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Sambhavnath is our Third Tirthankar. In his previous life, he was King Vipulvahan who ruled Kshempuri in the Airavat area of Mahavideh for a long time after the Nirvana of Bhagawan Ajitnath. He loved and cared for his subjects and was a compassionate kind hearted ruler. Once during a drought in the kingdom there was no food and water, so the King opened up his granaries for the people and used the money from his treasury to import food grains. He used his kitchen to feed all the monks and people and was determined that none would be sent hungry advising his caretakers in the kitchen to see that no one who approached them were turned away. He did not care to feed himself and went unfed often during the drought but took care that the people of his kingdom were feed . Through his acts of compassion in various lifetimes he had attained a high level of spiritual purity. Observing the hardships and suffering of the people during the drought brought to him a sense of intense detachment. He handed over his Kingdom to his son and became an ascetic under Svayamprabh Suri and passed away after years of prayers.
He was reborn as son of Queen Susenadevi and King Jitari of Shravasti in Ikshvaku dynasty. It is said that while he was in his mother’s womb, there were signs of prosperity everywhere. There was abundant rainfall and the land was blessed with rich crops and lush vegetation and greenery was everywhere. Its been said her mother, Queen Susenadevi recevied 14 auspecious dreams. And everything in the land seemed Sambhav or possible due to the auspicious conception. Hence when the child was born, he was named Sambhav Kumar. He was born on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Margashirsh. Right from his younger days, he showed a complete disinterest to material comforts and remained unaffected by the royal grandeur into which he was born. As he grew up at the appropriate time, he was married. Later the King handed over his kingdom to him.
He ruled peacefully for a long time and on the fifteenth day of the bright half of the month of Margashrish he renounced the Kingship and took up ascetism. He then continued rigorous penances for fourteen years and finally attained omniscience. He then began to give discourses on human existence, the ephemeral nature of life and the goal of life which all mankind must strive to attain.
He worked towards this goal for a long period and helped in the spread of the Jain religion. On the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra he attained Nirvana.
Bhagawan Sambhavnath reiterated that every soul had the potential to achieve God and realised that every soul is divine. Conquering one’s own inner enemies and passions and removing impurities and rendering it pure is the basic goal of all mankind. Striving towards this goal is the only duty that is of primary importance. Such God realised souls like Sambhavnathji are born to help man achieve this objective and with their innate compassion and knowledge uplift humanity and bring love and unity in the world.Sambhavnath is associated with Horse emblem.
