63 Shalaka Purush (English) – The Jainsite World's Largest Jain Website

63 Shalaka Purush

In the Jain tradition there are

sixty three highly endowed

people who are known as

Shalaka Purush or great men.

These are the souls that are

bhavyaas and are born in every Kalpa-

1/2 cycle of time (avisarpini and utsarpini)

and attain Moksha either in the same birth

or with in one or two births.

They are 24 Tirthankars,+ 12 Chakravaritis, +9 Baldevs, +9 Vasudevs,+ 9 Prativasudevs.

A study of these worthy

beings enables

one to understand,

absorb and assimilate

Jain teachings in one’s life.

Baladevas, Vasudevas and the Prativasudevas are three heroes

who appear always simultaneously,

and that too on the

whole nine times

in a world-period.

Baladeva and Vasudeva

are half-brothers,

sons of a king from

different wives,

the Prativasudeva

is their antagonist.

24 Tirthankaras

In Jainism, a Tirthankar:

“Fordmaker or Propagator”;

also Tirthankara or Jina)

is a human being who achieves

enlightenment (perfect knowledge)

through asceticism and who then

becomes a role-model teacher

for those seeking spiritual guidance.

A Tirthankar is a special sort arihant,

who establishes the fourfold religious

order consisting of monks, nuns,

laymen and laywomen after

achieving omniscience.

After achieving enlightenment,

a Tirthankar shows others

the path to enlightenment.

At the end of his human life- span,

a Tirthankar achieves liberation

(‘moksh’ or nirvan”), ending the cycle

of infinite births and deaths.

Jains believe that exactly twenty four

Tirthankars are born in each half cycle

of time in this part of the universe.

As Tirthankars direct

us to enlightenment,

their statues are worshipped

in Jain temples

by Jains aspiring to

achieve enlightenment.

Tirthankars are not God or gods.

Jainism does not believe

in the existence of God

in the sense of a creator,

but in gods as beings,

superior to humans but,

nevertheless, not fully enlightened.

Twenty-one of the Tirthakaras

are said to have attained Moksha

in the Kayotsarga

(standing meditation)

posture; Rishabha, Nemi;

and Mahavira on the padmasana

(lotus throne poisture).

The 24 Tirthankaras who

achieved liberation

(‘moksha or nirvana”),

ending the cycle of infinite

births and deaths,

are considered to be the

creator of Jain religion.

They are divine elements of Jainism.

They have attained all the

achievement of ultimate nature

including the ultimate knowledge

after making vigirous efforts.

1.Shri Aadinath Bhagwan

2.Shri Ajitnath Bhagwan

3.Shri Sambhavnath Bhagwan

4.Shri Abhinandan Swami

5.Shri Sumtinath Bhagwan

6.Shri Padmaprabh Swami

7. Shri Suparshwanath Bhagwan

8.Shri ChandraPrabh Swami

9.Shri Suvidhinath Bhagwan

10.Shri Shitalnath Bhagwan

11.Shri Shreyansnath Bhagwan

12.Shri Vasupujya Swami

13.Shri Vimalnath Bhagwan

14.Shri Anantnath Bhagwan

15.Shri Dharmanath Bhagwan

16.Shri Shantinath Bhagwan

17.Shri Kunthunath Bhagwan

18.Shri Arnath Bhagwan

19.Shri Mallinath Bhagwan

20.Shri Munisuvrat Swami

21.Shri Naminath Bhagwan

22.Shri Neminath Bhagwan

23.Shri Parshwanth Bhagwan

24.Shri Mahavir Swami

12 Chakravarti

Chakravartis are emperors who rule

over a part of the world (Bharata- and having six parts).

Their life is embellished with similar features like those of the Tirthankaras.

Every Chakarvartl obtains his high rank on account of good actions done in earlier existences and on account of a Nidana, ie. a wish which is passionately cherished in an earlier life.

He is born in the royal family of Iksvaku, grows in comp and glory and is experienced in all arts and sciences.

Having beauty and powe, being brave and clever,

he is embellished with 36 insignias of mind and body.

After vanquishing all the opponents in battle,

he conquers the world;

served and praised by gods and genii,

he is anointed emperor.

He rules for a long period and powerfully, enjoying all the pleasures with his many wives and treasures which the earth can offer.

The end of the life of Chakravartls is very different. Whereas some renounce the world or even become Tirthankaras (like the 16th. 17th and 18th Chakravartis of this world-period) and get redemption, others come to theaven of gods after their death, and some others fall into hell on account of their bad actions.

Chakravartis or their success not only to their capability and power and the support they get from their supermundane beings, but also, above all, the wonderful “gems” (Ratnas) and precious “treasures” (Nidhi) which are in their possession.

01 SHREE BHARAT CHAKRAVARTI

02 SHREE SAGAR CHAKRAVARTI

03 SHREE MADHAV CHAKRAVARTI

04 SHREE SANATKUMAR CHAKRAVARTI

05 SHREE SHANTINATH CHAKRAVARTI

06 SHREE KUNTHUNATH CHAKRAVARTI

07 SHREE AARANATH CHAKRAVARTI

08 SHREE SHUBHAM CHAKRAVARTI

09 SHREE PADMA CHAKRAVARTI

10 SHREE HARISHEN CHAKRAVARTI

11 SHREE JAY CHAKRAVARTI

9 Vasudeva

Vasudeva is a hero who appears on earth from time to time to save the world from the villain Prativasudeva.

