Panch Kalyanak Puja Summary Of Parshvanath - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Panch Kalyanak Puja Summary of Parshvanath":

Panch Kalyanak Puja Summary of Parshvanath

This summary outlines the five auspicious events (Panch Kalyanak) in the life of Lord Parshvanath.

Conception (Garbh Kalyanaka): The soul of Lord Parshvanath, in his third to last life, performed the rigorous "Veethsthanak Tap" (fasting involving twenty stages), earning Tirthankar Namakarma (the karma that makes one a Tirthankar). After completing an age of twenty sagaropams in the tenth heaven, he descended to the womb of Queen Vama, wife of King Ashwasen of Varanasi. This conception occurred on the 4th day of the waning moon in the month of Chaitra (or Phagan in Gujarati).
Birth (Janma Kalyanaka): Upon conception, Queen Vama experienced fourteen auspicious dreams, which the King interpreted as the birth of an excellent son. After a full gestation period, Lord Parshvanath was born on the 10th day of the waning moon in the month of Posh (or Maghsar in Gujarati) during an auspicious time. Upon his birth, 56 attendant goddesses (Dikumarika) arrived to purify the infant. Following them, Indra, the king of the gods, along with other deities, came. They took the infant to Mount Meru and performed his birth consecration (Janmabhishek) with divine attendants from all four classes of gods.
Early Life and Marriage: Even animals and birds experienced happiness at Lord Parshvanath's birth, and light filled all seven hells, signifying universal well-being. He grew up nourished by divine nectar. Marked by a serpent emblem and standing seven hands tall, Prince Parshva attained youth and married Princess Prabhavati. One day, while looking from his palace window, Prince Parshva saw crowds of people moving towards the outskirts of the city. Upon inquiry, he learned they were going to see Kamatha, a great ascetic performing Panchagni Tap (penance with five fires). Intrigued, Parshva also went to witness this.
Encounter with Kamatha and the Serpent: Prince Parshva witnessed Kamatha performing Panchagni Tap, with fires burning on all four sides. Through his Avadhijnana (clairvoyance), Parshva realized that a serpent was burning in the fire. He told Kamatha that his penance was futile for seeking happiness. Kamatha, in his arrogance, dismissed Parshva's understanding of religion, asserting that Parshva was skilled in playing horses but not in spiritual matters. When Parshva questioned his teachers, Kamatha described them as forest dwellers who owned nothing and performed penance. Parshva pointed out that animals also live in forests and are penniless, suggesting his gurus lacked compassion. Parshva then had a servant remove a burning log, revealing the suffering serpent. He instructed his servant to recite the Navkar Mantra to the serpent, which led to the serpent's death and rebirth as Dharanendra Deva. The public scorned Kamatha, who, enraged, died and was reborn as Meghamali Deva.
Renunciation (Diksha Kalyanaka): While wandering in the forest with his queen, Prince Parshva saw a painting of Neminath and Rajul, which inspired in him a sense of detachment. The Lokantik gods arrived and encouraged him to take initiation. Lord Parshva then began the practice of Vardaan (giving charity). At the age of thirty, he renounced worldly life. He sat in a palanquin named Vishala, accompanied by many women. A grand procession with Indra, other deities, the king, and numerous humans, accompanied by various musical instruments, proceeded through the streets of Kashi to the Ashrampada garden. There, Lord Parshva performed Panchamuddi (plucking five handfuls of hair) and took initiation.
Enlightenment (Kevala Jnana Kalyanaka) and Obstacles: Lord Parshvanath had his first Paarana (breaking of fast) at the house of Dhanasarthavaha. He then proceeded to the Kadambari forest, where a wild elephant worshipped him with its trunk, leading to the establishment of the Kundi Tirth. Dharanendra Deva and Padmavati Devi arrived and established the city of Chhatra there. The soul of Kamatha, now Meghamali Deva, recognized Lord Parshvanath through Vilanga Jnana (a type of knowledge) and came to create obstacles. He caused heavy rain to fall, reaching up to Lord Parshvanath's nostrils. At that critical moment, Dharanendra Deva protected the Lord, and Meghamali fled.
Knowledge of the Truth (Kevala Jnana): After exactly 84 days of initiation, Lord Parshvanath arrived at a garden in Kashi. On the 4th day of the waning moon in the month of Chaitra (or Phagan in Gujarati), he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience). The forest guard informed King Ashwasen, who, along with Queen Vama and the daughter-in-law Prabhavati, came to hear the Lord's sermons and took initiation.
Nirvana (Nirvana Kalyanaka): Lord Parshvanath, with a lifespan of 100 years, finally ascended Mount Sametshikhar. He attained Nirvana on the 8th day of the waxing moon in the month of Shravan.