4 Jain Tirthankaras born in Varanasi (original) (raw)

VARANASI: The Jain

literature

refers to Kashi as a

Jain

Tirtha (holy place), as four of

Jain Tirthankaras

were born here. According to Jain tradition, Kashi is the birthplace of Suparshvanath, Chandraprabhu, Shreyanshnath and Parshvanath -- the 7th, 8th, 11th, and 23rd Tirthankaras -- respectively.
According to professor of Cultural Geography and Heritage Studies, Banaras Hindu University, Rana PB Singh, the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanath, who lived in the 8th century BCE, was born near the mythical tank of Dandakhata which is presently identified with the Jain temple in Bhelupura area, known as Parshvanath temple.

The birthplace of Suparshvanath, the 7th Tirthankara, is also described in Jain literature though its location and identification have still not been confirmed, said Singh. The temple of Suparshvanath in Bhadaini (house no-B2/89) is adjacent to the Svetambara Jain temple (house no-B3/78).
It is believed that the present Jain temple in Sarnath was built to commemorate the birthplace of Shreyanshanath, the 11th Tirthankara. He was born in the nearby village of Simhapur. The birthplace of the 8th Tirthankara Chandraprabhu is identified with Chandravati, which is an ancient village on Varanasi-Ghazipur Road.