Suparshvanatha, Suparshva-natha, Supārśvanātha: 2 definitions

Introduction
In Jainism
1. General definition
See also

Introduction:

Suparshvanatha means something in Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit term Supārśvanātha can be transliterated into English as Suparsvanatha or Suparshvanatha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Supārśvanātha (सुपार्श्वनाथ) is another name for Supārśva, the seventh Tīrthaṅkara (Janism recognizes 24 such teachers or Siddhas). His colour is green (harita), according to Aparājitapṛcchā (221.5-7). His height is 200 dhanuṣa (a single dhanuṣa (or, ‘bow’) equals 6 ft), thus, roughly corresponding to 366 meters. His emblem, or symbol, is a Svastika.

Supārśvanātha’s father is Pratiṣṭha according to Śvetāmbara but Supratiṣṭha according to Digambara and his mother is Pṛthvī. It is an ancient Jain practice to worship the Tīrthaṅkara’s parents in various rites, such as the pratiṣṭhāvidhi, according to the Ācāradinakara (14th century work on Jain conduct written by Vardhamāna Sūri).

Source: archive.org: The Jaina Iconography

Supārśvanātha (सुपार्श्वनाथ) refers to the seventh of twenty-four Tīrthaṃkaras or Jinas, commonly depicted in Jaina iconography.—Supārśvanātha has, according to the canon, the emblem of the mystic cross called the Svastika. Books give him the additional symbolic decorations of serpents. There is some regularity with regard to the number of the hoods of the serpents. The number must be either one or five or nine. His Kevala tree is Śirīśa. The attendant spirits serving him are Mātaṅga and Śānti (Digambara: Varanandi and Kālī). The name of the bearer of the fly-fan is Dharmavīrya.

The Purāṇas give the historical news that he was the son of a Kṣatriya ruling prince named Supratiṣṭha. The mother was Queen Pṛthivī by name. His birth-place and kingdom was Banares and Kāśī. Unlike the other earlier Tīrthaṃkara, he attained Mokṣa with only five hundred companions.

His name has a historical meaning. He acquired the nameof Supārśva because he was endowed from birth with “beautiful sides”. His mother suffered from leprosy in both her sides. This dreadful disease was cured before the Child’s birth, so he was given the name of Su (good) Pārśva (side). This has also evident connection with his emblem of Svastika which stands for good and auspiciousness.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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Search found 5 books and stories containing Suparshvanatha, Suparshva-natha, Supārśvanātha, Suparsvanatha, Supārśva-nātha, Suparsva-natha; (plurals include: Suparshvanathas, nathas, Supārśvanāthas, Suparsvanathas, nāthas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Jaina Antiquities in Manikchauk (Balasore) < [Chapter 3: Survey of Jaina Antiquities in Odisha]

Iconography of Tirthankaras < [Chapter 6]

Iconography of Sasanadevis < [Chapter 6]

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Part 3 - On patriarchs < [Chapter 5]

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The twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras and their Yakṣas and Yakṣiṇīs < [Chapter 6 - Iconographic Study of Jaina Sculptural Remains]

Meaning of Tīrthaṅkara < [Chapter 1 - Introduction and Scope of the Present Study]

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Chapter I.c - The lives of the Tīrthaṅkaras < [Chapter I - Introduction]

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Appendix: Tīrthaṅkaras in Jainism—A Study