Summary
Ajitanatha (lit. invincible) was the second tirthankara of the present age, avasarpini (half time cycle) according to Jainism. He was born to king Jitashatru and Queen Vijaya at Ayodhya in the Ikshvaku dynasty. He was a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.
| Ajitanatha | |
|---|---|
2nd Jain Tirthankara | |
 Idol of Tirthankar Ajitnath at Taranga Jain Temple, Gujarat, India | |
| Venerated in | Jainism |
| Predecessor | Rishabhanatha |
| Successor | Sambhavanatha |
| Symbol | Elephant |
| Height | 450 bows |
| Age | 72 lakh purvas (508.032 x 1018 years old) |
| Tree | Saptaparna (Alstonia scholaris) |
| Color | Golden |
| Personal information | |
| Born | |
| Parents |
|
In Jain texts edit
Ajitnatha (lit. invincible)[1] was the second tirthankara of the present age, avasarpini (half time cycle in Jain cosmology) according to Jainism.[2]
Ajitnatha was born in the town of Saketa to King Jitashatru and Queen Vijaya at Ayodhya (Vinita-Saketa)[3] in the Ikshvaku dynasty on magha-shukla-dashmi (the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Magha).[2] His height was 450 dhanusha. He lived for a span of 72 lakh purva.[1]
According to Hemachandra, he was named Ajita because the king father was unable to defeat his mother in gambling until he was in her womb. Uttarapurana, a Digambara text, explains that he was named Ajita because he could not be defeated by sins or all heretics.[3]
He attained kevala jnana under the saptaparna tree (Alstonia scholaris)[3] and Moksha on chaitra-shukla-panchmi (fifth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra) from Shikharji.[4][1][3]
He had 90 Ganadharas and Simhasena was his chief among them. Falgu (according to Swetambara tradition) or Prakubja (according to Digambara tradition) was a chief of the his order of the nuns.[1][3]
The Yajurveda mentions the name of Ajitanatha, but the meaning is not clear. According to Jain traditions, his younger cousin brother was Sagara. Sagara, who became the second Chakravartin, is known from the traditions of both Hindu and Jain scriptures.[5][3]
Iconography edit
Swetambara as well as Digambara sects consider his complexion golden and elephant as his symbol.[3] He is associated with saptaparna tree; Mahayaksha as attendant Yaksha; and Ajita (as per Swetambra) or Rohini (as per Digambara) as attendant Yakshis.[6][3] The elephant, symbol of Ajitanatha, is a vahana (mount) of the Mahayakshya and Ajita Yakshi seems named after Ajitanatha.[3]
In literature, art and architecture edit
Literature edit
- The Ajitha purana, by Ranna narrates the story of Ajitanatha.
- Ajitashanti Stotra compiled by Nandisena in 7th century is a praise to Ajitnatha and Shantinatha.[7]
Major temples edit
- Taranga Jain Temple
- Vasai Jain Temple in Bhadresar
- Bandhaji[citation needed]
- Chaturmukha Basadi, Gerusoppa
- Ajitnathji Jain Temple, Pal gam, Surat
See also edit
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ a b c d Vijay K. Jain 2015, p. 183.
- ^ a b Tukol 1980, p. 31.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Shah, Umakant Premanand (1987). Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana [Jaina Iconography]. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. p. 128. ISBN 978-81-7017-208-6.
- ^ Krishna & Amirthalingam 2014, p. 46.
- ^ Jain, Kailash Chandra, Antiquity of Jainism, Jainism Literature Center
- ^ Tandon 2002, p. 44.
- ^ Cort 2001, p. 236.
Sources edit
- Jain, Vijay K. (2015), Acarya Samantabhadra's Svayambhustotra: Adoration of The Twenty-four Tirthankara, Vikalp Printers, ISBN 978-81-903639-7-6, archived from the original on 16 September 2015,
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - Krishna, Nanditha; Amirthalingam, M. (2014) [2013], Sacred Plants of India, Penguin Books, ISBN 978-9-351-18691-5
- Tandon, Om Prakash (2002) [1968], Jaina Shrines in India (1 ed.), New Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, ISBN 81-230-1013-3
- Tukol, T. K. (1980), Compendium of Jainism, Dharwad: University of Karnataka
Further reading edit
- Johnson, Helen M. (1931), Ajitanathacaritra (Book 2 of the Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra), Baroda Oriental Institute
- Cort, John E. (2001), Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India, Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780198030379