What is the story of Ajitnath tirthankar as specified in the scriptures?

Ajitnath (Ajita) is the 2nd Tirthankar in the current time cycle.

• Birth and family: He was born in Ayodhya (in the Ikshvaku line) to King Jitashatru and Queen Vijaya on the tenth day of the bright half of the month Magha. He was called Ajit because the king’s power was “invincible” at the time of the queen’s pregnancy. His younger brother Sagar was born the same night. Different Jain traditions give one or two small variations on names and details, but the basic story is the same.

• Renunciation: From childhood Ajitnath was naturally detached, declined the throne, and became an ascetic in the forests, where his penance and serenity calmed even natural enemies around him.

• Kevala jnana and moksha: After many years of austerities, he attained kevala (omniscient) knowledge on a specific auspicious day and then achieved moksha (liberation) at Shikharji, the great tirtha. In some texts his attainment is described under a sal/Saptaparna tree, while other texts name different sacred trees or places, but the essential point remains that he attained omniscience and delivered the path to many followers.

• Ganadharas and leadership: He had a large number of Ganadharas (spiritual disciples who organized the Jain doctrine); Simhasena is named as his chief Ganadhara in many accounts. The Jain monastic order for his time is described with different minor names in Digambara and Śvētāmbara sources.

• Legacy and veneration: Ajitnath is worshipped as one of the 24 Tirthankaras, and several temples and shrines are dedicated to him. His life is celebrated in Jain poetry and narrative works such as the Ajita Purana and Ajitasanti Stotra, which praise his virtues and his role as a spiritual guide.

Notes on traditions:

• Digambara and Śvētāmbara traditions sometimes differ in minor details (such as the exact tree under which he attained enlightenment, or the chief nun of his order). Despite these small variations, the core arc—birth to a royal family, renunciation, attainment of omniscience, and liberation at Shikharji—remains consistent across Jain scripture.

If you’d like, I can share a short, traditional verse (stotra) that praises Ajitnath and explain its meaning in a simple way.