Suparshvanatha ( ), also known as Suparà Âva, was the seventh Jain Tërthankara of the present age (avasarpini). He was born to King Pratistha and Queen Prithvi at Varanasi on 12 Jestha Shukla in the Ikshvaku clan. He is said to have attained moksha at Shikharji on the sixth day of the dark half of the month of PhÃÂlguna.
Suparà ÂvanÃÂtha was the seventh Jain Tërthankara of the present age (avasarpini). He was born to King Pratishtha and Queen Prithvi at Varanasi on 12 Jestha Shukla in the Ikshvaku clan. There is temple dedicated to Suparshvanatha built in Bhadaini, Varanasi to commemorate the birth of Suparshvanatha. Nine months before the birth of Suparà ÂvanÃÂtha, Queen Prithivë dreamt the sixteen most auspicious dreams.
His height is mentioned as 200 dhanusha. He is said to have lived for 2,000,000 purva. Suparà ÂvanÃÂtha spent 5 lakh pà «rva as youth (kumÃÂra kÃÂla) and ruled His kingdom for 14 lakh pà «rva and 20 pà «rvÃÂá¹Âga (rÃÂjya kÃÂla). Suparà ÂvanÃÂtha was married and ruled after his father King Pratistha. He conducted affairs in state and looked after well being of individual.
According to Jain legends, When he observed tree leaves falling and flower wilting, he renounced his worldly life. He gave his kingdom to his son and became a Jain ascetic. After 9 months and then obtained Kevala Jnana (omniscience). After a many years of spreading his knowledge, he is said to have attained nirvana at Sammed Shikharji on the sixth day of the dark half of the month of PhÃÂlguna.
According to Jain texts Balladatta Svami was the leader of the Suparà ÂvanÃÂtha disciples and 20 lakh years he also achieved nirvana.
Suparsvanatha is said to have been born 9,000 crore sagara after his predecessor, Padmaprabha. His successor, Chandraprabha, is said to have been born 900 crore sagara after him.
The Yajurveda is also said to have mentioned the name of Suparà ÂvanÃÂtha but the meaning is different. It is an epithet of God which means "All-Pure Lord".
The Mahavagga book of the Khandhaka (1. 22. 13), a Buddhist text, mentions a temple of Suparà ÂvanÃÂtha situated at Rajgir in the time of Gautama Buddha.
At Mathura, there is an old stupa with the inscription of 157 CE. This inscription records that an image of the tërthankara Aranatha was set up at the stupa built by the gods. However, Somadeva Suri stated in Yashstilaka and Jinaprabha Suri in Vividha Tirtha Kalpa that the stupa was erected for Suparà ÂvanÃÂtha.
Svayambhà «stotra by Acharya Samantabhadra is the adoration of twenty-four Tërthankaras. Its five slokas (aphorisms) are dedicated to Tërthankara Suparà ÂvanÃÂtha.
Suparshvanatha is associated with Nandavarta (Dig.) & Svastika (Svet.) emblem, Sirisa tree, Varanandin (Dig.) & Matanga (Svet.) Yaksha and Kali (Dig.) & Santa (Svet.) Yakshi.
Supasnath Chariyam was compiled during reign of Mokkhal in 1422-23 at Dilwara.
Suparshvanatha is usually depicted in a lotus or kayotsarga posture. Statues and paintings show his head shielded by a multi-headed serpent, fanned out like an umbrella.
Serpent-hood iconography is not unique to Suparshvanatha; it is also found above the icons of Parshvanatha, the 23rd of the 24 tirthankaras, but with a small difference. Suparshvanatha's serpent hood has five heads, and a seven (or more)-headed serpent is found in Parshvanatha icons. Statues of both tirthankaras with serpent hoods have been found in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, dating to the 5th to 10th centuries.
Unlike Parshvantha who is depicted with coils of snake behind the body, Suparshva is depicted with snake hood only overhead. Suparshva's emblem of swastika is carved (or stamped) beneath his legs as an icon identifier.