Article: Saṃbhava
Contributed by Jasmine Kelly
Saṃbhavanātha or Lord Saṃbhava is the third of the 24 Jinas of the present cycle of time.
The word Jina means 'victor' in Sanskrit. A Jina is an enlightened human being who has triumphed over karma through practising extreme asceticism and teaches the way to achieve liberation. A Jina is also called a Tīrthaṃkara or 'ford-maker' in Sanskrit – that is, one who has founded a community after reaching omniscience.
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Story and images
Horse
Image by British Library © CC0 1.0 (Creative Commons Public Domain)
There is no historical evidence of Saṃbhava’s existence but traditional writings recount his life as following the usual career of a Jina. Tradition holds that he was born in Śrāvastī and achieved liberation on Mount Sammeta, also known as Pārasnātha Hill.
Saṃbhava’s symbolic colour is gold and his emblem the horse.
Like all Jinas, Saṃbhava has a pair of spiritual attendants, often shown in art. His yakṣa is Trimukha. Digambaras call his yakṣī Prajñapti while Śvetāmbaras call her Duritāri.
Related Manuscripts
Text
Victoria and Albert Museum. IM 7-1931. Unknown author. Circa 1490
Folio with decorated borders
British Library. Or. 14262. Unknown author. Perhaps 15th century
Related Manuscript Images
Twenty Jinas
British Library. Or. 11921. Unknown author. 1488
Back cover - omniscience of a Jina
Wellcome Trust Library. Gamma 3. Unknown author. 1503
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