Neminatha | |
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22nd Jain Tirthankara | |
16 meter high image depicting Neminātha present at Tirumalai (Jain complex), Tamil Nadu
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Other names | Arishtanemi |
Symbol | Shankha |
Height | 10 bows (30 metres) |
Age | 1000 years |
Color | Black |
Parents |
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Preceded by | Naminatha |
Succeeded by | Parshvanatha |
Born | Dwarika |
Moksha | Mount Girnar |
Neminatha (Devanagari: नेमिनाथ) was the twenty-second tirthankara (ford-maker) of the avasarpini (present descending cycle of Jain cosmology). According to Jain beliefs, he lived 84,000 years before the 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanatha. His full name was Aristanemi, which is an epithet of the sun-chariot. He was the youngest son of King Samudravijaya and Queen Shivadevi, and the cousin of Krishna. He was born at Sauripura (Dvaraka) in the Harivamsa clan. His birth date is the 5th day of Shravana Shukla in the Hindu calendar. He became a Siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.
Neminatha was the twenty-second tirthankara (ford-maker) of the avasarpini (present descending cycle of Jain cosmology). According to Jain beliefs, he lived 84,000 years before the 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanatha. His full name was Aristanemi which is an epithet of the sun-chariot. He was the youngest son of King Samudravijaya and Queen Shivadevi, and the cousin brother of Krishna.(As per Jain Scriptures, Not mentioned in Bhagvat and other Hindu scriptures). He was born at Sauripura (Dvaraka) in the Harivamsa clan and belonged to Saurashtra region of Gujarat. His birth date is the 5th day of Shravana Shukla in the Hindu calendar.
Neminatha was a very handsome but a shy young man. On being taunted by Satyabhama, the wife of Krishna, Neminatha blew Panchajanya, the mighty counch of Krishna. It was believed that no one could lift this "jewel" except Krishna, let alone blow it. After this event, Krishna decided to test Neminatha's strength and challenged him for a ("friendly") duel. Neminatha, being a Tirthankara, defeated Krishna without any effort. In the war between Krishna and Jarasandha, Neminatha participated alongside Krishna.