Tirthankar Vandana

The book "Tirthankar Vandana" by Munishri Ratnatrayvijayji, published by Ranjanvijayji Jain Pustakalay, is a comprehensive compilation of information about the 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism. The book meticulously details various aspects of each Tirthankara's life and spiritual journey.

Key aspects covered in the book include:

• Names of the 24 Tirthankaras: A clear listing of all the Tirthankaras.
• Parental Information: The names of the mothers and fathers of each Tirthankara.
• Life Events and Timelines: Details about their past lives, the acquisition of Tirthankara qualities, their lineage, the city of their birth, their ascendance from which celestial realm, the dates of their conception and birth, their birth constellations and zodiac signs, their birthplace, and their country of birth.
• Spiritual Journey: Information on their lifespan, the duration of their ascetic practices, their lineage, the celestial realms from which they descended, their birth dates and locations, their birth constellations and zodiac signs, their birthplace and country of birth.
• Asceticism and Enlightenment: The duration of their penance, the names of their Ganadharas (chief disciples), the number of disciples (both monks and nuns), the number of lay followers (male and female), their enlightenment dates, enlightenment cities, and enlightenment forests.
• Key Symbols and Attributes: The names of their associated Yaksas (attendant deities) and Yaksis (attendant goddesses), their vehicles, their colors, and their respective symbols (Lanchhans).
• Physical and Spiritual Attributes: The meaning of their names, their physical measurements (height), and the duration of their ascetic practices.
• Kingdom and Ascetic Life: Details about their childhood, princely life, and domestic life, including the duration of these stages and their kingdom's duration.
• The 20 Viharamana Tirthankaras: A separate section detailing the 20 Tirthankaras who are currently active in different continents and universes, including their names, parents, wives, cities, symbols, Meru mountains, continents, regions, sub-continents, celestial realms, and spiritual lineage.
• Past Lives and Transformations: The book also delves into the past lives and significant rebirths of various Tirthankaras, such as Rishabhdevji's 13 lives, Chandprabhswami's 7 lives, Shantinathji's 12 lives, Munisuvratswami's 9 lives, Nemnathji's 9 lives, Parshwanathji's 10 lives, and Mahavir Swami's 27 lives. It also details the past lives of prominent figures like Shripal Raja, Hanuman, and various Ganadharas.
• Important Jain Figures and Concepts: The book includes information about Chakravartis (universal monarchs), Baldevs, Vasudevs, Pratithyvasudevs, their families, and their respective lifespan, kingdom duration, and spiritual journeys.
• Detailed Life Events of each Tirthankara: The book provides a highly detailed breakdown of numerous life events for each Tirthankara, including:
  • Duration of conception (Garbhakal)
  • Birth dates (both regular and Marwadi calendars)
  • Birth cities
  • Birth constellations and zodiac signs
  • Place of birth (country)
  • Their Gaṇa (group or lineage)
  • Their Yoni (source of spiritual energy)
  • Their Lanchhan (symbol)
  • Meaning of their names
  • Height
  • Maternal and paternal lifespan
  • Duration of childhood, princely life, and married life
  • Number of sons and daughters
  • Number of their past lives
  • Date of renunciation (initiation)
  • City of renunciation
  • Constellation and zodiac sign at renunciation
  • Name of the palanquin for renunciation
  • Arboreal symbol associated with renunciation (Deeksha Vriksha)
  • Ascetic practices at the time of renunciation
  • City of their first alms round (Paarana)
  • The person in whose home they broke their fast
  • The peak ascetic practices they undertook
  • Duration of their hidden or worldly state before enlightenment
  • Date of enlightenment
  • City of enlightenment
  • Forest of enlightenment
  • Ascetic practices at the time of enlightenment
  • Height of the enlightenment tree
  • Number of chief disciples (Ganadhara) and their families
  • Number of enlightened beings (Kevalgyani)
  • Number of monks and nuns
  • Number of lay followers (male and female)
  • Number of those with telepathic abilities (Manahparyavgyani)
  • Number of those with clairvoyant abilities (Avadhgyani)
  • Number of those who studied fourteen Purvas (Chaudpurvi)
  • Number of those with extraordinary powers (Vaikriya Labdhidhari)
  • Number of debaters (Vadihari Muni)
  • Number of vows taken
  • Duration of asceticism and enlightenment
  • Total lifespan
  • Date of liberation (Moksha Kalyanak)
  • City of liberation
  • Constellation and zodiac sign at liberation
  • Posture at liberation
  • Ascetic practices at the time of liberation
  • Number of years between their passing and the next Tirthankara's time
  • The dimension of their Samavasarana (assembly)
  • The subject of their first sermon
  • The souls who became Tirthankaras during their era
  • The Yaksas, Yaksis, their vehicles, colors, and symbols
• Future Tirthankaras: Information about the future Tirthankaras.
• Lives of Prominent Figures: Details of the previous lives of influential figures like Shripal Raja, Hanuman, and various other great personalities, including their birth and spiritual journeys.
• Chakravarti, Baldev, Vasudev, and Pratithyvasudev: A detailed overview of these important figures, including their lineage, parents, cities, height, color, lineage (Gotra), lifespan, migration (Gati), childhood, princely life, duration of their reign, and their associated spiritual ascensions.

The book appears to be a meticulously researched and comprehensive reference work for anyone interested in the lives and details of the Tirthankaras and other significant figures in Jainism.