Neminatha

Neminatha was twenty-second Jain Tirthankar of the present age (Avsarpini). According to Jain beliefs, he became a Siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.He also known as Aristhnemi He along with Rishab] or Adinath is mentioned in the Rig Veda Samhita.

Neminatha was born to King Samudravijay Raja and Queen Shivadevi Rani at Souripur in the HariVansh clan. His birth date is the 5th day of Shravan Sukla in the Hindu calendar.

Neminatha as a historical figure

There seems to be no doubt about the existence of Jainism in the 7th century BC, but the history of Jainism goes back even earlier than of Parsvanatha. The Jain record mentions the names of twenty two Tirthankaras before him. Neminatha, the 22nd Tirthankara of the Jains, was the son of Samudra Vijaya and grandson of Andhakavrishni. Many Jains and some Hindus is said to be a cousin of Krishna, the lord of the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu scriptures).

According to both religions, Krishna negotiated his marriage with Rajamati, the daughter of Ugrasena, but Neminath, empathizing with the animals which were to be slaughtered for the marriage feast, left the procession suddenly and renounced the world. Some writers of the Jain scriptures say that Tirthankara Neminath was the master of Krishna.

The Andhakavrishnis of Dwaraka in Kathiawar Region of present Gujrat state of India, as a republic is referred to in the Mahabharata, Arthasastra and Ashtadhyayi of Panini.

The name of the Vrishni corporation is also found on a coin which on paleographical grounds dates to the first or second century B.C.E. It seems that the republic was named after Andhakavrishni, the grandfather of Neminath. If Andhakavrishni is a real person, there seems to be little doubt that his grandson Neminatha was real.

It is mentioned in the Chhandogya Upanishads III, that the sage Ghora Angirasa imparted certain instructions of the spiritual sacrifice to Krishna, the son of Devaki. The liberal payment of this sacrifice was austerity, liberality, simplicity, non-violence and truthfulness. These teachings of Ghora Angirasa seem to be the tenets of Jainism. Hence, Ghora Angirasa seems to be a Jain sadhu. The word Ghora Angirasa seems to be an epithet given to him because of the extreme austerities he undertook. It may be possible to suggest that Neminatha was his early name and when he had obtained salvation after hard austerities, he might have been given the name of Ghora Angirasa.

In fact, the Jaina traditions about Neminath or Arishtanemi as incorporated in the Harivamsa, Arittha Nemi Chariu and other works may be corroborated to some extent by the Brahaminical traditions. He is mentioned in some of the hymns of the Vedas but their meaning is doubtful.

In the Yajurveda, he seems to be clearly mentioned as one of the important Rishis. He is described as one who is capable of crossing over the ocean of life and death, as the remover of violence, and one who is instrumental is sparing life from injury. The Yajurveda probably belongs to the 12th century B.C.E. This indicates that Neminath was known at this time and flourished even before.

Physical evidence for existence

The literary evidence seems to be supported by an epigraphic evidence. In Kathiawar, a copper plate has been discovered on which there is an inscription. King Nebuchadrezzar I of Babylonia, who was also the lord of Reva-nagara (in Kathiawar of Gujarat) had come to the lace (Dwarka) of the Yaduraja. He built a temple and paid homage and made the grant perpetual in favour of Lord Neminath, the paramount deity of Mt. Raivata. This inscription is of great historical importance. Nebuchadrezzar was living in the 10th century B.C.E. This indicates that even in the 10th century B.C.E. there was the worship of the temple of Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara of the Jains.

He is said to be the contemporary of Krishna, the hero of Mahabharata. Jain scholars differ in their opinions as to the exact date of the Mahabharata which vary from 950 B.C. to 30002 B.C.E.

References

• Facets of Jainology by Vilas Adinath Sangave Published 2001 by Popular Prakashan
• Article of Dr.Pran Nath The Times of India 19th March 1935

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