Jainism For All

Naminath is the 21 st tirthankara of the present avasarpini time cycle according to Jain cosmology. His complexion is golden and symbol is blue water lily. The chaitya tree under which he got omniscience is bakula.  He was born to king Vijaya and queen Vipra of the Ikshvaku dynasty. King Vijaya was the ruler of Mithila. When Naminath was in his mother’s womb, Mithila was attacked by a group of powerful kings. Queen Vipra soon ascended to the roof of the palace. After seeing the queen, the enemies surrendered before king Vijaya. This incident happened when the queen was carrying Naminath in her embryo. It is said that the aura of Naminath forced the kings to surrender. On the eighth day of the dark half of moon in Aswini constellation Naminath was born. When Naminath became young, he got married and had a son named, Suprabha. Thereafter he took charge of the kingdom from his father and ruled for many years. When his son grew up, Naminath handed over his kingdom to his son Suprabha ...

  Lord Munisuvrata is the twentieth tirthankara of the present avasarpini time cycle according to Jain cosmology. His complexion is black and symbol is tortoise. The chaitya tree under which he got omniscience is champaka tree. In his previous incarnation, he was known as king Surasrestha in the city of Champa. He was a fourfold hero: a protector of the poor, eager in battle, resembling a kalpa tree in fulfilling and granting wishes, the head of the Jain religion. He listened the sermon delivered by Muni Nandan after which he lost interest with his position as king and became a mendicant under the guidance of Muni Nandan he practiced the body-making karma of a Tirthakrt by the sthanas, devotion to the Arhats etc. and became a chief god in Pranata after death. Munisuvrata was born in the, city named, Rajgriha in Magadh. At that time, Magadh was at its pinnacle of glory. His father was king Sumitra and mother Padmavati Devi. He was born on the eighth day of the dark half of Jyest...

  Mallinath is the nineteenth  tirthankara of the present avasarpini time cycle according to Jainism. Mallinath is believed to be a woman named Malli Devi by Swetambar Jain sects, while Digambar Jain community worships Mallinath as male deity. Her complexion is blue and symbol is kalash (water jug). The chaitya tree under which she got omniscience is ashoka tree. Mallinath was born in Mithila In the Ikshvaku dynasty. Her father was king Kumbha and mother queen Prajnavati (Prabhavati). Before her birth, her mother had the desire to wear a garland (malli), woven of flowers of all seasons. Gods and goddesses fulfilled her wish who themselves prepared the garland for her mother. Hence her name was decided to be Malli. Together with Malli, reincarnation happened to six of her friends in the previous birth. All of them wanted to marry her which she refused. Malli decided to leave the palace and accepted mendicancy after three days of fasting. Malli’s mind reading knowledge arose j...

  Lord Aranath is the eighteenth Jain tirthankara of the present avasarpini time cycle. Besides being a tirthankara, he is the eighth Chakravarti and thirteenth Kamadeva according to Jain mythology. His complexion is golden and symbol is fish. The chaitya tree under which he got omniscience is amba. In his previous birth, he was king Dhanapati, living in the city Susuna in the east Videha of Jambudvipa. During his period, people were free from quarrels and were friendly with each other. After ruling many years, king Dhanapati decided to leave the palace and accept mendicancy. He became the disciple of Muni Samvara. Guarding his vows strictly, practicing severe penance, he travelled many places. He acquired the body making karma of a Tirthakrt by the sthanas, devotion to the Arhats etc. In course of time, he died and became a powerful god in heaven. Aranath was born in Hastinapur in the Ikshvaku dynasty. His father was king Sudarshan and mother queen Mitra devi. When Dhanapati’s...