Vasupujya

Vasupujya
12th Tirthankara
Vasupujya Swami at Vataman
Other names	Shri Vasupujya Swami Bhagwan
Venerated in	Jainism
Predecessor	Shreyansanatha
Successor	Vimalanatha
Symbol	Buffalo
Height	70 bows (210 metres)
Age	7,200,000 years
Color	Red
Genealogy
Born	Champapur
Died	Champapur
Parents	Vasupujya (father) Jaya (Vijaya) (mother)

Vasupujya is the twelfth tirthankara in Jainism of the avasarpini (present age). According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Vasupujya was born to King Vasupujya and Queen Jaya Devi at Champapuri in the Ikshvaku dynasty. His birth date was the fourteenth day of the Falgun Krishna month of the Indian calendar. He never married and remained a celibate. He attained Kevala Jnana within one month of Tapsya and Moksha at Champapuri, of Bihar in India on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Ashadh.

Biography

Vasupujya Swami was the 12th tirthankara in Jainism of the Avasarpini (present age). According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Vasupujya was born to King Vasupujya and Queen Jaya Devi at Champapuri in the Ikshvaku dynasty. His birth date was the fourteenth day of the Falgun Krishna month of the Indian calendar. He attained Kevala Jnana within one month of Tapsya and Moksha at Champapuri, Bhagalpur in India on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Ashadh.

The second Vasudeva, Dwiprishtaha, was his devotee. He and his brother Baldeva Shrivijay conquered Prativasudeva Tark and brought his oppressive rule to an end. Shrivijay later joined the ascetic order of Lord Vasupujya.

Temples

• Jain temple, Alleppey, Kerala
• Shri Vasupujya Swami Shwetambar Jain Temple, Ernakulam
• Champapuri
• Shri Atma Vallabh Jain Smarak

Statue

The tallest statue of Vasupujya, 31 feet in height, was inaugurated at Nathnagar Temple, Champapuri, Bhagalpur, Bihar in 2014. The statue was constructed and donated by Smt Sona Devi Sethi Charitable Trust, based at Phulchand Sethi complex Dimapur.

See also

• God in Jainism
• Arihant (Jainism)
• Jainism and non-creationism

Sources

• Johnson, Helen M. (1931), Vasupujyacaritra (Book 4.2 of the Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra), Baroda Oriental Institute
• Tukol, T. K. (1980), Compendium of Jainism, Dharwad: University of Karnataka
• Tandon, Om Prakash (2002) [1968], Jaina Shrines in India (1 ed.), New Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, ISBN 81-230-1013-3