Munisuvrata () was the twentieth ''
tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable passag ...
'' of the present half time cycle (''avasarpini'') in
Jain cosmology
Jain cosmology is the description of the shape and functioning of the Universe (''loka'') and its constituents (such as living beings, matter, space, time etc.) according to Jainism. Jain cosmology considers the universe as an uncreated entity t ...
. He became a
siddha
''Siddha'' (Sanskrit: '; "perfected one") is a term that is used widely in Indian religions and culture. It means "one who is accomplished." It refers to perfected masters who have achieved a high degree of physical as well as spiritual ...
, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of his
karma
Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...
. Events of the Jaina version of
Ramayana
The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
are placed at the time of Munisuvrata. Munisuvrata lived for over 30,000 years. His chief apostle (''
gaṇadhara'') was sage ''Malli Svāmi''.
Legends
Munisuvrata was the twentieth ''
tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable passag ...
'' of the present half time cycle (''avasarpini'') in
Jain cosmology
Jain cosmology is the description of the shape and functioning of the Universe (''loka'') and its constituents (such as living beings, matter, space, time etc.) according to Jainism. Jain cosmology considers the universe as an uncreated entity t ...
. Jain texts like ''padmapurana'' place him as a contemporary of
Rama
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...
. According to Jain texts, Munisuvrata was born as 54 lakh years passed after the birth of the nineteenth ''tirthankara'', ''Mallinātha''. According to Jain beliefs, Munisuvrata descended from the heaven called ''Ānata kalpa'' on the twelfth day of the bright half of the month of ''Āśvina – āśvina śukla dvādaśi''– to queen Padmavati and king Sumitra. On the third day of ''
Shraavana
Śrāvaṇa ( sa, श्रावण) is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the year, beginning on July 23 and ending on August 22. In the Tamil calendar, it is known ...
'' (month) ''Krishna'' (dark fortnight) according to
Hindu calendar
The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a s ...
, queen Padmavati of
Rajgir
Rajgir, meaning "The City of Kings," is a historic town in the district of Nalanda in Bihar, India. As the ancient seat and capital of the Haryanka dynasty, the Pradyota dynasty, the Brihadratha dynasty and the Mauryan Empire, as well as the d ...
saw sixteen
auspicious dreams
Auspicious dreams are often described in texts of Jainism which forecast the virtue of children. Their number varies according to different traditions and they described frequently as fourteen or sixteen dreams. They are seen by mothers of the pr ...
. When she shared her dreams with her husband, king Sumitra of the Harivamsa clan, he explained that a ''tirthankara'' will be born to them soon. Then, Munisuvrata was born to them on the fifteenth day of the ''Shraavana Shukla'' (bright fortnight) in 1,184,980 BC. His height is mentioned to be 20 bows (60 metres) and complexion as a dark one.
According to Jain texts, after spending 7,500 years as a youth, Munisuvrata is believed to have ruled his kingdom for 15,000 years (''rājyakāla''). He then renounced all worldly pursuits and became a monk. According to Jain beliefs, he spent 11 months performing karma-destroying austerities and then attained the all-embracing knowledge – Omniscience (''
kevala jñāna'') under a
Champaka
''Magnolia champaca'', known in English as champak (), is a large evergreen tree in the family Magnoliaceae. tree. He is said to have 18 ''
ganadhara
In Jainism, the term Ganadhara is used to refer the chief disciple of a ''Tirthankara''. In ''samavasarana'', the ''Tīrthankara'' sat on a throne without touching it (about two inches above it). Around, the ''Tīrthankara'' sits the ''Ganad ...
s'' headed by Malli. Puspavati or Puspadatta is believed to be the head-nun of his order. ''Samayavayanga sutra'', however, names Kumbha and Amila as the head ''ganadhara'' and head nun respectively.
Munisuvrata is said to have lived for over 30,000 years and attained liberation (''
nirvāña'') from
Sammeda śikhara
Shri Sammet Shikharji () is a pilgrimage site in Giridih district, Jharkhand, India. It is located on Parasnath hill, the highest mountain in the state of Jharkhand. It is the most important Jain Tirtha (pilgrimage site) by both Digambara and ...
on the twelfth day of the dark half of the month of ''phālguna – phālguna kṛṣna dvādaśi''. Varuna is mentioned to be his ''
yaksha
The yakshas ( sa, यक्ष ; pi, yakkha, i=yes) are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometimes mischievous or capricious, connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure and wilderness. They appear in ...
'' and his yakhsini is named Bahurupini in ''
Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvētāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing n ...
'' tradition and Naradatta in ''
Svetambara'' tradition.
Munisuvrata finds mentions in Jain texts like ''
Uttarapurana
''Uttarapurana'' is a Jain text composed by ''Acharya'' Gunabhadra in the 9th century CE. According to the Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major schools of Jainism, the other being '' Śvētāmbara'' (white-clad) ...
'' and ''
Tiloyapannati
''Tiloya Panatti'' or ''Trilokaprajnapati'' is one of the earlier Prakrit texts on Jain cosmology composed by Acharya Yativrshabha.
The subject matter
Jain cosmology has a unique perception of the Universe. It perceives different solar and lu ...
''.
Adoration
''Svayambhustotra'' by ''
Acharya Samantabhadra
Samantabhadra was a Digambara acharya (head of the monastic order) who lived about the later part of the second century CE. He was a proponent of the Jaina doctrine of Anekantavada. The ''Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra'' is the most popular work ...