A Vasudev in his earlier births sheds some specific karmas and determines to acquire this status.

His soul then incarnates

either in the heaven or the hell

and then is born as Vasudev.

At the time of his

conception his mother

sees seven great dreams.

His complexion is dark.

He has the strength equivalent

to 2 million octopeds

and he conquers three continents

by killing the Prativasudev.

He has 16000 kingdoms and kings under his subjugation and 8000 Gods in his attendance.

He has 16000 queens

and seven gems.

He has seven însignias:

the conch, Pancajanya,

which only he can blow, discus Sudarsana, club Kaumodakl, bow Sanga, sword Nandaka, Vanamala,

a wreath of flowers of the season and the precious stone Kaustuba. (Insignias according to Digambaras are: bow, conch, discus, sword,

scepter, Sakti and club.)

He is always accompanied by a wiser,

older and gentler elder brother

known as Baladeva.

Baladeva upholds the Jain principle of non-violence.

Vasudeva however forsakes this principle for the good of humanity as he kills the Prativasudeva.

Two very famous Vasudevas mentioned in the Jain scriptures are Lakshmana ad Krishna.

In the Jain Ramayana, the Rakshasa-

king Ravana who abducts Sita,

fe of Prince Rama of Ayodhya,

is killed by Lakshmana.

Rama refrains from doing So.

By adhering to non-violence,

he earns the more exalted rank of a Baladeva.

In the Jain Mahabharata, Krishna participates in the great Kurukshetra war supporting the Pandavas against the Kauravas to rid the world of unrighteous kings.

He thus becomes a Vasudeva.

His elder brother Sankharshana is the Baladeva because he refuses to fight the war and chooses to

renounce the world instead.

01 SHREE TRIPRUSHTHA VASHUDEV

02 SHREE DWIPRUSHTHA VASHUDEV

03 SHREE SWAYMBHU VASHUDEV

04 SHREE PURSHOTAM VASHUDEV

05 SHREE PURUSHSHINH VASHUDEV

06 SHREE PURUSH PUNDRIC VASHUDEV

07 SHREE DUTT VASHUDEV

08 SHREE LAXMAN VASHUDEV

09 SHREE KRISHNA VASHUDEV

9 Prativasudeva

If there was no Mahish-asura, the gods would not have invoked the warrior-goddess, Durga.

If there was no Tarak-asura, there would have been no need for the divine warlord, Kartikeya.

If there was no Ravana or Kansa, Ram or Krishna would not walk the earth.

Demons and villains are a integral part of mythology.

Buddhists speak of Mara,

demon of desire.

Jainism, there is Prati-vasudeva, villain to the heroic Vasudeva.

Prativasudeva is a powerful evil ruler;

his birth is announced through a dream.

They also determine their status in their earlier births and are monarchs of three continents.

Their powers are slightly lower than that of the Vasudevs.

They are necessarily killed by the Vasudevs and go to hell.

In the Jain Ramayana king Ravana (prativasudeva) who abducts Sita,

wife of Prince Rama of Ayodhya

(Earlier known as Vinita City),

is killed by Lakshmana.

Rama refrains from doing so.

By adhering to non-violence,

he earns the exalted rank

of a Baladeva.

In the Jain Mahabharata,

Krishna (Vasudev) Kills

Jarasandh (Prativasudev).

His elder brother Sankharshana/

Balbhadra is the Baladeva,

he refuses to fight the war,

renounces the world and finds release.

Since Jainism (Shraman Culture) is oldest original religion of India all other faiths including vedic were influenced by Jainism & Jain Shakalpurush.

There exist Jain Ramayan & Jain Mahabharat versions.

01 SHREE ASHWAGREEV PRATIVASHUDEV

02 SHREE TARAK PRATIVASHUDEV

03 SHREE MERAK PRATIVASHUDEV

04 SHREE MADHU PRATIVASHUDEV

05 SHREE NEESHUMBHA PRATIVASHUDEV

06 SHREE BALI PRATIVASHUDEV

07 SHREE PRAHALAD PRATIVASHUDEV

08 SHREE RAWAN PRATIVASHUDEV

09 SHREE JARASANGH PRATIVASHUDEV

9 Baldeva

Baladeva (also called Balabhadra) has a bright, white body-colour, always wears a blue-black robe and toddy palm is his banner.

His four insignias are: bow, two different clubs (Gada and Musala) and ploughshare-according to Digambaras: chain of precious stones two clubs and ploughshare.

His appearance in the world is announced by his mother by telling that she has seen four of the famous dreams.

He is elder brother of a Vasudev and has extreme attachment with his younger brother.

A Baldev’s mother sees four great dreams.

He has the strength of a million octopeds.

Four thousand gods are in his attendance.

His weapons, including mace and plough are blessed by a thousand gods each.

Because of their mutual affection Baldev and Vasudev rule jointly.

After the death of the Vasudev, Baldev becomes and ascetic and indulges n spiritual practices.

Some of them are liberated and others are reincarnated in dimensions of gods.

Two very famous Baldevas mentioned in the Jain scriptures are Prince Rama of Ayodhya and Sankharshana, the elder brother Sri krishna.