Origins & Early Life

Pārśvanātha (Sanskrit: पार्श्वनाथः), or Pārśva and Pārasanātha, was the 23rd of 24 tīrthaṅkaras ("Ford-Maker" or supreme preacher of Dharma) of Jainism. Pārśvanātha is the earliest Jain tīrthaṅkara who is acknowledged as a historical figure, with some teachings attributed to him that are accurately recorded, and a historical nucleus within the legendary accounts of his life from traditional hagiographies. According to Jain tradition, he lived between the 9th to 8th century BCE, whereas historians consider him to have lived between c. the 8th to 7th century BCE, founding a proto-Jain ascetic community that subsequently got revived and reformed by Mahāvīra (6th to 5th century BCE).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

According to traditional Jain narratives, he was born to King Aśvasena and Queen Vāmādevī of the Ikshvaku dynasty in the Indian city of Varanasi, 273 years before Mahāvīra, placing him between the 9th and 8th century BCE. Renouncing worldly life, he founded an ascetic community. He was the spiritual successor of the 22nd tīrthaṅkara Neminatha, and is popularly seen as a supreme propagator and reviver of Jainism. Pārśvanātha is said to have attained moksha on Mount Sammeda (Madhuban, Jharkhand), now popular...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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