half-era. There are indications that Parsvanath,
too, was a historical figure, who preached an
early version of the Jain doctrine of strict worldly
renunciation and very strict noninjury to crea-
tures as the only means to liberation from birth
and rebirth.
The Kalpa Sutra of BHADRABAHU (c. 500 C.E.)
of the SHVETAMBARA Jains tells the story of the life
of Parshvanath. It is said that he lived as a house-
holder for 30 years, as a monk for 83 nights, and
as an omniscient being for a little less than 70
years, for a total of 100 years.
In his previous life Parshvanath was a divinity
in heaven (in the Jain tradition one cannot reach
liberation as a divinity, but only as a human).
When that life ended he descended into the womb
of Vama Devi, the wife of a king of the warrior
caste, in the city of BENARES (Varanasi). It is said
that on the night he was born the world was
bright with the ascending and descending of gods
and goddesses with sounds of beings inquiring
what grand event was taking place.
Possessed of immense knowledge and faith, at
the age of 30 Parshva took up the life of a renun-
ciant, giving away his massive princely wealth
to indigents. Outside the city in a park under an
Ashoka tree he took off his finery and pulled out his
hair in five handfuls (the custom when one becomes
a Jain monk). He began vows of severe fasting and
joined the community of homeless monks.
For 83 days, they say, he gave up the care
of his body completely and bore every hardship
as though it were not hardship. He adopted all
the circumspect practices of the monk—careful
movement, measured speech, guarded desires,
restraint of his mind and physical activities—so
as to leave the ego behind completely. During
these 83 days he reached omniscience and pro-
ceeded to terminate the bonds of KARMA. Eight
major followers joined him and he created a
community of 350 monks, which grew and
grew as his perfection affected more and more
people. After 70 years as an omniscient being,
he adopted the vow of taking food without water
once a month on Mount Sammeta and became
perfected (a SIDDHA) and liberated, his soul going
to the top of the universe to dwell in effulgence
forever.Further reading: P. S. Jaini, The Jaina Path of Purification
(Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1990); Kastur Chand Lal-
wani, Kalpa Sutra of Bhadrabahu Svami (Delhi: Motilal
Banarsidass, 1979).Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, Sri
(1927– ) teacher of sahaja yoga
Sri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari is the leader of
the SRI RAM CHANDRA MISSION.Parshvanath, 23rd Jain Tirthankara of this era, in
Benares (Varanasi) (Constance A. Jones)
Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, Sri 325 J