2800th Nirvan Kalyanak of Bhagwan Parshvanath

In the historical city of Varanasi, 2900 years ago, King Ashvasen and Queen Vamadevi were blessed with a son in the midnight of Paush Krishna 10/11. The boy child was named Parshva Kumar. In due course, his education started and with sharp intelligence, he was praised by his teachers. He also excelled in horsemanship and weaponry. Gifted with three types of Gyan (Knowledge) —Mati (sensory knowledge), Shruti (scriptural knowledge), and Avadhi (clairvoyance) since birth, he realized the transitory nature of worldly comforts. Therefore, he decided to embrace asceticism.

On Pausha Krishna Ekadasi, Parshva Kumar, standing under a Ashoka tree in Varanasi, plucked out five fistfuls of his hair, and initiated himself into monkhood. Immediately upon his initiation, he attained the fourth knowledge— Manahparyaya Gyan (a kind of telepathy)

On the eighty-fourth day of his spiritual journey and completing an eight-day fast, he achieved Omniscience (Keval Gyan) and Omniperception (Keval Darshan) at Varanasi on Chaitra Krishna 4.

After attaining omniscience, Bhagwan Parshvanath visited many places and delivered profound religious discourses. His teachings of non violence, truth and self restraint inspired numerous followers for their spiritual upliftment. He explained the essence of dharma and strongly opposed rituals like animal sacrifice and the ostentation prevalent in religious practices at that time and reviving the true essence of Dharma.

As his liberation (moksha) drew near, Parshvanath, along with thirty-three monks, traveled to Mount Sammet Shikhar. There, he undertook a fast until death. After fasting for one month and having completed 100 years of life, he attained liberation on the eighth day of the bright fortnight of Shravana, under the Vishakha constellation. Bhagwan Parshvanath’s teachings left an indelible mark on Jain tradition. Jain devotees consider their lives fulfilled by remembering and venerating Bhagwan Parshvanath daily.

Jainacharya Shri Jinapiyushsagar Suriswarji M.S. regards Bhagwan Parshvanath as an exceptionally influential Tirthankara. Parshvanath’s Nirvan, occurred 250 years before Bhagwan Mahaveer’s Nirvan, which took place on Diwali. As we are now in the 2550th year of Mahaveer’s Nirvan, it follows that this year marks the 2800th year of Bhagwan Parshvanath’s Nirvan.

To honor this significant event, various activities and commemorative events will take place across the country, celebrating the teachings and legacy of Bhagwan Parshvanath, and emphasizing his principles of truth, non-violence, and compassion