The Story of the 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanatha
Introduction:Parshvanatha was the 23rd Tirthankara in Jainism. He was born in a royal family in ancient India around the 8th century BCE. He devoted his entire life in meditation and asceticism and attained complete enlightenment. Parshvanatha has an important place in Jainism and his teachings have a great influence on many aspects of the religion. Here is a brief overview of Parshvanatha's life and his teachings.Birth and Early Life:Parshvanatha was born in a royal family in Varanasi, India. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and studied the Vedic and Upanishadic scriptures. He gained knowledge and insight from various religious traditions and became an enlightened teacher. He was initiated in Tapas and practiced various forms of meditation and asceticism.The quest for Enlightenment:Parshvanatha spent twelve long years in asceticism and meditation. He underwent severe austerities and sought refuge in the caves of the Himalayas. During his quest for enlightenment, Parshva had a realization that he was the soul and that the body and the world were illusions. He finally attained complete enlightenment in the Himalayas and became the 23rd Tirthankara.Teachings:Parshvanatha preached ahimsa (non-violence) as the primary tenet of Jainism and taught his followers to follow the "five great vows" of Jainism: Ahimsa (non-violence) Satya (truthfulness) Asteya (non-stealing) Brahmacharya (celibacy) Aparigraha (non-attachment)Parshvanatha also taught the concept of Anekantavada (the doctrine of multiplicity of viewpoints) and stressed the importance of non-material or spiritual wealth. He believed in karma and taught that good deeds and compassionate actions could lead to liberation from the cycle of birth and death.Legacy:Parshvanatha's teachings and legacy are still alive today. He is one of the most venerated figures in Jainism and he has inspired many Jains to follow his teachings and live a life of non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy and non-attachment. His teachings have had a great influence on Indian culture and thought. Even to this day, many Hindu and Buddhist temples have statues of Parshvanatha in their sanctums. Conclusion:Parshvanatha was a great spiritual leader and teacher of ancient India. His teachings of non-violence and non-attachment have left a lasting legacy in Jainism and Indian thought. Parshvanatha's life and teachings are an invaluable source of wisdom and enlightenment and will continue to guide and inspire generations to come.