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In Jainism, Parshva, (more correctly Parshvanatha; occasionally spelled Parswanath) was the twenty-third Tirthankara.
Parshvanath was born about 380 years before the Nirvana of Lord Mahavira or in the 10th century BC. He was the son of King Ashvasen and Queen Vamadevi of Varanasi. Parshvanath achieved nirvana atop the Sammet sikhar.
In Jain cosmology, Parshvanatha, amongst all the twenty-four Tirthankaras, has been more often seen as presiding over the cosmic ring – being considered its axis. The first Jain Tirthankara Adinatha or Rishabha Deva, and the last Mahavira, are other Tirthankaras who have also been represented as the presiding deities of the cosmos. The cosmos has been visualised as the golden ring – 'hiranya-vratta' of the Jain cosmology, a concept corresponding to the 'hiranyagarbha' – the cosmic egg theory of the Rig-Veda.
There is a mention of four prominent leaders of the order of Lord Parshvanath:
- Gandhara Shubhdatta (Shumbh)
- Arya Haridatta
- Acharya Samudra Suri
- Arya Keshi Shraman
The last-named is believed to have taken birth about 166 to 250 years after the Nirvana of Bhagawan Parshvanath. He met Ganadhara Gautam, the main pupil of Lord Mahavira. Their discussion about the apparent differences between the teachings of the two Tirthankaras is recorded in Jain texts.
Iconography
Lord Parshvanath is always represented with the hood of a snake shading his head. The Yaksha Dharanendra and the Yakshi Padmavati are often shown flanking him.
As per Jain canonical literature, Parshvanatha is represented in 'padmasana' posture – both palms and feet, with auspicious lotus marks on them, placed upward. He has blue-black complexion – the color of the cosmos. The seven-hooded serpent Shesh – umbrella-like unfurling its hoods over the deity, represented elements of the earth and the ocean and has hence a similar body colour. Parshvanatha has been represented as wearing a gem-studded crown and other ornaments. He has as rich a nimbus behind, a gold-throne to seat, and a rich canopy above.
Famous Temples of Lord parshvanath
- Sammet Sikhar in Jharkand
- Hummach Padmavati in Karnataka
References
"Parshva"