Pushpadanta
Encyclopedia
In Jainism
, Puṣpadanta (, also known as Suvidhinatha, was the ninth Tirthankara of the present age (Avasarpini). According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha
and an arihant
, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.
Puṣpadanta was born to King Sugriva and Queen Rama at Kakandi (modern Khukhundoo, Deoria, Uttar Pradesh) to the Ikshvaku dynasty
. His birth date was the fifth day of the Margshrsha Krishna month of the Indian calendar. In the tradition started by Rishabha
, the ninth Tirthankara who re-established the four-part sangha
was Puṣpadanta.
, during her pregnancy, Queen Rama developed a strange capacity to develop processes for doing even the most difficult of tasks. When her child was born, the king accordingly named him Suvidhi "Correct Procedure". During his teething, Queen Rama had cravings for playing with flowers. As such, he was also popularly known as Puṣpadanta, "Flower-Tooth".
Suvidhi became an ascetic at an early age and attained omniscience only after four months rigorous spiritual practices. He attained Nirvana
at Shikharji on the ninth day of the dark half of Kartika
.
The tradition of the "fourfold sangha" established by Rishabha gradually became extinct after Puṣpadanta's death. First, the ascetic organization disintegrated until none were left. The religious discourses were then given by Śrāvaka
s. Slowly the influence of wealth became overpowering and people started forgetting the principals of the Ratnatraya, including Ahimsa
and truthfulness. The discipline of spiritual principles gave way to ritualistic exchanges of wealth and total indiscipline.
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
, Puṣpadanta (, also known as Suvidhinatha, was the ninth Tirthankara of the present age (Avasarpini). According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha
Siddha
A Siddha सिद्ध in Sanskrit means "one who is accomplished" and refers to perfected masters who, according to Hindu belief, have transcended the ahamkara , have subdued their minds to be subservient to their Awareness, and have transformed their bodies into a different kind of body dominated by...
and an arihant
Arihant (Jainism)
Arihant in Jainism is a siddha who has not yet died and thereby lost all aghatiya karma. The Ṇamōkāra mantra begins, Ṇamō arihantāṇaṁ "I praise the arihants"....
, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.
Puṣpadanta was born to King Sugriva and Queen Rama at Kakandi (modern Khukhundoo, Deoria, Uttar Pradesh) to the Ikshvaku dynasty
Ikshvaku dynasty
The Ikshvaku dynasty, in Puranic literature, was a mythical dynasty founded by Ikshvaku, grandson of Vivasvan or Surya and son of Vaivasvata Manu. This dynasty is also known as . The important personalities belonging to this royal house are Harishchandra, Dilīpa, Sagara, Raghu, Rama and Prasenajit...
. His birth date was the fifth day of the Margshrsha Krishna month of the Indian calendar. In the tradition started by Rishabha
Rishabha (Jain tirthankar)
In Jainism, R̥ṣabha or Ādinātha , also known as the "Lord of Kesariya") was the first of the 24 Tīrthaṅkaras. According to Jain beliefs, R̥ṣabha founded the Ikshvaku dynasty and was the first Tīrthaṅkara of the present age...
, the ninth Tirthankara who re-established the four-part sangha
Sangha (Jainism)
In Jainism, Sangha can mean the assembly of monks, nuns, lay men and women of a region. It can also mean an order of monks and nuns, along with its branches...
was Puṣpadanta.
Previous births
During his earlier incarnation as emperor Mahapadma of Pushkalvati Vijay purified his soul to he extant of earning Tirthankara-nama-gotra-karma. He took birth in the Vijayant dimension of gods and from there he descended into the womb of queen Rama Devi, wife of king Sugriva of Kakandi town now Khukhundoo.Life
According the Jain AgamasJain Agamas
Agamas are canonical texts of Jainism based on Mahavira’s teachings. Mahavira’s preaching were orally compiled by his disciples into various Sutras which were collectively called Jain canonical or Agamic literature. Traditionally these sutras were orally passed on from teachers to the disciples...
, during her pregnancy, Queen Rama developed a strange capacity to develop processes for doing even the most difficult of tasks. When her child was born, the king accordingly named him Suvidhi "Correct Procedure". During his teething, Queen Rama had cravings for playing with flowers. As such, he was also popularly known as Puṣpadanta, "Flower-Tooth".
Suvidhi became an ascetic at an early age and attained omniscience only after four months rigorous spiritual practices. He attained Nirvana
Nirvana (Jainism)
' in Jainism means final release from the karmic bondage. When an enlightened human, such as an Arihant or a Tirthankara extinguishes his remaining aghatiya karmas and thus ends his worldly existence, it is called . Technically, the death of an Arihant is called of the arihant, as he has ended...
at Shikharji on the ninth day of the dark half of Kartika
Kartika (month)
Kartika , is a month of Hindu and Bengali calendars, named after the Hindu god, Kartikeya....
.
The tradition of the "fourfold sangha" established by Rishabha gradually became extinct after Puṣpadanta's death. First, the ascetic organization disintegrated until none were left. The religious discourses were then given by Śrāvaka
Sravaka
Shravaka or Śrāvaka or Sāvaka means "hearer" or, more generally, "disciple".This term is used by both Buddhists and Jains. In Jainism, a shravaka is any lay Jain...
s. Slowly the influence of wealth became overpowering and people started forgetting the principals of the Ratnatraya, including Ahimsa
Ahimsa in Jainism
Ahiṃsā in Jainism is a fundamental principle forming the cornerstone of its ethics and doctrine. The term "ahimsa" means “non-violence”, “non-injury” or absence of desire to harm any life forms. Vegetarianism and other non-violent practices and rituals of Jains flow from the principle of Ahiṃsā...
and truthfulness. The discipline of spiritual principles gave way to ritualistic exchanges of wealth and total indiscipline.