Chandraprabha () is the eighth

Tirthankara In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English language, English: literally a 'Ford (crossing), ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''Dharma (Jainism), dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the ...

of ''Avasarpini'' (present half cycle of time as per

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 ...

). Chandraprabhu was born to King Mahasena and Queen Lakshmana Devi at Chandrapuri to the

Ikshvaku dynasty The Solar dynasty (IAST: Suryavaṃśa or Ravivaṃśa in Sanskrit) or the Ikshvaku dynasty was founded by the legendary king Ikshvaku.Geography of Rigvedic India, M.L. Bhargava, Lucknow 1964, pp. 15-18, 46-49, 92-98, 100-/1, 136 The dynasty i ...

. According to

Jain texts Jain literature (Sanskrit: जैन साहित्य) refers to the literature of the Jain religion. It is a vast and ancient literary tradition, which was initially transmitted orally. The oldest surviving material is contained in the c ...

, his birth-date was the twelfth day of the Posh Krishna month of the Indian calendar. He is said to have become 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 ...

, i.e. soul at its purest form or a liberated soul.

Jain biography

Life before renunciation

Chandraprabha was the eighth Jain ''

Tīrthankara 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 pa ...

'' of the present age ('' avasarpini''). He was born to King Mahasena and Queen Lakshmana Devi at Chandrapuri,

Varanasi Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. * * * * The city has a syncretic t ...

on 12th day month Pausa in the

Ikshvaku Ikshvaku (Sanskrit ; Pāli: ) is a legendary king in Hindu mythology. He is described to be the first king of the Kosala kingdom, and was one of the ten sons of Shraddhadeva Manu, the first man on the earth. He was the founder and first king o ...

clan. Nine months before the birth of ''Chandraprabha'', Queen ''Lakshmana Devi '' dreamt the sixteen most auspicious dreams. Mahasena named Tirthankar Chandraprabha because of his complexion was white as moon. According to Uttarapurana, Indra named him Chandraprabha because at his birth the earth and night-lotus were blossomed. Chandraprabha spent 2

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lakh ''pūrva'' as youth (''kumāra kāla'') and ruled His kingdom for 6

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lakh ''pūrva'' and 24 ''pūrvāṇga'' (''rājya kāla''). During his rule, Chandraprabhu was apathetic towards the ordinary delights and princely grandeur.

Renunciation

He decided to renounced his worldly life, soon after his ascension to throne and after 3 months he obtained Kevala Jnana (omniscience) while mediating under '' Naga tree''. After a many years of spreading his knowledge, he is said to have attained

nirvana ( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lamp Richard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo. ...

at Sammed Shikharji on the seventh day of the bright half of the month of ''Bhadradha''.

Disciples

According to

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 ...

''Vaidarbha Svami'' and ''Varuṉā'' were the chief ''

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 ...

'' and '' Aryika'' of the Chandraprabha disciples and ''Dinna'' and ''Vāruṇī'' according to Śvētāmbara.

Adoration

''Svayambhūstotra'' 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 wor ...

'' is the adoration of twenty-four ''Tīrthankaras''. 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 t ...

s) are dedicated to ''Tīrthankara Chandraprabha''. Chandraprabha is associated with crescent moon emblem, Naga tree, Vijya or Śyāma (Dig.) & Vijya (Svet.)

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 Jwalamalini (Dig.) & Bhṛkuṭi (Svet.) Yakshi.

In literature

''Chandraprabha-charitra'' composed by Haribhadra is an adoration to Chandraprabha. Chandraprabha is mentioned in the

Buddhist scripture Buddhist texts are those religious texts which belong to the Buddhist tradition. The earliest Buddhist texts were not committed to writing until some centuries after the death of Gautama Buddha. The oldest surviving Buddhist manuscripts a ...

