Parshvanatha

872 – 772 BCE

Earliest historical Jain saint

23rd described and earliest historical Jain tirthankaras (savior/saint teachers), Parshvanatha—like the Buddha—was born to a king and queen but renounced the world’s fame and fortune in favor of a life dedicated to spiritual discovery. His realizations and teachings became not only a major influence on the Jain tradition; but also, Indian philosophy in general. The core of his teachings emphasized understanding the cause-and-effect principles of karma and samsara while practicing non-violence and asceticism. His statures usually have a serpent hood over his head or snakes sprouting out of his shoulders. According to Joseph Campbell, snakes in this context are a symbol for life and represent letting go of habitual patterns, beliefs, and prejudice like a snake discards its skin.

Eras

Quotes by Parshvanatha

Quotes about Parshvanatha (0 quotes)