Jainism - Twelfth Tirthankat Lord Vasupujyaji

Lord Vasupujya Swami was the twelfth Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. As per Jain philosophy, he became a siddha, an enlightened soul which has demolished all of its karma. Lord Vasupujya was born to Emperor Vasupujya Raja and Queen Jaya Devi Rani at Champapuri in theIkshvaku dynasty. He was born on the fourteenth day of the Falgun Krishna month of the Hindu calendar. Emperor Padmottar ruled over Mangalavati of Ardhapushkar Island. He was a pious man devoted to divine pursuits. In later part of his life he took Diksha from Acharya Vajranabh. He reduced his tarnish of Karma by rigorous penance and divine practices and finally earned the Tirthankar-nam-and-gotra-karma and incarnated as a God in the Pranat dimension. Lord Vasupujya was the Emperor of Champa town in the Bharat sub-continent. His queen was Jaya Devi. Besides being a great warrior Emperor Vasupujya was a compassionate and charitable person. The queen was also generous and she inspired the Emperor in his charitable activities. Resurrection of Lord Vasupujya Swami The being that was Padmottar was born to Queen Jaya Devi. It is believed that when the queen was pregnant, the Emperor of Gods ascended to convey his veneration to the future Tirthankara and his mother. As Lord Indra is also known as Vasu, the new born was named Vasupujya venerated by Vasu. As Vasupujya grew he remained completely detached and indifferent towards the materialistic wants and desires of daily life. He had no attraction for the royal splendour and grandeur of the kingdom. When he became young his parents wanted him to marry but he declined. He even informed his parents that he had no intention of ascending the throne and of ruling the kingdom. He was much convinced but in spite of all persuasions from his household members, he renounced the corporeal life. He became a Shraman on the fifteenth day of the dark half of the month of Phalgun along with six hundred other persons. The intensity and passion of his divine practices was so profound that he became highly knowledgeable within one month. At that moment he was practicing under a Patal tree in a garden outside Champa town. He is credited with founding the four pronged religious ford. He also travelled to different places preaching people about religious matters. The second Vasudev, Dwiprishtaha, was his devotee. He and his brother Baldev Shrivijay vanquished Prativasudev Tark and brought his oppressive rule to an end. Shrivijay later joined the ascetic order of Bhagwan Vasupujya. Lord Vasupujya got nirvana on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Ashadh in Champa tohalf Previous Births of Vasupujya In his previous incarnation Lord Vasupujya's soul was King Padmottar. King Padmottar ruled over Mangalavati town of Ardhapushkar island. He was a person devoted to spiritual pursuits. In later part of his life he took Diksha from Acharya Vajranabh. Reducing the tarnish of Karma by penance and spiritual practices he earned the Tirthankar-nam-and-gotra-karma and incarnated as a god in the Pranat dimension. Birth of Lord Vasupujya Vasupujya was the king of Champa town in the Bharat sub-continent. His queen was Jaya Devi. Besides being a great warrior King Vasupujya was a compassionate and charitable person. The queen too was benevolent and she inspired the king in his charitable activities. The being that was Padmottar after completing his age in Pranant dimension descended into the womb of queen Jaya Devi. It was morning time and sun was shining brightly over Ganga River. On the third floor of a beautiful palace near the shore of Ganga, was King Vasupujya sitting in his deep thoughts when Queen Jaya Devi came to him and expressed her anxiousness to know the meaning of fourteen (sixteen according to Digambar Jain Sect) auspicious dreams she saw early in the morning. King was very happy and explained that these dreams are seen by a women who is about to give birth to a pious soul, a Tirthankara. On the fourteenth day of the Falgun Krishna month of the Hindu calendar, queen Jaya Devi gave birth to a son. Naming Ceremony It is said that when the queen was pregnant, the king of gods Indra came to convey his veneration to the future Tirthankar and his mother. As Indra is also known as Vasu, the new born was named Vasupujya (venerated by Vasu). Path of Renunciation As Vasupujya grew, so grew his inherent detachment and apathy for mundane affairs. He had no attraction for the regal splendor and grandeur. When he became young his parents wanted him to marry but he declined. He even conveyed that he had no intention of ascending the throne. In spite of all persuasions from his family members, he renounced the worldly life and became a Shraman on the fifteenth day of he dark half of the month of Phalgun along with six hundred other persons. Omniscience and Nirvana After becoming a saint, Vasupujya went roaming from place to place spreading the message of peace and religion. On the second day of Magh Shukla, he came to the same place where he started his religious journey, under the same Patal Tree. And during meditation all the ghati Karmas destroyed and he attained Kevala Gyana. The second day a Samavsharan was organized in Champa town itself and light of knowledge was spreading all over. Bhagvan Vasupujya came to Dwarka. King of Dwarka was Dwiprishtha, brother of Vasupujya ji and his one of the devotees. He came to Vasupujya ji and asked him that why did he had to kill the neighboring king Tarak. On this Bhagvan Vasupujya ji told him that in the past life he was king Parvat and there was a very beautiful girl in your kingdom, Gunmanjari. Your neighbouring king was Vindyashakti who was very powerful and cruel. He asked the girl from you and you refused to do so. He attacked your kingdom and you lost the battle. Being beaten you were very sad and depressed so, you took diksha and went on the path of devotion and meditation. But even then you could not forget and forgive Vindyashakti. So, in the next birth you became what you are today and he became King Tarak. This is why, you killed him. Hearing all this Dwiprishtha went on the feet’s of Vasupujya and took Diksha from him joined his divine army. Bhagavan Vasupujya got Nirvana in Champa town on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Ashad (according to Hindu Calendar).