# Pushpadanta

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{{short description|Ninth Tirthankara in Jainism}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Jain
| deity_of = 9th Jain [Tirthankara](/source/Tirthankara)
| image = Suvidhinath Kakandi.jpg
| caption = Idol of Tirthankar Suvidhinath at Kakandi Tirth
| venerated_in = [Jainism](/source/Jainism)
| other_names = Suvidhinatha
| symbol = [Crocodile](/source/Crocodile)
| color = [White](/source/White)
| father = Sugriva
| mother = Rama (Supriya)
| height = 100 [bows](/source/Dhanusha_(unit)) (300 meters)
| age = 200,000 purva (14.112 [quintillion](/source/names_of_large_numbers) years)
| tree = 
| predecessor = [Chandraprabha](/source/Chandraprabha)
| successor = [Shitalanatha](/source/Shitalanatha)
| birth_place = [Khukhundoo](/source/Khukhundoo), [Deoria](/source/Deoria%2C_Uttar_Pradesh)
| moksha_place = [Shikharji](/source/Shikharji)
| dynasty = [Ikṣvākuvaṁśa](/source/Solar_dynasty)
}}
{{Jainism}}
In [Jainism](/source/Jainism), '''Pushpadanta''' ({{langx|sa|पुष्पदन्त}}), also known as '''Suvidhinatha''', was the ninth [Tirthankara](/source/Tirthankara) of the present age (''[Avasarpini](/source/Avasarpini)''). According to Jain belief, he became a [siddha](/source/siddha) and an [arihant](/source/arihant_(Jainism)), a liberated soul that has destroyed all of its [karma](/source/Karma_in_Jainism).

==Life and legends==
According to Jain tradition, Pushpadanta (also widely known as Suvidhinatha) is venerated as the ninth {{lang|sa|[tirthankara](/source/tirthankara)}} of the present cosmic age ({{lang|sa|[avasarpini](/source/avasarpini)}}).{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=40}}{{sfn|Tukol|1980|p=31}} Jain universal history states that he was born into the ancient [Ikshvaku dynasty](/source/Ikshvaku_dynasty) to King Sugriva and Queen Rama in the city of Kakandi, which is identified with modern-day Khukhundoo in [Uttar Pradesh](/source/Uttar_Pradesh).{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|p=16}}{{sfn|Tukol|1980|p=31}} His birth is traditionally observed on the fifth day of the {{lang|sa|Margashirsha Krishna}} month of the [lunisolar](/source/lunisolar) Jain calendar.{{sfn|Tukol|1980|p=31}} Within the expansive framework of [Jain cosmology](/source/Jain_cosmology), texts attribute to him a symbolic lifespan of 200,000 {{lang|sa|[purva](/source/purva)s}} and a physical height of 100 bows ([dhanusha](/source/Dhanusha_(unit))s).{{sfn|Wiley|2009|p=240}}{{sfn|Finegan|1952|p=190}}

A significant theological milestone attributed to Pushpadanta in Jain narratives is his re-establishment of the four-part monastic order ({{lang|sa|[sangha](/source/sangha)}}) originally founded by [Rishabhanatha](/source/Rishabhanatha).{{sfn|Jaini|1998|p=30}} After ruling his kingdom, traditional accounts describe him renouncing worldly attachments to become an [ascetic](/source/ascetic), eventually attaining omniscience ({{lang|sa|[Kevala Jnana](/source/Kevala_Jnana)}}).{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|p=16}} Following his period of preaching, he ultimately achieved liberation from the cycle of rebirth ({{lang|sa|[moksha](/source/moksha)}}) on the sacred peaks of Mount [Shikharji](/source/Shikharji) in modern-day [Jharkhand](/source/Jharkhand).{{sfn|Cort|2001a|p=23}}

Pushpadanta is said to have been born 90 {{lang|sa|crore sagara}} after his predecessor, [Chandraprabha](/source/Chandraprabha).{{sfn|Finegan|1952|p=190}} His successor, [Shitalanatha](/source/Shitalanatha), is said to have been born 9 {{lang|sa|crore sagara}} after him.{{sfn|Finegan|1952|p=190}}

