Anantanatha

Anantanatha was the fourteenth Tirthankara of the present age (Avasarpini) of Jainism. According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.

Anantanatha
14th Jain Tirthankara
Idol of Anantnatha at Anantnatha Jain Temple, Narshi Natha Street, Mumbai
Venerated in	Jainism
Predecessor	Vimalanatha
Successor	Dharmanatha
Symbol	Porcupine as per Digambara Falcon as per Śvetāmbara[1]
Height	50 dhanusha (150 meters)
Age	3,000,000 years
Color	Golden
Genealogy
Born	Ayodhya
Died	Shikharji
Parents	Simhasena (father) Suyasha (mother)
Dynasty	Ikṣvākuvaṁśa

Biography

Anantanatha was the fourteenth Tirthankara of the present age (Avasarpini) of Jainism.^[2] According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.^{[citation needed]}His name, meaning “Infinite Lord,” symbolizes the boundlessness of spiritual liberation in Jain philosophy.^[3] The Jainpedia account describes the five major kalyanakas, which are conception, birth, renunciation, enlightenment, and liberation. These mark the sacred milestones of his life as preserved in both Svetambara and Digambara traditions.^[3]

Anantanatha was born to King Sinhasena and Queen Suyasha at Ayodhya in the Ikshvaku dynasty.^[2] His birth date was the 13th day of the Vaishakha Krishna month of the Indian calendar.^{[citation needed]} From a young age, Anantanatha exhibited signs of spiritual inclination, including detachment from worldly pleasures and an early interest in meditation and reflection, as described in Jain narratives.^[3] After living a princely life, he renounced worldly attachments and undertook rigorous ascetic practices, eventually attaining kevala jñāna, or omniscience, through meditation and discipline.^[3] His height is mentioned as 50 dhanusha.^[4] He is said to have lived for 3,000,000 years.^[4]

Anantanatha is said to have been born 9 sagara after his predecessor, Vimalanatha.^[4] His successor, Dharmanatha, is said to have been born 4 sagara after him.^[4]

Literature

• Ananthnatha Purana was written by Janna in 1230 CE.^{[citation needed]}

Famous Temple

Anantnath Swami Temple in Kalpetta, Kerala

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  Anantnath Swami Temple in Kalpetta, Kerala
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  Image at Anantnath Swami Temple
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  Ananthnath Temple, Madhuban

Anantanātha is venerated at several important Jain temples across India. He appears frequently in temple complexes where all 24 Tīrthankaras are represented in sequence.^[3]

See also

• Jainism and non-creationism