet with seven thousand monks and began a fast which continued a month. Lord Ananthanath attained emancipation on the fifth day of the bright half of Chaitra.

In the congregation originated Patala, who became the male messenger deity of Lord Anantanath. Likewise originated, Ankusa who became the female messenger deity.