==Iconography==
In [Jain art](/source/Jain_art) and [sculpture](/source/sculpture), Pushpadanta is traditionally depicted in a meditative posture and is distinctly identified by his white physical complexion.{{sfn|Titze|Bruhn|1998|p=250}} He is explicitly recognized by his unique iconographic emblem, the [crocodile](/source/crocodile) or [alligator](/source/alligator) ({{lang|sa|Makara}}), which is typically carved or stamped onto the pedestal beneath his idols.{{sfn|Umakant P. Shah|1987|p=143}} As with all {{lang|sa|tirthankaras}}, he is depicted alongside his dedicated guardian deities ({{lang|sa|Shashan-devatas}}). According to both the {{lang|sa|[Digambara](/source/Digambara)}} and {{lang|sa|Śvētāmbara}} traditions, his accompanying male guardian deity ({{lang|sa|[yaksha](/source/yaksha)}}) is Ajita.{{sfn|Umakant P. Shah|1987|pp=143–144}}{{sfn|Tandon|2002|p=44}} However, sectarian texts differ regarding his female guardian ({{lang|sa|[yakshi](/source/yakshi)}}), with the {{lang|sa|Digambara}} sect identifying her as Mahakali and the {{lang|sa|Śvētāmbara}} sect identifying her as Sutaraka (or Sutari).{{sfn|Umakant P. Shah|1987|pp=143–144}}{{sfn|Tandon|2002|p=44}}
==Temples and legacy==
As the ninth {{lang|sa|tirthankara}}, Pushpadanta is venerated across the [Indian subcontinent](/source/Indian_subcontinent).{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=40}} The ancient site of Kakandi (modern Khukhundoo in the [Deoria district](/source/Deoria_district) of [Uttar Pradesh](/source/Uttar_Pradesh)), traditionally identified in Jain universal history as his royal birthplace, serves as a significant historical and geographic center for his worship.{{sfn|Tandon|2002|p=45}} The Kakandi Jain Tirth remains an important pilgrimage destination that commemorates his early life and renunciation.{{sfn|Tandon|2002|p=45}} Furthermore, marking the geographic site of his ultimate spiritual liberation, a dedicated shrine ({{lang|sa|tonk}}) enshrining his footprints ({{lang|sa|charan}}) is actively venerated by pilgrims on the peaks of Mount [Shikharji](/source/Shikharji).{{sfn|Cort|2001a|p=23}}

==See also==
{{commons cat}}
*[God in Jainism](/source/God_in_Jainism)
*[Jainism and non-creationism](/source/Jainism_and_non-creationism)

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
* {{citation |last=Cort |first=John E. |author-link=John E. Cort |title=Jains in the World : Religious Values and Ideology in India |url={{Google books|PZk-4HOMzsoC|plainurl=yes}} |year=2001a |publisher=[Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press) |isbn=978-0-19-513234-2 }}
* {{citation |last=Dundas |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Dundas |title=The Jains |url={{Google Books|X8iAAgAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes}} |edition=Second |date=2002 |orig-year=1992 |publisher=[Routledge](/source/Routledge) |isbn=0-415-26605-X |location=[London](/source/London) and [New York](/source/New_York_City) }}
* {{citation |last=Finegan |first=Jack |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ae4nAAAAYAAJ |title=The archeology of world religions |publisher=[Princeton University Press](/source/Princeton_University_Press) |year=1952 }}
* {{citation |last=Jaini |first=Padmanabh S. |author-link=Padmanabh Jaini |title=The Jaina Path of Purification |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wE6v6ahxHi8C |date=1998 |orig-year=1979 |publisher=[Motilal Banarsidass](/source/Motilal_Banarsidass) |location=[Delhi](/source/Delhi) |isbn=81-208-1578-5 }}
* {{citation |last=Shah |first=Natubhai |title=Jainism: The World of Conquerors |url={{Google Books|qLNQKGcDIhsC|plainurl=yes}} |volume=I |date=2004 |orig-year=First published in 1998 |publisher=[Motilal Banarsidass](/source/Motilal_Banarsidass) |isbn=81-208-1938-1 |ref={{sfnref|Natubhai Shah|2004}} }}
* {{citation |last=Shah |first=Umakant Premanand |author-link=Umakant Premanand Shah |title=Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography |url={{Google books|m_y_P4duSXsC|plainurl=yes}} |date=1987 |publisher=[Abhinav Publications](/source/Abhinav_Publications) |isbn=81-7017-208-X |ref={{sfnref|Umakant P. Shah|1987}} }}
* {{citation |last=Tandon |first=Om Prakash |author-link=Om Prakash Tandon |title=Jaina Shrines in India |publisher=[Publications Division](/source/Publications_Division), [Ministry of Information and Broadcasting](/source/Ministry_of_Information_and_Broadcasting_(India)), [Government of India](/source/Government_of_India) |isbn=81-230-1013-3 |date=2002 |orig-year=1968 |edition=1 |location=[New Delhi](/source/New_Delhi) }}
* {{citation |last1=Titze |first1=Kurt |last2=Bruhn |first2=Klaus |title=Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence |url={{Google books|loQkEIf8z5wC|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=[Motilal Banarsidass](/source/Motilal_Banarsidass) |edition=2 |year=1998 |isbn=978-81-208-1534-6 }}
* {{citation |last=Tukol |first=T. K. |title=Compendium of Jainism |publisher=University of Karnataka |year=1980 |location=Dharwad }}
* {{citation |last=Wiley |first=Kristi L. |title=The A to Z of Jainism |url={{Google books|cIhCCwAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes}} |date=2009 |orig-year=1949 |volume=38 |publisher=[Scarecrow Press](/source/Scarecrow_Press) |isbn=978-0-8108-6337-8 }}

{{Jain Gods}}
{{Jainism topics}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Tirthankaras
Category:Solar dynasty

{{India-reli-bio-stub}}
{{Jainism-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pushpadanta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushpadanta) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushpadanta?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.