● Jain · Person
Parshvanatha
पार्श्वनाथ
The 23rd Tirthankara whose four vows shaped Jainism before Mahavira
Parshvanatha (c. 877–777 BCE) is the 23rd Tirthankara and the first historically attested figure in Jain tradition. Born in Varanasi, he was a prince who renounced royalty at 30 and attained omniscience after 83 days of meditation. His four great vows (ahimsa, satya, asteya, aparigraha) formed the basis Mahavira later expanded with brahmacharya as the fifth. His serpent-hood symbol represents the protection offered by the Naga king Dharanendra during a storm. The Parasnath Hill in Jharkhand is named after him.
Parshva23rd TirthankaraDharanendra's lord
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A 60-second practice
Reflect on your possessions. Which three things do you own that you are most attached to? Parshva's core teaching is aparigraha — the less you cling, the more free you become.
Best at dusk — the contemplative hour.
Keep this offering free
MyBrahman is free and ad-free for everyone. If it has given you something, dāna keeps the lamp lit.
Educational purposes only. Compiled from general reference sources and not reviewed by any religious authority. No disrespect is intended to any deity, tradition, scripture or community. For authoritative guidance, consult qualified scholars and primary texts.