Parshva

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A 1097 representation of Parshvanath from Smithsonian Institute’s collections

In Jainism, Parshva (877-777 B.C.E.), (more correctly Parshvanatha; occasionally spelled Parswanath) was the twenty-third Tirthankara.

Parshvanath was the son of King Ashvasen and Queen Vamadevi of Varanasi. Parshvanath achieved Nirvana atop Sammet Sikhar.

In Jain cosmology, Parshvanatha, amongst all the twenty-four Tirthankaras, has been more often seen as presiding over the cosmic ring, being considered its axis. The first Jain Tirthankara Adinatha or RishabhaDeva, and the last Mahavira, are other Tirthankaras who have also been represented as the presiding siddhas of the cosmos. The cosmos has been visualized as the golden ring – 'hiranya-vratta' of the Jain cosmology, a concept corresponding to the 'hiranyagarbha' – the cosmic egg theory of the Rig-Veda.

There is a mention of four prominent leaders of the order of Lord Parshvanath:

Gandhara Shubhdatta (Shumbh)
Arya Haridatta
Acharya Samudra Suri
Arya Keshi Shraman
Parshva Bhavsar

In addition, Parshvanath had ten Ganadhars, or disciples.

Arya Keshi Shraman is believed to have beenborn about 166 to 250 years after the death of Bhagawan Parshvanath. He met Ganadhara Gautam Swami, the main disciple of Lord Mahavira. Their discussion about the apparent differences between the teachings of the two Tirthankaras is recorded in Jain texts.

[edit] Iconography

Lord Parshvanath is always represented with the hood of a snake shading his head. The Yaksha Dharanendra and the Yakshi Padmavati are often shown flanking him. This is because of a famous legend which can be roughly translated to this:

Parshvanath was walking one day when he saw an old man next to a fire. With a special type of knowledge called Avdhignan he could tell that a pair of snakes was in one of the logs in the fire. He quickly warned the man that he was burning the snakes, but instead of acting rapidly to save them, the man became angry at Parshvanath and denied the presence of the snakes. Parshavanath pulled out the right log and put it out, then gently split it, revealing two badly burned snakes. He recited the Navkar Mantra, a prayer, for them before they died. It was said that the snakes were reincarnated into the two previously mentioned Yakshas, Dharanendra and Padmavati.

In Jain canonical literature, Parshvanatha is represented in 'padmasana' (lotus) posture – both palms and feet, with auspicious lotus marks on them, placed upward. He has blue-black complexion – the color of the cosmos. The seven-hooded serpent Shesh – umbrella-like unfurling its hoods over the deity, represented elements of the earth and the ocean and has hence a similar body colour. Parshvanatha has been represented as wearing a gem-studded crown and other ornaments. He has a golden throne as a seat and a rich canopy above.

[edit] Famous Temples of Lord Parshvanath

Lord Parshvanath has a lot of temples all over India. He has atleast 108 different idols (names/ roop) in which he is worshipped. Some of the famous ones are