Ajitanatha

Ajitnath (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 in	Jainism
Predecessor	Rishabhanatha
Successor	Sambhavanatha
Symbol	Elephant
Height	450 bows (1,350 meters)
Age	72 lakh purva (508.032 x 10^18 years old)
Color	Golden
Personal information
Born	Ayodhya
Died	Shikharji
Parents	Jitasatru (father) Vijayadevi (mother)

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

• The Ajitha purana, by Ranna narrates the story of Ajitanatha.
• Ajitasanti compiled by Nandisena in 7th century is a praise to Ajitnatha and Shantinatha.[6]

Famous temples

• Taranga Jain Temple, Vasai Jain Temple in Bhadresar, Bandhaji

• 
  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

• Arihant (Jainism)
• Ikshvaku dynasty
• Ajitha purana

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

• 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

• 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