Shree Shantinatha was the sixteenth Jaintirthankar of the present age. Shree Shantinatha was born to King Visvasen and Queen Achira at Hastinapur in the Ikshvaku dynasty. His birth date is the thirteenth day of the Jyest Krishna month of the Indian calendar. He was also a Chakravartin and a Kamadeva. He ascended to throne when he was 25 years old. After over 25,000 years at the throne, he became a Jain monk and started his penance. According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.
Biography in Jain tradition
Shantinatha was the sixteenth Jain Tīrthankara of the 24 tirthankars of present age.
Life before renunciation
He was born to King Visvasen and Queen Achira at Hastinapur on 13th day of Jestha Krishna in the Ikshvaku clan. Before the birth of Shantinatha, Queen Achira dreamt the sixteen most auspicious dreams. Shantinatha spent 25,000 years as youth and married a beautiful princess. He ruled his kingdom for 50,000 years. During his rule, armoury was blessed with divine chakraratna. During his reign He conquered all 6 divisions of earth in all direction, acquiring elephant, horses, nine-fold most precious treasures and fourteen ratna. Shantinatha became the 5th Chakravartin. During his time epidemic of epilepsy broke out and he helped people to control it. Shantinath became idea of peace and tranquility by averted epidemics, fire, famine, foreign invasions, robbers etc. giving him name of Shantinath. He is also associated with special right known as Shantikarma. According to Acharya Hemachandra, epidemics, evils and misery were destroyed when Shantinatha was in his mother's womb.
Renunciation
Shantinatha when made aware of his previous incarnations renounced his worldly life and became a Jain ascetic. After sixteen year of asceticism, on the 9th bright day of month of Pausha, he achieved Kevala Jnana under a nandi tree. According to Jain text, Shantinatha during his penance neither taken sleep nor food. After achieving Kevala Jnana he visited Somanasapur, and was offered first ahara food by King Dharma Mitra and his wife. He is said to have lived 1 lakh year and spend many years spreading his knowledge. On 13th day of the dark half of the month Jyestha, he attained nirvana at Sammed Shikharji, known contemporaneously as the Parasnath Hills in northern Jharkhand. The yaksha and yakshi of Shantinatha are Kimpurusha and Mahamanasi according to Digambara tradition and Garuda and Nirvani according to Śvētāmbara tradition.
Vajrayudh Chakri, the son of Tirthankar Kshemanakar in East Mahvideha
Heavenly deva in Navgraivayak heaven
Megharath, the son of Dhanarath in East Mahavideh in the area where Simandhar Swami is moving at present
Heavenly deva in Sarvartha Siddha Heaven
Disciples
According to Jain textsCakrayudha Svami was the leader of the Shantinatha disciples.
Legacy
Worship
Along with Rishabhanatha, Neminatha, Parshvanatha and Mahavira, Shantinatha is one of the five tirthankars who attract the most devotional worship among the Jains. According to Santistava compiled by Acharya Manadevasuri, the head of Shvetambar in 3rd century AD, mere recitation of Shantinath negates all bad omens, brings peace and protect devotees from problems. Santistava is considered one of the four most beautifully written stavans. The Laghnu-Shantistavaa, compiled by Acharya Manadevi suri in 7th century, is hymn to Shantinatha full of tantric usage. The yakshi Nirvani devi is also known as Shanti-devi and prayed to with Shantinatha for peace.
Literature
The Shantinatha Charitra, by Acharya Ajitprabhasuri, describes the life of 16th Jain tirthankara Shantinatha. This text is the oldest example of miniature painting and has been declared as a global treasure by UNESCO.
Santyastaka is a hymn in Praise of Śāntinātha composed by Acharya Pujyapada in 5th century.
Ajitasanti compiled by Nandisena in 7th century is a praise to Shantinatha and Ajitnatha.
Santikara compiled by Munisundarasuri in 15th century.
Mahapurusha Charitra compiled by Merutunga in 13th-14th century, talks about Shantinatha.
Iconography
Shantinatha is usually depicted in a sitting or standing meditative posture with the symbol of a deer or antelope beneath him. Every Tīrthankara has a distinguishing emblem that allows worshippers to distinguish similar-looking idols of the Tirthankaras. The deer or antelope emblem of shantinath is usually carved below the legs of the Tirthankara. Like all Tirthankaras, Shantinath is depicted with Shrivatsa and downcast eyes.
