Pundarik Swami is a revered figure in Jain tradition. He is considered the grandson of Rishabhanatha (Adinath) and is known as the chief Ganadhara of Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankar.

Story in simple terms:

• Pundarik Swami was born into a royal lineage, the son of Bharat Chakravarti. Yet his heart longed for true spiritual greatness.
• Guided by inner calling and the example set by his grandfather, he renounced worldly wealth and power to seek true liberation.
• He became a Jain monk, shed many karmas, and attained kevaljñan (omniscience) through intense spiritual practice.
• According to tradition, Pundarik Swami attained nirvana ( moksha) on Shatrunjaya hill (Palitana). The hill is also known as Pundarikgiri because of his enduring association with it.
• Shatrunjaya remains one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Jains, with Pundarik Swami worshipped as a paramount teacher and guide for ascetic life.

Important notes:

• There are minor differences in how stories are told between Digambar and Shwetambar traditions, but the core claim—that Pundarik Swami was a chief Ganadhara of Rishabhanatha and attained liberation on Shatrunjaya—appears in both.

You can read a concise note about Pundarik Swami and his liberation on Shatrunjaya here: