Anantanath

Anantanath was the 14th tirthankar among the 24 Jain Tirthankars. His emblem is Bear or Hawk. Born for Simhasena, the king of Ayodhya, and the queen Suyasha Devi on the thirteenth day of the dark half of the month of Vaishakh, his real name was Anant (endless) Kumar.

After gaining throne from his father, he ruled his kingdom for several years and then became an ascetic. Anantanath became an omniscient under an Ashok tree on the fourteenth day of the dark half of the month of Vaishakh.

He attained Nirvana at Mount Parasnath on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra. He had a total number of 50 disciples. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Anathanath at Ayodhya.

[Source All India (121) 03-May-05]