Shree Nami Nath
21th Jain Tirthankar
A Tirthankara is a person who attains a princely state. They get the credit for being a Tirthankara in recognition to their passionate sacred practices in different lifetimes. They indicate the eventual clean developed status of the soul. Due to the blessings obtained from God, they can support all human being to the cross the ocean of endless cycles of birth and death.
Jain custom firmly believes that the Universe can neither be created nor destroyed. The period is countless, and different Aras continues for some years and keeps moving in a sequence. The two Kaals namely Avsarpini (regressive period) and Utsarpini (successive cycle) have six different years.
Present age according to Jain scriptures is the fifth Ara of Avsarpini Kaal. It seems it has completed 19000 years and will end after finishing 21000 years. Sixth Ara will continue for 21000 years. Then the first Ara of Utsarpini will exist for 21000 years. Second Ara will start after that. This process will carry on in a sequence.
Utsarpini and Avsarpini are called one-half cycle each. During every half cycle, 24 Tirthankaras will prevail for several years and attain Nirvana.
Birth and childhood of Naminath
Naminath was incarnated as King Siddharth in his previous birth. He resided in the town of Kshambi situated in the eastern Mhavideh. He led a religious life and delivered all his duty as a King. He obtained Diksha and was born as a divine soul in the Aparajit dimension. Finally, his soul descended the womb of Queen Vipra and King Vijay Raja.
King Vijay was ruling the Mithila kingdom of the Ikshvaku dynasty. During the month of Shravan on the eighth day of the waning moon, Queen Vipra had a dream with fourteen auspicious things in it. She saw an elephant with four tusks, Milk Ocean, golden urn and much more. She was quite excited and eager to interpret her dream. She decided to talk to the king in the morning. When she met the king and told about her dream, he augured the future. He said with rejoicing that the queen is going to deliver a divine soul who will be the twenty-first Tirthankara. Queen Vipra was very happy.
All through her pregnancy, many countries waged war against Mithila. But King Vijay always preferred peace in his kingdom. So he consulted a renowned priest, and he revealed the truth that the holy soul in the Queen’s womb can resolve this issue. The Queen must reach the top of the palace and look at the attackers. The soul in her womb with its grace will spread calmness in all enemies mind. The king followed the same and to his surprise that all kings surrendered and bowed in front of King Vijay. King was happy that his child’s soul even before birth was able to provide serenity in the mind of all.
The Queen gave birth to a boy baby on the eighth day of Krishna Paksham (Paksham means fortnight) of the Shravan month. The period between new moon and the full moon is referred as Krishna Paksham. Since the baby spread peace across the country, the king named the baby as Naminath. The child enjoyed his childhood. He grew up as a wise man. He was intelligent and humble. He got married and soon started ruling the kingdom. The king coronated him and left to the forest to embrace an ascetic life.
Naminath – Ascetic Life
Naminath did his duty as a king very valiantly. All people admired his kingship. Over a period he started realising his real purpose of birth. He witnessed his previous births and karmas. Thus he moved away from the kingdom to lead an ascetic life. He gave his kingdom to his son. Many people followed his path. On the ninth day of the waning moon of the Ashadh month, he began his journey to embrace austerity. After several years of actual holy practices, he attained Omniscience. He achieved Nirvana under the Bakul tree in a garden located close to Mithila.
Nirvana
He started his preaching about Jain philosophy. He briefed the tenets of Jain religion to his disciples. He first addressed the people about right opinion. In that discourse, he spoke about self-awareness. One must understand self and have the right view about them. This self-realization will lead to liberation. Many got enlightened in his talk and embraced asceticism.
He always insisted his disciples to firmly show love, kindness and ahimsa towards every living being. Only through non-violence one can win over the inner ill qualities like greed, envy etc. After giving up all attachment, one can attain liberation. His preaching helped many to attain salvation.
Finally, on the tenth day of the waning moon of the Vaisakh month, he accomplished his goal of reaching Nirvana.
Temples Built for Bhagavan Naminath in India
- In Maharashtra state, Alibaug city and Khandala city – Naminath Jain temple
- In Gujarat state, Surat city – Naminath Jain Temple, Kailashnagar
- In Gujarat state, Karjan city – Naminath Jain Temple, Juna Bazar
- In Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho city, Naminath Jinalaya Temple
Conclusion
According to Jain beliefs, Bhagavan Naminath was born around 584, 979 BCE. He turned out to be a Siddha. Siddha’s are a liberated soul who destroys all their past karmas and attains Nirvana.
Bhagavan Naminath’s symbol is Neel Kamal (blue lotus). Bhagavan Naminath’s incarnation happened to redeem humankind from the perpetual cycles of birth and rebirth. They help them achieve self-realization to reach salvation from all worldly miseries.
Bhagavan Naminath encouraged his disciples to rise above the sophisticated burden and accomplish inspiring heights.
Celestial souls like Bhagavan Naminath were born in the earth to cleanse every soul’s mind. India is a blessed country to have great souls in every half cycle to purify the world. Purification can happen only when everyone understands the purpose of life and get relieved from the mundane existence.
Great souls not only preach lessons but live as models and even after their body leaves the earth their valuable teachings help every person to follow the disciplined path during their lifetime.
| Father: | Vijaya |
|---|---|
| Mother: | Vapra (Vipra) |
| Dynasty: | Ikshvaku |
| Birth: | Mithilapuri (Mathura) |
| Nirvana: | Sammed Shikhar |
| Colour: | Yellow |
| Symbol: | Blue Lotus  |
| Height: | 15 dhanusha (45 meters) |
| Age: | 10,000 years |
| Yaksha: | Bhrukuti |
| Yaksini: | Gandhari |
