Ajitanatha

Ajitanatha (lit. invincible) was the second tirthankara of the present age, avasarpini (half time cycle) according to Jainism. He was born to king Jitashatru and Queen Vijaya at Ayodhya in the Ikshvaku dynasty. He was a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.

In Jain texts
Ajitnatha (lit. invincible) was the second tirthankara of the present age, avasarpini (half time cycle in Jain cosmology) according to Jainism.

Ajitnatha was born in the town of Saketa to King Jitashatru and Queen Vijaya at Ayodhya (Vinita-Saketa) in the Ikshvaku dynasty on magha-shukla-dashmi (the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Magha). His height was 450 dhanusha. He lived for a span of 72 lakh purva.

According to Hemachandra, he was named Ajita because the king father was unable to defeat his mother in gambling until he was in her womb. Uttarapurana, a Digambara text, explains that he was named Ajita because he could not be defeated by sins or all heretics.

He attained kevala jnana under the saptaparna tree (Alstonia scholaris) and Moksha on chaitra-shukla-panchmi (fifth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra) from Shikharji.

He had 90 Ganadharas and Simhasena was his chief among them. Falgu (according to Swetambara tradition) or Prakubja (according to Digambara tradition) was a chief of the his order of the nuns.

The Yajurveda mentions the name of Ajitanatha, but the meaning is not clear. According to Jain traditions, his younger cousin brother was Sagara. Sagara, who became the second Chakravartin, is known from the traditions of both Hindu and Jain scriptures.

Iconography
Swetambara as well as Digambara sects consider his complexion golden and elephant as his symbol. He is associated with saptaparna tree; Mahayaksha as attendant Yaksha; and Ajita (as per Swetambra) or Rohini (as per Digambara) as attendant Yakshis. The elephant, symbol of Ajitanatha, is a vahana (mount) of the Mahayakshya and Ajita Yakshi seems named after Ajitanatha.

Literature

 * The Ajitha purana, by Ranna narrates the story of Ajitanatha.
 * Ajitashanti Stotra compiled by Nandisena in 7th century is a praise to Ajitnatha and Shantinatha.

Major temples

 * Taranga Jain Temple
 * Vasai Jain Temple in Bhadresar
 * Bandhaji
 * Chaturmukha Basadi, Gerusoppa
 * Bateshwar Jain Temple, Agra
 * Ajitnathji Jain Temple, Pal gam, Surat, Gujarat