Ajitanatha

Ajitnatha (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. According to Jain legends, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.

Ajitanatha
2nd Jain Tirthankara
Lord Ajitanatha (Mathura Chaurasi)
Venerated inJainism
PredecessorRishabhanatha
SuccessorSambhavanatha
SymbolElephant
Height450 bows (1,350 meters)
Age72 lakh purva (508.032 x 1018 years old)
ColorGolden
Personal information
Born
Ayodhya
Died
Shikharji
Parents
  • Jitasatru (father)
  • Vijayadevi (mother)
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Life

Ajitnatha (lit. invincible)[1] was the second tirthankara of the present age, avasarpini (half time cycle) according to Jainism.[2]

Ajitnatha was born in the town of Saketa to King Jitashatru and Queen Vijaya at Ayodhya 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 (1350 meters). He was born 508.032 x 1018 years ago and lived for a span of 72 lakh purva.[1]

He attained kevala jnana under the sal tree and Moksha on chaitra-shukla-panchmi (fifth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra) from Shikharji.[3][1]

Simhasena was his chief Ganadhara.[1]

Literature

The Yajurveda mentions the name of Ajitanatha, but the meaning is not clear. According to Jain traditions, his younger brother was Sagara. Sagara, who became the second Chakravartin, is known from the traditions of both Hindu and Jain scriptures.[4]

Adoration

Ajinatha is associated with his Elephant emblem, Saptha-parna tree, Mahayaksha Yaksha and Yogini & Ajithabala Yakshis.[5]

Literature

Famous temples
  • Vasai Jain Temple
  • Tarangaji, Gujarat (1121 AD) constructed by King Kumarapala
  • Tirthankara (possibly Ajitanatha), India, Southern Rajasthan, c. 12th century, marble
  • Ajitnath Tirthankar at the Chennai Museum

See also

References

Citations
  1. Vijay K. Jain 2015, p. 183.
  2. Tukol 1980, p. 31.
  3. Krishna & Amirthalingam 2014, p. 46.
  4. Jain, Kailash Chandra, Antiquity of Jainism, Jainism Literature Center
  5. Tandon 2002, p. 44.
  6. Cort 2001, p. 236.

Sources

Further reading
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