Iconography

Chandraprabha is usually depicted in a lotus or kayotsarga posture, with a crescent moon symbol beneath him; each ''tīrthankara'' has a distinct emblem, which allows worshippers to distinguish similar idols. Like all ''tirthankaras'', he is depicted with a '' Shrivatsa'' and downcast eyes. The earliest known sculpture of Chandraprabha was installed by Maharajadhiraja Ramagupta of

Gupta dynasty The Gupta Empire was an Outline of ancient India, ancient Indian empire which existed from the early 4th century CE to late 6th century CE. At its zenith, from approximately 319 to 467 CE, it covered much of the Indian subcontinent. This period ...

. Chandraprabha has been popular amongst Jain everywhere in India. The iconography of Chandraprabha is particularly popular in Eastern India in Bihar, Bengal and Orissa. Sculptures of Chandraprabha were also popular in Jain temples, Deogarh, Khajuraho Jain temples and Sonagiri. File:Door jamb and lintel decoration, and Tirthankara image in the sanctum at the Jain temple at Lakkundi.jpg, Idol at Jain temple, Lakkundi File:Mahavir-Jain-Fame-1000-Pillar-Temple- Moodbidri.JPG, Idol at Saavira Kambada Basadi File:Tijara Jain temple - Main Idol (3) (cropped).jpg, The famous idol of Chandraprabhu at Tijara File:Jaisalmer Jain Temple 07.jpg, Chandraprabha temple inside

Jaisalmer Fort Jaisalmer Fort is situated in the city of Jaisalmer, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is believed to be one of the very few "living forts" in the world (such as Carcassonne, France), as nearly one fourth of the old city's population still re ...

;Colossal statue File:Lord Chandranatha Thirthankara statue.jpg, statue at Mandaragiri Hill,

Tumkur Tumkur, officially renamed as Tumakuru, is a city located in the southern part of Indian state of Karnataka. Tumkur is situated at a distance of northwest of Bangalore, the state capital along NH 48 and NH 73. It is the headquarters of the ...

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 ''Kar ...

File:Chandaragiri Vatika.jpg, statue at Chandragiri Vatika, Tijara File:Chandraprabh.jpg, statue at Sonagiri

Main temples

1000-Pillar-Temple-Moodbidri-Left-Side-View

* Sonagiri *

Tijara Jain Temple Tijara Jain Temple is a digambar Jain temple dedicated to Chandraprabha. The temple is located in the hill town Tijara, in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, India. It is an ''Atishaya Kshetra'' (English: Place where Miracles happen). It is from ...

* Saavira Kambada Basadi in Moodabidri * Vijayamangalam Jain temple * Jainimedu Jain temple *

Chandravati Chandravati, popularly known as Chandroti, is a village situated near Abu Road on the bank of the West Banas River in the Indian state of Rajasthan. In ancient times it was an extensive town, and present villages such as Dattani, Kiverli, Kh ...

Kumbakonam Jain Temple Bhagawan Chandraprabha Jain Temple (கும்பகோணம் சந்திரப்பிரப பகவான் ஜினாலயம்) :ta:கும்பகோணம் சந்திரப்பிரப பகவான் ஜ� ...

* Mandaragiri * Prabhas Patan * Lunwa Jain temple * Chandranatha basadi Dharmasthala * Chandraprabha temple, Pavagadh File:Jain temple, Mettupudur 2.jpg, Vijayamangalam Jain temple built in 678 C.E. File:N-RJ-87 Fort including Ancient Temples Jaisalmer SolReyes20100917 332.JPG, Chandraprabhu temple, Jaisalmer Fort File:Sonagiri.jpg, Sonagiri Jain Tirth File:Tijara Jain Temple - Main(3).jpg,

Tijara Jain temple Tijara Jain Temple is a digambar Jain temple dedicated to Chandraprabha. The temple is located in the hill town Tijara, in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, India. It is an ''Atishaya Kshetra'' (English: Place where Miracles happen). It is from ...

Notes

References

Citation

Sources

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External links

Harvard Pluralism Project: Jainism
{{Authority control Tirthankaras Solar dynasty