Shree Anant Nath 14th Jain Thithankar

Shree Anant Nath
14th Jain Tirthankar

Tirthankaras are people born in the world to help everyone to get liberated. Because of their sincere spiritual practice in the last three births they are blessed with Tirthanakar Nam Karma. They come to earth as a Tirthankara. Jainism believes that 24 Tirthankaras are coming to earth during every half cycle of Kalachakra. Per the name indicates the Kalachakra or the wheel will have twelve divisions. Jains also have strong faith that no one can create or destroy the universe.

The Tirthankaras existing during every half cycle of time wheel will preach people the Jain philosophy. They teach about the life and birth cycle. One can get out of the infinite cycle of birth and rebirth only by washing away all ghati karma. The sinful soul cannot reach the celestial space.

The Kalachakra keeps revolving like a clock moving from one Ara to another Ara. These Aras do not have equal periods. Some Aras has 21000 years, and some have more than that. But the cyclic repetition of Ara will not cease.

Birth and Childhood of Anant nath

Every Tirthanakara will have several births, and due to their karma, they will attain Nirvana as a Tirthankara.

Anantnath was born as a King. He was born in Arishta town of Dhatkikhand. He ruled the kingdom very efficiently. He preferred peaceful life. He always led a virtuous and dutiful life. Many beautiful women tried alluring him, but he obtained Diksha from Acharya Chitraaksh. He then attained a highly exalted state and was born as a Tirthankara in his next birth.

Upon getting reawakened in the Pushpottar dimension of the Gods his soul wanted to choose Queen Suyasha Devi as his mother. Queen Suyasha Devi was the wife of King Simhasen. He was ruling Ayodhya.

There were heavy showers with thunder and lightning. The King was deeply engrossed in thoughts. The Queen came in search of him. She wanted to talk to him as she had some questions in her mind. King also was wondering with many questions in his mind. But he heard what the Queen wanted to say. She came and told him that she had fourteen dreams. She could not relate her dreams with. It was all surprising to see many things like an elephant with four tusks and fire without smoke etc. She was confused with all the dreams that looked real.

The King did not think a moment after hearing this. He confirmed her that she would give birth to an active child. He also added that the boy baby will shine like a sun. He will have the qualities of a rescuer and ruler. He will become a great religious leader and will have eternal qualities. Queen knew no bound to her ecstasy. She enjoyed every moment of her pregnancy. She counted herself lucky and blessed to bring such a great soul to the world. On the thirteenth day of the waning moon of the Vaishakh month, the Queen delivered the boy baby.

The king was achieving all endless successes. His power went up high in many folds. The Queen always dreamt about long strands of beads. The end of the bead strand was not visible. All these happened due to the formation of the spiritual soul in the Queen’s womb. This king named the baby as Anant nath. Anant means endless.

Time went on, and the child grew as a prince and got married. He used to solve problems of others at a very young age. His father and the King decided to crown his son Ananth on the throne. So the celebration began, and the king left the kingdom after making his son as the king. King practiced spiritual penance to attain Mukti.

Anantnath proved as a great king. He was calm, brave, and successful. He always worked for the happiness of his subjects. Whenever he finds the time, he went near the sea shore and devoted his time to thinking about life and death.

Anant nath – Ascetic Life

The years passed by. He was also ruling the country. But his sea shore thought about life and death started bothering him. He felt restless. He started meditating for want of peace. There he saw his previous birth. He realized his goal of existence. He understood the reality of the Samsara bondage. He decided to embrace asceticism. He wanted to cross the sea of infinite life and death cycle. He handed over the country to his next generation and moved out of the Kingdom. Many people followed his path of renunciation.

He gave away his wealth. To confirm detachment, he removed a fistful of hair and chanted ‘Namo Siddhanam’ and walked away. After three continuous years of religious penance, he attained Omniscience. Under the Ashoka tree on the fourteenth day of the waning moon of the Vaisakh month, he achieved his goal.

Nirvana

Now, he started enlightening other souls to attain salvation. He had many people accepting his path of renunciation. He taught the values of Jain philosophy. Love and compassion stand on top of all beliefs in Jainism. Ahimsa or on violence paves the way to salvation. Even the smallest creature must get protection. No one must harm any individual.

His preaching uplifted humanity. While practicing an in-depth religious penance, he attained Nirvana on the hill top of Sammed Shikar. Sammed Shikar means the peak of concentration. On the fifth day of the Shukla Paksham (Period between the New moon and full moon) of the Chaitra month, he got liberated.

Conclusion

Bhagavan Anant nath symbol represents porcupine. Bhagavan Anant nath insisted people follow the path of Right Action, Right Manner, and Right Knowledge. He explained them the purpose of moving away from worldly life. One must give away all pleasure to attain salvation. To get free from the samsara bondage one must realize one self and focus on God.

The holy land of India has got the mercy of God and has the existence of such divine souls like Bhagavan Anant nath . Tirthankaras are born with the very purpose of redeeming humanity. They help people to reach the pure form and attain moksha from the birth and death cycle

Family
Father:	Simhasena
Mother:	Sarvavasa
Dynasty:	Ikshvaku
Places
Birth:	Ayodhya
Nirvana:	Sammed Shikhar
Attributes
Colour:	Golden
Symbol:	Falcon
Height:	50 dhanusha (150 meters)
Age:	3,000,000 years
Attendant Gods
Yaksha:	Patal
Yaksini:	Ankusha