Bhagavan Parshvanaath

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In Jain religion among the twenty four Tirthankars, the first and the last were Bhagavan Rishabhadeva and Bhagavan Mahavir respectively. The twenty third Tirthankar was Bhagavan Parshva Naath. There is no doubt that Bhagavan Parshva Naath was a historical personage. His historicity is accepted by all historians. He was born about three thousand years back in Varanasi (Kashi), the famous religious city in eastern India. Of the twenty four Tirthankars, Parshva Naath is the most popular Tirthankar specially recognized for his miraculous influence even today. To his name no other Tirthankar has a larger number of old and new temples, Stotras (panegyrics), Stutis (prayers), mantras and devotional songs than those devoted to Bhagavan Parshva Naath. Among men, women, young and old the name of Bhagavan Parshva Naath is as pious and blissful as that of Ganesh, the giver of wealth and power; Hanuman, the remover of troubles; and Shiva, the instantly benevolent. This is the reason that one of his names is Chintamani (the wish-fulfilling gem) Parshva Naath. Besides Jains, thousands of non-Jains also worship and adore Bhagavan Parshva Naath. This book contains the story of the compassionate and beneficent life of Bhagavan Parshva Naath including his nine earlier births. It teaches us that one who forgives is great. Forgiveness makes a soul pure and pious.