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complete story of parashnath bhagwan
Here is a simple, traditional Jain version of the life (charitra) of Bhagwan Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankar.
You can also read a nice illustrated version here
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1. Janma (Birth) and Early Life
- Tirthankar: 23rd of the present Avasarpini (descending time-cycle)
- Birth place: Varanasi (Kashi)
- Father: King Ashvasen
- Mother: Queen Vamadevi (Vama)
- Kul (family): Ikshvaku dynasty
From childhood he was:
- Very dayalu (compassionate) – always protecting living beings
- Vairagi by nature – less interest in royal comforts, more in dharma and meditation
Famous incident in youth – saving the snakes
Once, young Parshva Kumar saw a sadhu doing a fire-penance (agni-tap). With his Avadhi Jnan (clairvoyance) he saw:
- Inside a log of wood, there was a pair of snakes.
- If that log was burnt, they would die.
He requested the sadhu to stop and have the wood cut. When the log was split, the two snakes came out, saved from burning.
Due to Parshva’s compassion, those snakes developed deep bhav-bhakti for him.
- In their later births:
They later protected Bhagwan Parshvanath during his meditation.
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2. Renunciation (Diksha)
At about 30 years of age, after completing his responsibilities as a prince, Parshva Kumar felt strong vairagya (detachment).
He renounced:
- Kingdom
- Wealth
- Family comfort
He accepted diksha and became a Shraman (Jain monk).
His main dharma message was based on 4 mahavrat (great vows):
- Ahimsa – Non‑violence
- Satya – Truth
- Achaurya – Non‑stealing
- Aparigraha – Non‑possession
(These 4 later became 5 with the addition of Brahmacharya as a separate vow in Bhagwan Mahavir’s time.)
He practiced:
- Deep meditation
- Severe tap (austerities)
- Complete forgiveness and equanimity (kshama, samata)
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3. Keval Jnan (Omniscience)
After about 84 days of intense sadhana (continuous, deep spiritual practice), Bhagwan Parshvanath destroyed the ghati karmas and attained:
- Keval Jnan – infinite knowledge
- Keval Darshan – infinite perception
From that moment, he became a Tirthankar Bhagwan, establishing a four-fold sangh:
- Sadhus (monks)
- Sadhvis (nuns)
- Shravaks (male householders)
- Shravikas (female householders)
He preached:
- The path of right faith, right knowledge, right conduct
- Strict ahimsa and aparigraha
- Simple, pure, non-violent living
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4. The Meghmali – Dharanendra episode (Famous snake‑hood story)
This is one of the most well‑known parts of his life.
Who was Meghmali?
- Meghmali was a powerful Vidyadhar (being with special powers), full of ego and anger.
- Because of past-life enmity, he came to disturb Parshvanath Bhagwan during meditation.
The attack
Once, when Bhagwan Parshvanath was in deep meditation (kayotsarg) in the forest:
- Meghmali created terrible storms, thunder, lightning, and heavy rain through his powers.
- Rivers overflowed, water rose higher and higher.
- The water level reached up to the neck of Parshvanath Bhagwan.
Still, Bhagwan:
- Did not move at all,
- Remained in pure samadhi and complete forgiveness,
- Had no anger or fear, only equanimity.
Protection by Dharanendra and Padmavati
Dharanendra Dev (the same soul whom Parshva had saved as a snake) saw this and rushed there:
- He placed a lotus under Bhagwan’s feet so that the Lord rose above the water.
- He expanded his many-hooded serpent canopy (shesh phana) above Bhagwan’s head to protect him from the rain.
- Padmavati Devi also stood in seva (devotional protection and support).
This is why:
- Parshvanath Bhagwan is usually shown with a multi-hooded serpent canopy over his head.
Meghmali’s transformation
Seeing:
- The peace of Parshvanath
- His fearless, steady meditation
- The failure of all attacks
Meghmali felt:
- Deep shame and repentance
- Realized the greatness of the Lord
He stopped his attacks, bowed at Bhagwan’s feet, and asked for forgiveness.
Bhagwan, with infinite compassion, had no hatred. He remained in kshama and samata, becoming a supreme example of forgiveness and non‑violence.
You can read this story in a simple children‑friendly style here
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5. Deshna (Preachings)
After Keval Jnan, Bhagwan Parshvanath gave divya deshna (divine discourses):
Key teachings:
- Don’t hurt any living being, even by thought, word or action.
- Don’t lie or cheat to get material things.
- Control desires and reduce possessions.
- Practice forgiveness, humility, meditation, and compassion.
Many people accepted his path and became:
- Sadhus
- Sadhvis
- Shravaks
- Shravikas
His Samavasaran (divine preaching assembly) was attended by:
- Devas (heavenly beings)
- Humans
- Animals, and others – all could understand according to their capacity.
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6. Nirvana (Moksha)
- Age at Moksha: 100 years (as per traditional accounts)
- Place of Moksha: Sammed Shikharji (also called Shikharji or Parshvanath Hill), in present-day Jharkhand
- He attained Nirvana on this sacred mountain through deep meditation, destroying all remaining karmas.
After Nirvana, his soul became a Siddha:
- No birth and death
- Infinite bliss, infinite knowledge
- Forever residing at Siddhashila on the top of the universe.
Because of this:
- Sammed Shikharji is one of the holiest tirths for Jains,
- 20 out of 24 Tirthankars attained Moksha there, including Bhagwan Parshvanath.
You can read a brief Moksha‑focused description here
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7. Main lessons from Parshvanath Bhagwan’s life
- Ahimsa in action:
Saving the snakes from the burning wood shows real, active non‑violence.
- Kshama (forgiveness):
Even when Meghmali tried to destroy him, he remained calm and forgiving.
- Vairagya (detachment):
Left royal life early, showing that inner peace is higher than outer comfort.
- Aparigraha (non‑possessiveness):
He taught that reducing possessions and desires leads to inner freedom.
- Faith in karma:
Even enemies and helpers like Meghmali and Dharanendra are results of past karmas, but a Tirthankar responds only with compassion.
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This is the traditional, simple outline of the complete life story (charitra) of Bhagwan Parshvanath as told in Jain tradition.