'' is the adoration of twenty-four tirthankaras. Its five slokas (
aphorism
An aphorism (from Greek ἀφορισμός: ''aphorismos'', denoting 'delimitation', 'distinction', and 'definition') is a concise, terse, laconic, or memorable expression of a general truth or principle. Aphorisms are often handed down by tra ...
s) adore the qualities of Munisuvrata.
An idol of Munisuvrata was installed in 127 AD or 157 AD in the ''Devanirmita stupa'',
Mathura
Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located approximately north of Agra, and south-east of Delhi; about from the town of Vrindavan, and from Govardhan. ...
.
Iconography
Munisuvrata is usually depicted in a sitting (or standing) meditative pose, with a tortoise symbol beneath him; each ''tīrthankara'' has a distinct emblem, which allows worshippers to distinguish similar idols.
Jivantasvami
Jivantasvami images represent the Jain Tirthankara Mahavira (and in some cases other Tirthankaras) as a prince, with a crown and ornaments. The Jina is represented as standing in the kayotsarga pose. Jivantasvami images have been used only in the S ...
represents Munisuvrata as a princely state. The Jina is represented as standing in the kayotsarga pose wearing crown and ornaments.
Colossal statues
# Statue of Purity is a statue dedicated to Munisuvrata under construction in Bhora Kalan,
Haryana
Haryana (; ) is an Indian state located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with less than 1.4% () of India's land ar ...
.
# A black stone statue of Munisuvrata was installed in Jainaragutti near
Adagur
Adagur is a village in the southern state of Karnataka, India. , Census Village code= 2667400 Adagur, Hassan, Karnataka It is located in the south side of Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district in Karnataka.
See also
* Hassan
* Districts o ...
in the state of
Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
.
# A idolf of Munisuvrata is installed near the
Shantinath Jain Teerth
The Shantinath Jain Teerth, also known as Shri 1008 Shantinath Digambar Jain Mandir, is a Jain temple located in Indapur, Pune, Maharashtra. The design and architecture of the temple is patterned after that of South Indian temples. The temple i ...
,
Maharashtra
Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...
.
File:Suvrtrath Statue India.jpg, State Museum Bhopal, 6th century
File:Shri 1008 muni svratnath bhagwan.jpeg, Image of Munisuvratanatha (Jahazpur district, Bhilwara)
File:Lord Munisuvrat hasteda.jpg, 12th Century (1153 AD), hasteda, Rajasthan
File:National Museum - Munisuvrata.jpg, Munisuvrata, 1466 CE, Western India, National Museum, New Delhi
The National Museum in New Delhi, also known as the National Museum of India, is one of the largest museums in India. Established in 1949, it holds a variety of articles ranging from pre-historic era to modern works of art. It functions under t ...
Main Temples
*
Chaturmukha Basadi is a famous
Jain temple
A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings ge ...
located at
Karkala
''Karkala'' also known as Karla in Tulu language, is a town and the headquarters of Karkala taluk in the Udupi district of Karnataka, India. Located about 60 km from Mangalore in the Tulu Nadu region of the state,it lies near the foothill ...
in the Indian state of
Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
. The temple is dedicated to ''Tirthankara
Aranatha
Aranath was the eighteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present half cycle of time ( Avasarpini). He was also the eighth Chakravartin and thirteenth Kamadeva. According to Jain beliefs, he was born around 16,585,000 BCE. He became a siddha i.e. a l ...
'', ''
Māllīnātha
Mallinatha (Prakrit ''Mallinātha'', "Lord of jasmine or seat") was the 19th tīrthaṅkara "ford-maker" of the present ''avasarpiṇī'' age in Jainism. Jain texts indicate Mālliṇātha was born at Mithila into the Ikshvaku dynasty to Ki ...
'' and Munisuvrata.
*
Shri Munisuvrata-Nemi-Parshva Jinalaya located at
Santhu
Santhu is a village in Jalore in Jalor) district of Marwar region in Rajasthan state of India. Santhu lies south of Jalore town and from Bagra on Jalore-Sirohi road and is surrounded by many villages like Noon (Nun), Chura, Sarat, Akoli, Narn ...
,
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern si ...
*
Paithan Jain Tirth
*
Keshoraipatan Jain temple
File:Chaturmukha Basadi.jpg, Chaturmukha Basadi
File:Sri_Munisuvrat-Nemi-Parsva_Jinalaya,_Santhu.JPG, Shri Munisuvrata-Nemi-Parshva Jinalaya at Santhu
File:Naulakha Mandir.jpg, Naulakha Mandir, Rajgir
Rajgir, meaning "The City of Kings," is a historic town in the district of Nalanda in Bihar, India. As the ancient seat and capital of the Haryanka dynasty, the Pradyota dynasty, the Brihadratha dynasty and the Mauryan Empire, as well as the d ...
File:MANDIR NEW PIC(13983).jpg, Hasteda, Jain temple
See also
*
God in Jainism
In Jainism, godliness is said to be the inherent quality of every soul. This quality, however, is subdued by the soul's association with karmic matter. All souls who have achieved the natural state of infinite bliss, infinite knowledge ('' keva ...
*
Arihant (Jainism)
''Arihant'' ( pka, arihant, italic=yes, sa, अरिहन्त, lit=conqueror) is a jiva (soul) who has conquered inner passions such as attachment, anger, pride and greed. Having destroyed four inimical karmas, they realize pure self. ...
*
Jainism and non-creationism
According to Jain doctrine, the universe and its constituents—soul, matter, space, time, and principles of motion—have always existed. Jainism does not support belief in a creator deity. All the constituents and actions are governed by univ ...
References
Citations
Sources
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{{Authority control
Tirthankaras
Jain saints
Jainism in Mithila