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63 Shalaka Purush (Heroes or Great Persons)

By Mr. Pravin K. Shah

Jain Study Center of North Carolin

 

The tradition states that time is infinite and follows repetitive cycles of ascents and descents. During the phase of ascent there is a gradual increase of truth and goodness, and during the period of descent there is a decrease of happiness and righteousness.

It is held that at each ascent and descent cycle, sixty-three shalaka purush (great heroes) are borned of whom there are twenty-four Tirthankaras.

Sixty-three Great Persons (Shalaka Purushas)
24 : Tirthankaras
12 : Chakra-varties
9 : Vasudevas (Narayans)
9 : Prati-Vasudevas (Prati-Narayans)
9 : Baladevas (Balabhadras)

63 Total
24 Tirthakaras : Name and Symbols

No.

Name

Symbol

Color

1

Shri Rushabhadev

Ox

Gold

2

Shri Ajitnatha

Elephant

Gold

3

Shri Sambhavanatha

Horse

Gold

4

Shri Abhinandana Swami

Monkey

Gold

5

Shri Sumatinatha

Crane

Gold

6

Shri Padmaprabhu

Lotus

Red

7

Shri Suparshvanatha

Swastika

Gold

8

Shri Chandraprabhu

Moon

Silver

9

Shri Suvidhinatha

Crocodile

Silver

10

Shri Shitalanatha

Shrivasta

Gold

11

Shri Shreyansanatha

Rhinoceros

Gold

12

Shri Vasupujya Swami

He-buffalo

Red

13

Shri Vimalanatha

Boar

Gold

14

Shri Anantanatha

Falcon

Gold

15

Shri Dharmanatha

Thunder-Bolt

Gold

16

Shri Shantinatha

Deer

Gold

17

Shri Kunthunatha

He-Goat

Gold

18

Shri Aranatha

Nandyavrata

Gold

19

Shri Mallinatha

Pot

Blue

20

Shri Munisuvrata Swami

Tortoise

Black

21

Shri Naminatha

Lily

Gold

22

Shri Neminatha

Conch

Black

23

Shri Parshvanatha

Snake

Blue

24

Shri Mahavir swami

Lion

Gold

 

The Twelve Chakra-varties are :
1. Bharata
2. Sagara
3. Meghavan
4. Sanatkumara
5. Shanti-natha
6. Kunthu-natha
7. Ara(ha)-natha
8. Subhauma
9. Padmaprabha
10. Harisena
11. Jayasena
12. Brahmadatt

The nine Vasudevas (Narayans) are :
1. Tripushta
2. Dvipushta
3. Svayambhu
4. Purushottama
5. Nara(Purusha)Simba
6. Pundarika
7. Dattadeva
8. Lakshmana
9. Krishna

The nine Prati-Vasudevas (Prati-Narayans) are :
1. Asvagriva
2. Taraka
3. Naraka
4. Nisumbha
5. Madhukaitabh
6. Prahlada
7. Bali
8. Ravana
9. Jarasandha

The nine Baladevas (Balabhadras) are :
1. Vijaya
2. Achala
3. Dharmaprabha
4. Suprabha
5. Sudarsana
6. Nandi (Ananda)
7. Nandimitra
8. Ramachandra
9. Padma

The above are the total sixty-three Shalaka-purushas.

 

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