Shree Munisuvrata Swami 20th Jain Thithankar

Shree Munisuvrata Swami
20th Jain Tirthankar

Every soul descends into the womb of a woman and comes to the world as a child. Based on their previous birth karma they lead a life in their present incarnation. Likewise, a soul with Tirthankara Nam Karma comes to earth as a human being and attains Nirvana. These realized souls are also called a Jina. Jina means a person who has conquered material existence and achieved a state of bliss. Tirthankaras help all human beings to win over the worldly life and achieve Mukti.

Jainism believes that ahimsa and love can help self-realization. They believe that the life cycle is endless. There are twelve Ara in a one-time period according to Jain viewpoint. All these twelve Aras will exist for several years and repeats cyclically. Twelve Aras are named as first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth each in two Kaals. Utsarpini is the positive half cycle and Avsarpini the negative half cycle.

Munisuvart is the twentieth Tirthankara of Avsarpini fifth Ara. Every half cycle will have twenty-four Tirthankaras.

Birth and Childhood of Munisuvart

Munisuvart was born as King Surshreshta. He ruled the kingdom of Champa city in Mahavideha area. He lived a simple and a virtuous life. He obtained Diksha and embraced asceticism. After reincarnating in the Pranat dimension of Gods, his soul entered the womb of Queen Padmavati. King Sumitra Raja was ruling Rajgriha. He married Padmavati, and she became the Queen. She was very humble and soft.

During the Krishna Paksham (waning moon) on the third day of Shravan month, the Queen saw fourteen things in her dreams. The next day morning, while it was raining the Queen, finished her morning bath and prayers and met the king. She explained about her dreams, and the king said that the dreams were the signs of the arrival of a Tirthankara. He further thanked her for becoming the mother of such a blessed soul.

All in the kingdom including the king and the Queen celebrated the advent of a Tirthankara in their kingdom. They all felt blessed to have such a highly noble soul for their King and Queen. Queen embraced ascetic life and led a simple life devoted her time in praying God. A boy baby was born on the tenth day of the dark half of the Vaisakha month. Since the Queen practised a simple life as an ascetic, the boy was named as Munisuvart (promise like an ascetic) by the King.

The boy grew as a prince and was very adorable by all people. The king finally made up his mind to leave the kingdom and lead an abstinent life to attain Mukti. He asked Suvrata to get married and rule the country. Muni agreed, and all happened per his father’s desire. Later King Sumitra Raja left the country. Munisuvart ruled for many years. All his subjects remained happy in his kingdom. He always focused on godly thoughts. He never had attachment to wealth. He used all his wealth to the well being of his subjects.

Munisuvart – Ascetic Life

Munisuvart began to think about ascetic life. He felt restless and could not focus on his duties. He tried to meditate to control his mind. In the meditation, he saw his previous birth. During all his births he practiced spiritualism. He obtained every time Diksha to follow ascetic life. He understood the reason for his agitated state of mind. He decided to get detached from the worldly life. He gave the kingdom to his son, and on the eighth day of the waning moon of Phalgun month, he left the country. He moved around to many places after giving away all his wealth. He moved around between places like rivers, forest, temples, and meditated sincerely. He followed a spiritual path all throughout his journey. He lived an ascetic life for eleven months. All his penances reaped him the fruits. He attained omniscience under a Champa tree in Rajgriha.

Nirvana

He began his preaching to spread Jain philosophy to people. He taught about Applied and Scriptural philosophy to all his disciples. He insisted them to understand the purpose of existence and asked them to move away from carnal pleasure. He urged people the importance of love, not violence and truth. He fasted for many days before attaining Nirvana and finally on the ninth day of the Jyeshta month his soul left the world at Sammed Shikhar.

Noteworthy Events during the Munisuvart Period

Mahapadma the ninth Chakravarti existed during his period. Lakshman, Ram, Ravan, Vasudev and Baldev, all were present during his generation. The Eight Pratisudev was available at that time.

Ascetic Vishnu Kumar, the elder brother of Munisuvart, was well known for his initiatives in preserving the Jain philosophy from the domination of Namuchi. Even today people following Jain culture celebrate Rakshabandhan to honour this event in paying homage to Vishnu Kumar and Munisuvart. They showed their love towards brotherhood.

Temples Built for Bhagavan Munisuvart in India

Gujarat – Shri Munisuvart swami Jain Teerth at Shrimali Pol in Bharuch
Maharashtra – Shri 1008 Munisuvart Digambara Jain Atishaya Kshetra at Paithan in Aurangabad
Thane - Tembi naka Thane west
Bihar – Vipulachala Hill at Rajgiri in Nalanda
Rajasthan – Munisuvartnath Shri Digambar Jain Atishaya Kshetra at Keshorai in Bundi

Conclusion

Symbol of Bhagavan Munisuvart is a tortoise. Elated souls like Bhagavan Munisuvart uplift humanity. They teach self-realisation and help every individual to move ahead of mundane existence.

Tirthankaras like Bhagavan Munisuvart preach the Right Knowledge, Right Conduct and Right Action to all humankind. They help every soul to understand the goal of birth. They also tell them the way to cross the ocean of birth and death cycle (Samsara Samudhra). To obtain liberation from all the worldly struggle one must discipline oneself and purify the inner qualities.

India has got the privilege to have such souls to hand-hold people to attain peace during life and finally attain moksha after death. Tirthankaras might not be present today, but their preaching’s will live for generations and help every soul to attain liberation.

Family
Father:	Sumitra
Mother:	Padmavati
Dynasty:	Harivamsha
Places
Birth:	Kusagranagara (Raj-grih)
Nirvana:	Sammed Shikhar
Attributes
Colour:	Black
Symbol:	Tortoise
Height:	20 dhanusha (60 meters)
Age:	30,000 years
Attendant Gods
Yaksha:	Varun
Yaksini:	Achchhupta