Parshvanatha is the only Tirthankara who gained the title of Kalikalkalpataru.
40 Facts About Parshvanatha
2.
Parshvanatha is one of the earliest Tirthankaras who are acknowledged as historical figures.
3.
Parshvanatha was the earliest exponent of Karma philosophy in recorded history.
4.
Parshvanatha is popularly seen as a propagator and reviver of Jainism.
5.
Parshvanatha attained moksha on Mount Sammeda popular as Parasnath hill in the Ganges basin, an important Jain pilgrimage site.
6.
Parshvanatha's iconography is notable for the serpent hood over his head, and his worship often includes Dharanendra and Padmavati.
7.
Texts of the two major Jain sects differ on the teachings of Parshvanatha and Mahavira, and this is a foundation of the dispute between the two sects.
8.
Parshvanatha did not require celibacy, and allowed monks to wear simple outer garments.
9.
Parshvanatha is the earliest Jain tirthankara who is generally acknowledged as a historical figure.
10.
Doubts about Parshvanatha's historicity are supported by the oldest Jain texts, which present Mahavira with sporadic mentions of ancient ascetics and teachers without specific names.
11.
The Kalpa Sutra is the most ancient known Jain text with the 24 tirthankaras, but it lists 20; three, including Parshvanatha, have brief descriptions compared with Mahavira.
12.
Two of the early bronze images of Parshvanatha can be found on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya and Patna Museum dating back to second century BCE to first century CE.
13.
Parshvanatha was the 23rd of 24 tirthankaras in Jain tradition.
14.
Parshvanatha was born on the tenth day of the dark half of the Hindu month of Pausha to King Ashwasena and Queen Vamadevi of Varanasi.
15.
Parshvanatha's mother dreamt sixteen auspicious dreams, an indicator in Jain tradition that a tirthankara was about to be born.
16.
At the age of eight, Parshvanatha began practicing the twelve basic duties of the adult Jain householder.
17.
Heinrich Zimmer translated a Jain text that sixteen-year-old Parshvanatha refused to marry when his father told him to do so; he began meditating instead, because the "soul is its only friend".
18.
At age 30, on the 11th day of the moon's waxing in the month of Pausha, Parshvanatha renounced the world to become a monk after seeing image of Neminatha.
19.
Parshvanatha removed his clothes and hair, and began fasting strictly.
20.
Parshvanatha meditated for 84 days before he attained omniscience under a dhaataki tree near Benares.
21.
Parshvanatha's practices included careful movement, measured speech, guarded desires, mental restraint and physical activity, essential in Jain tradition to renounce the ego.
22.
Ahichchhatra is believed to be the place where Parshvanatha attained Kevala Jnana.
23.
Parshvanatha was immersed in water up to his neck and to protect him the serpent god Dharanendra held a canopy of thousand hoods over his head and the goddess Padmavati coiled herself around his body.
24.
Ahichchhatra Jain temples are built to commemorate Parshvanatha attaining Kevalajnana kalyanaka.
25.
Parshvanatha saved serpents from torture and death during that life; the serpent god Dharanendra and the goddess Padmavati protected him, and are part of Parshvanatha's iconography.
26.
Parshvanatha did not require celibacy, and allowed monks to wear simple outer garments.
27.
Svetambara texts such as section 2.15 of the Acharanga Sutra say that Mahavira's parents were followers of Parshvanatha, linking Mahavira to a preexisting theology as a reformer of Jain mendicant tradition.
28.
Uvasagharam Stotra is an ode to Parshvanatha which was written by Bhadrabahu.
29.
Sankhesvara Stotram is hymn to Parshvanatha compiled by Mahopadhyaya Yashovijaya.
30.
Pasanaha-chairu is a hagiography of Parshvanatha composed by Shridhara in 1132 AD.
31.
Parshvanatha bhavantara is a kirtan, compiled by Gangadas in 1690 AD, which narrates life of previous nine births.
32.
The medieval forty-four verse hymn Kalyanamandira stotra, composed by Digambar kumudachandra, is a praise to Parshvanatha is popular among both Digambar and Svetambara.
33.
Parshvanatha charite is a poem composed by Shantikirt Muni in 1730 AD, this poem narrates the seven siddhis of Parshvanatha.
34.
Parshvanatha is a popular tirthankara who is worshiped with Rishabhanatha, Shantinatha, Neminatha and Mahavira.
35.
Parshvanatha is believed to have the power to remove obstacles and save devotees.
36.
Parshvanatha is usually depicted in a lotus or kayotsarga posture.
37.
Parshvanatha's iconography is usually accompanied by Dharnendra and Padmavati, Jainism's snake god and goddess.
38.
Serpent-hood iconography is not unique to Parshvanatha; it is found above the icons of Suparshvanatha, the seventh of the 24 tirthankaras, but with a small difference.
39.
Parshvanatha is depicted in dhyana mudra with ankle crossed in lotus position seated on a pedestal with a seven-hooded sesha hood above his head and shrivatsa on the chest.
40.
Parshvanatha is one of the five most devotionally revered Tirthankaras, along with Mahavira, Rishabhanatha, Neminatha and Shantinatha.