Shantinath

Shantinatha was the sixteenth Jain tirthankar of the present age (Avasarpini). Shantinatha was born to King Vishvasena and Queen Aiira at Hastinapur in the Ikshvaku dynasty. His birth date is the thirteenth day of the Jyest Krishna month of the Indian calendar. He was also a Chakravartin and a Kamadeva. He ascended to the throne when he was 25 years old. After over 25,000 years at the throne, he became a Jain monk and started his penance. According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.

Biography in Jain tradition

Shantinatha was the sixteenth Jain ''Tīrthankara'' of the 24 tirthankars of the present age ('' avasarpini'').

Life before renunciation

He was born to King Vishvasena and Queen Achira at Hastinapur on 13th day of Jestha Krishna in the Ikshvaku clan. Before the birth of Shantinatha, Queen Achira dreamt the sixteen most auspicious dreams. Shantinatha spent 25,000 years as a youth (''kumāra kāla'') and married a beautiful princess. He ruled his kingdom for 50,000 years. During his rule, armoury was blessed with divine chakraratna. During his reign he conquered all six divisions of earth in all directions, acquiring elephants, horses, nine-fold most precious treasures and fourteen ''ratna'' (jewels). Shantinatha became the fifth Chakravartin.

During his time, an epidemic of epilepsy broke out and he helped to control it. Shantinath became the idea of peace and tranquility by averting epidemics, fire, famine, foreign invasions, robbers, etc., giving him the name of ''Shantinath''. He is also associated with special right known as ''Shantikarma''. According to Acharya Hemachandra, epidemics, evils and misery were destroyed when Shantinatha was in his mother's womb.

Renunciation

Shantinatha, when made aware of his previous incarnations, renounced his worldly life and became a Jain ascetic. After his sixteen year of asceticism, on the ninth bright day of the month of Pausha (December–January), he achieved ''kevala jnana'' (omniscience) under a nandi tree. According to Jain texts, Shantinatha neither slept nor ate during his penance. After achieving ''kevala jnana'' he visited Somanasapur, and was offered first ''ahara'' food by King Dharma Mitra and his wife.

He is said to have lived 1 lakh () years and spent many years spreading his knowledge. On the 13th day of the dark half of the month Jyestha (May–June), he attained nirvana at Sammed Shikharji, known contemporaneously as the Parasnath Hills in northern Jharkhand.

The ''yaksha'' and ''yakshi'' of Shantinatha are Kimpurusha and Mahamanasi according to Digambara tradition and Garuda and Nirvani according to Śvētāmbara tradition.

Previous births

* King Srisena
* Yugalika in Uttar Kurukshetra
* Deva in Saudharma heaven
* Amitateja, prince of Arkakirti
* Heavenly deva in 10th heaven Pranat (20 ''sagars'' life span)
* Aparajit Baldeva in East Mahavideha (life span of 84,00, 000 '' purva'')
* Heavenly Indra in 12th heaven Achyuta (22 ''sagars'' life span)
* Vajrayudh Chakri, the son of Tirthankar Kshemanakar in East Mahvideha
* Heavenly deva in Navgraivayak heaven
* Megharath, the son of Dhanarath in East Mahavideh in the area where Simandhar Swami is moving at present
* Heavenly deva in Sarvartha Siddha Heaven (33 ''sagars'' life span)

Disciples

According to Jain texts, Cakrayudha Svami was the leader of the Shantinatha disciples.

Legacy

Worship

Along with Rishabhanatha, Neminatha, Parshvanatha and Mahavira, Shantinatha is one of the five tirthankars who attract the most devotional worship among the Jains. According to ''Santistava'' compiled by Acharya Manadevasuri, the head of Shvetambar in the third century, mere recitation of Shantinath negates all bad omens, brings peace and protects devotees from problems. Santistava is considered one of the four most beautifully written ''stavans''.
The ''Laghnu-Shantistavaa'', compiled by Acharya Manadevisuri in the seventh century, is a hymn to Shantinatha full of tantric usage. The ''yakshi'' Nirvani devi is also known as ''Shanti-devi'' and prayed to with Shantinatha for peace.

Literature

* The Shantinatha Charitra, by Acharya Ajitprabhasuri, describes the life of the 16th Jain tirthankara Shantinatha. This text is the oldest example of miniature painting and has been declared as a global treasure by UNESCO.
* ''Shantipurana'', written around the 10th century by Sri Ponna, is considered to be one of the three gems of Kannada literature.
* ''Santyastaka'' is a hymn in praise of Śāntinātha composed by Acharya Pujyapada in the fifth century.
* ''Ajitasanti'', compiled by Nandisena in the seventh century, praises Shantinatha and Ajitnatha.
* ''Santikara'' was compiled by Munisundarasuri in the 15th century.
* ''Mahapurusha Charitra,'' compiled by Merutunga in the 13th–14th centuries, talks about Shantinatha.

