Here is a simple, traditional life‑story of Vimalnath Bhagwan, the 13th Tirthankar, based on Jain granths and kathā tradition.

---

Basic details

• 13th Tirthankar of the present time‑cycle (avasarpini)
• Rashi / Lanchhan (symbol): Varah (boar)
• Father: Raja Kritavarman (Kampilpur / Kampilya)
• Mother: Rani Shyamā (or Shyāma Devi)
• Kul: Ikshvaku vansh
• Janma, Diksha, Keval‑jñān and Moksha: all on different dates but in the same life (as per usual Tirthankar tradition)

You can read a short JainKnowledge article here: Thirteenth Tirthankar Vimalnath Swami

---

Previous birth – King Padmasen

• In his previous human birth, he was a very dhārmik king named Padmasen, ruling over Mahāpuri in Dhātikhand.
• Though a powerful king, he was deeply interested in dharma, dāna, tapa, svādhyāy and used to regularly listen to discourses of Jain sadhus.
• Over time, deep vairāgya (detachment) arose. He realized worldly pleasures are temporary and full of misery.

Diksha of King Padmasen

• King Padmasen took diksha from Āchārya Yarsvargupt (Yashasvargupt).
• With strong saṁyam, deep meditation and austerities over many years, he purified his karmas to a very high level.
• At the end of that life, he died with a shuddha samyak‑bhāv and went to take birth in a very high Dev gati (heaven), in the Mahardhik dimension of Devas.

Because of this very pure state, that soul became capable of becoming a Tirthankar in the next human birth.

---

Birth as Vimalnath – in the womb of Shyama Devi

• After completing his life as a deva, that soul descended into the womb of Rani Shyamā Devi, wife of Raja Kritavarman of Kampilpur.
• As with every Tirthankar’s mother, Rani Shyamā Devi saw the 14 mangal swapn (auspicious dreams) – like the elephant, bull, lion, Lakshmi, full moon, sun, garland, flag, vase filled with water, lotus lake, ocean, celestial chariot, heap of jewels, and a smokeless fire.

These dreams indicated that a Tirthankar would take birth from her womb.

Birth and name

• On 3rd day of Shukla Paksh of Māgh month (according to Jain calendar), the child was born.
• From the time of conception till birth there was:

- Peace in the kingdom - No quarrels, no famine or disease - Prosperity and happiness all around

Seeing such vimal (pure, untarnished) atmosphere everywhere, the king named the child “Vimal” – hence Vimalnath.

---

Childhood and youth

• Vimalnath Kumar (prince) was very:

- Gentle and polite - Respectful to elders, sadhus and parents - Interested in religion from young age

• Along with training in politics and administration, he learned ahimsa, truth, and aparigraha as core principles of life.

He was married as per royal customs, but remained internally detached.

---

Vimalnath as king

• After some years, Raja Kritavarman decided to renounce worldly life.
• He handed over the rajya (kingdom) to Prince Vimalnath and went into the forest for tapas and sādhanā.
• Vimalnath ruled with:

- Complete nyāy (justice) and dayā (compassion) - Protection of all living beings - Encouragement of dāna, dharma, vrata among people

The kingdom prospered; people were happy and secure.

---

Rising vairāgya and Diksha

• Even in the midst of royal pleasures, Vimalnath often did dhyan and manan on the reality of life:

- All relations are temporary - Body is perishable - Only ātma and its guna (true nature) are eternal

• In deep meditation, he re‑remembered many of his past lives and understood the reason for his present birth – to become a Tirthankar and show the path of liberation to others.

This brought intense vairāgya.

• He decided to renounce the throne and worldly life.
• Many family members, ministers and citizens tried to stop him, but he remained firm.
• On an auspicious day, with a grand but simple procession, he:

- Donated his possessions - Performed kesh‑loch (plucking of hair) as per tradition - Took diksha and became a Jin‑muni.

Many others from royal family and subjects also took diksha with him.

---

Tapas and Keval‑jñān

• After diksha, Vimalnath Muniraj performed:

- Severe tapas (fasts, penances) - Deep dhyan - Complete following of mahāvrat (ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha).

• Over time, the remaining karmas became extremely thin.

At the end of a long period of sādhanā, sitting in deep meditation, he attained Keval‑jñān (omniscience) – perfect, infinite knowledge.

---

Tirthankar bhagwan – teaching the path

After Keval‑jñān:

• Samavasaran (divine preaching hall) manifested.
• Dev, human and even tiryanch beings came to listen.
• Vimalnath Bhagwan gave deshna explaining:

- The nature of jiva and ajiva - The bondage and shedding of karma - The path of samyak‑darshan, samyak‑jñān, samyak‑chāritra - The importance of ahimsa, anekānt, aparigraha, maitri.

Thousands accepted diksha, and countless souls took samyak‑darshan and rose on the path of liberation.

---

Nirvan (Moksha)

• After completing his work as a Tirthankar and living in Kevali‑stithi for a long time, Vimalnath Bhagwan finally shed the last ghāti & aghāti karmas.
• On 7th day of Krishna paksh of Āshādh month (Jain calendar), at Sammed Shikharji, he attained Nirvan and became a Siddha – a totally liberated soul, forever dwelling at the top of Lok (Siddha‑shila).

---

Important points to remember

• Vimalnath Bhagwan’s Lanchhan: Varah (boar)
• Main message of his life:

- Remain pure (vimal) internally - Rule, work, live in the world – but without rāg‑dvesh and parigraha - Finally renounce everything and focus only on ātma‑sadhana.

• As a Siddha, he is beyond praise or prayer in the ordinary sense, but we remember his charitra as an ideal to follow and bow to him as Arahant‑Bhagwan / Siddha‑Bhagwan.

For a concise write‑up you can also see: Thirteenth Tirthankar Vimalnath Swami