Jainism For All

 Lord Kunthunath is the seventeenth tirthankar of the present avasarpini time cycle. He is also the sixth Chakravarti king and the twelfth Kamadeva. His complexion is golden and symbol is goat. The chaitya tree under which he got omniscience is banyan tree (vata). In his third last birth, he was king Simhavah in Vijaykhand Nagar of Arhat area in Purva Videha Kshetra of Jambudweep. King Simhavah was very pious and powerful leader. He was the receptacle of virtue and ardent practitioner of justice. His mind was very sharp and it was difficult for others to penetrate his mind. He ruled his kingdom not for wealth but for the beneficiary of his subjects. As he grew old, he felt extreme disgust with existence and decided to take initiation under Acharya Samvara. In course of time, while practising the vows to control his body and mind, he died and became a god in the heaven Sarvartha siddha. Kunthunath was born in Hastinapur. His father was Sura and mother Sridevi. On the fourteenth da...

  Shantinath is the 16th Jain tirthankara of the present avasarpini time cycle. His complexion is golden and symbol is deer. The chaitya tree under which he got omniscience is Nandi. Lord Shantinath is one of the five tirthankaras who attract the most devotional worship among the Jains. The other four tirthankaras are Rishavdev, Neminath, Parsvanath and Mahavir. Shantinath is believed to be an idea of peace and tranquility, hence he is prayed to avert calamities. Hymns of Shantinath are recited during the last rites. Shantinath had 11 previous births prior to become a tirthankara. The first birth was as King Shrisena. The fourth birth was as king Amittej. His sixth birth was as Baldev Aparajit who later on became ardh Chakravarti. In the eighth birth, he was born as king Vajrayudh and became Chakravarti. He was born as king Meghrath in his tenth birth. His third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh incarnation as God were spent in heaven. In his twelfth incarnation, Shantinath w...