Iconography

Shantinatha is usually depicted in a sitting or standing meditative posture with the symbol of a deer or antelope beneath him. Every has a distinguishing emblem that allows worshippers to distinguish similar-looking idols of the .
The deer or antelope emblem of Shantinath is usually carved below the legs of the . Like all , Shantinath is depicted with ''Shrivatsa'' and downcast eyes.

File:30 Close-up of a statue of Shantinath.jpg, Shantinatha idol inside Pakbirra Jain temple
File:Shantinatha (sedicesimo jina dei tirthankara), da varavan nel circondario nord del distretto di thar e parkar, sind, 1130 dc.jpg, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, 12th century
File:Seated image of Shantinatha with old Kannada inscription on pedestal in Shantinatha Basadi.JPG, Shantinatha Basadi, Jinanathapura, 1117 CE
File:Jain shrine from Vikrama Samvat in western India, dated 1459 CE, bronze, HAA.JPG, Honolulu Academy of Arts, 15th century
File:Tirthankar Shantinath.jpg, Miniature painting of Shantinatha surrounded by ascetics, devotees and animals, 18th century

Famous temples

* Shantinatha Temple, Khajuraho – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
* Prachin Bada Mandir, Hastinapur – birthplace of Shantinatha
* Shantinath Temple, Deogarh
* Shantinatha Basadi, Jinanathapura
* Shantinath Jain Teerth
* Shantinatha temple, Halebidu – tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site
* Aharji Jain Teerth
* Shantinath Jain temple, Kothara
* Odegal basadi
* Shantinath Jain Temple in Leicester (first Jain temple in Europe and the western world); see Jainism in the United Kingdom

File:Rear view of Shantinatha basadi at Jinanathapura.JPG, Shantinatha Basadi, Jinanathapura
File:Kanch Mandir, Indore.jpg, Kanch Mandir, Indore
File:Shri_1008_Shantinath_Jain_Temple.JPG, Shantinath Jain Teerth
File:Vishal-singh-dwaar-big.jpg, 'Singh Dwaar' of Prachin Bada Mandir, Hastinapur
File:Inde-0987.jpg, Shantinatha temple, Khajuraho
File:Summit of Shantinath Jain Mandir, Ramtek. - panoramio.jpg, Shantinath Jain temple, Ramtek
File:Shringar Chori (Shringar Chauri) CHITTORGARH FORT.jpg, Shringar Chori, Chittor Fort

Colossal statues

* In 2016, the tallest statue of Shantinatha, with a height of , was erected in Ajmer
* The statue of Shantinath at Shantinath Jinalaya, Shri Mahavirji
* The statue of Shantinath at Prachin Bada Mandir, Hastinapur
* The image at Aggalayya Gutta, Warangal
* The statue of Shantinath at Bhojpur Jain Temple
* The idol at Aharji
* The sculpture at Shantinatha basadi, Halebidu
* The statue in Naugaza Digambar Jain temple
* The image at Shantinatha temple, Khajuraho
* The image inside Shantinath Basadi, Chandragiri
* The statue in Bahuriband, built in the 12th century

File:Mahaveerji_Shantinath_Statue.png, Shantinath Jinalaya, Shri Mahavirji
File:Jain Prachin Bada Mandir - Shantinath Statue (2) (cropped).jpg, Prachin Bada Mandir, Hastinapur
File:JainTempleIdols.jpg, Bhojpur Jain Temple
File:Eighteen feet tall sculpture of Shantinatha in the Shantinatha basadi at Halebidu.JPG, Shantinatha basadi, Halebidu
File:18 ft tall idol of Lord Shantinath at ahaar ji near Tikamgarh(1180 ad).jpg, Aharji
File:Jain statue of Parshvanath, Naugaza temple, Alwar district, Rajasthan.jpg, Naugaza Digambar Jain temple
File:Shantinath Jain Temple, Khajuraho India.JPG, Shantinatha temple, Khajuraho
File:Shantinath Basadi, Chandragiri.jpg, Shantinath Basadi, Chandragiri

See also

*God in Jainism
*Arihant (Jainism)
*Jainism and non-creationism

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Shantinath