Chandraprabha

Chandraprabha () or Chandranatha is the eighth of Jainism in the present age (). According to traditional accounts, he was born to King Mahasena and Queen Lakshmana Devi at Chandrapuri to the Ikshvaku dynasty. According to Jain texts, his birth-date was the twelfth day of the Posh Krishna month of the Indian calendar. He is said to have become a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.

Jain biography Chandraprabha was the eighth Jain Tīrthankara of the present age (avasarpini). He was born to King Mahasena and Queen Lakshmana Devi at Chandrapuri, Varanasi on 12th day month Pausa in the Ikshvaku clan. Nine months before the birth of Chandraprabha, Queen Lakshmana Devi dreamt the sixteen most auspicious dreams. Mahasena named Tirthankar Chandraprabha because of his complexion was white as moon. According to Uttarapurana, Indra named him Chandraprabha because at his birth the earth and night-lotus were blossomed.

Chandraprabha's height is mentioned as 150 dhanusha. He is said to have lived for 1,000,000 purva. He spent 2 lakh pūrva as youth (kumāra kāla) and ruled His kingdom for 6 lakh pūrva and 24 pūrvāṇga (rājya kāla). During his rule, Chandraprabhu was apathetic towards the ordinary delights and princely grandeur. He decided to renounced his worldly life, soon after his ascension to throne and after 3 months he obtained Kevala Jnana (omniscience) while mediating under Naga tree.

After a many years of spreading his knowledge, he is said to have attained nirvana at Sammed Shikharji on the seventh day of the bright half of the month of faalgun.

Chandraprabha is said to have been born 900 crore sagara after his predecessor, Suparsvanatha. His successor, Pushpadanta, is said to have been born 90 crore sagara after him.

The yaksha and yakshi of Shantinatha are Śyāma and Jvālāmālinī according to Digambara tradition and Vijaya and Bhṛkuṭi according to Śvētāmbara tradition.

According to Digambara Vaidarbha Svami and Varuṉā were the chief Ganadhara and Aryika of the Chandraprabha disciples and Dinna and Vāruṇī according to Śvētāmbara.

Legacy Worship Jinastotrāņi is a collection of hymn dedicated to Chandraprabha along with Munisuvrata, Neminatha, Shantinatha, Mahavira, Parshvanatha and Rishabhanatha.

Svayambhūstotra by Acharya Samantabhadra is the adoration of twenty-four Tīrthankaras. Its five slokas (aphorisms) are dedicated to Tīrthankara Chandraprabha.

Chandraprabha is associated with crescent moon emblem, Naga tree, Vijya or Śyāma (Dig.) & Vijya (Svet.) Yaksha and Jwalamalini (Dig.) & Bhṛkuṭi (Svet.) Yakshi.

In literature Chandraprabha-charitra composed by Haribhadra is an adoration to Chandraprabha. Chandraprabha is mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures.

Iconography

Chandraprabha is usually depicted in a lotus or kayotsarga posture, with a crescent moon symbol beneath him; each tīrthankara has a distinct emblem, which allows worshippers to distinguish similar idols. Like all tirthankaras, he is depicted with a Shrivatsa and downcast eyes.

The earliest known sculpture of Chandraprabha was installed by Maharajadhiraja Ramagupta of Gupta dynasty in 4th century CE. Chandraprabha has been popular amongst Jain everywhere in India. The iconography of Chandraprabha is particularly popular in Eastern India in Bihar, Bengal and Orissa. Sculptures of Chandraprabha were also popular in Jain temples, Deogarh, Khajuraho Jain temples and Sonagiri.

Ancient artifacts and idols Archaeological excavations of the Hansi hoard from the Asigarh Fort in Haryana yielded 58 bronze idols, prominently featuring depictions of Chandraprabha. Dating to the 8th and 9th centuries CE, these specific artifacts demonstrate the active veneration of these before the collection was hastily buried to protect it from Ghaznavid invasions. The inclusion of these bronzes within the hoard provides critical evidence of their localized worship in early medieval northern India.

Colossal statue Guru mandir in Mandaragiri houses a monolithic statue of Chandraprabha.

Main temples

Numerous Jain temple complexes across India are dedicated to Chandraprabha.

Places of birth and liberation According to Jain tradition, Chandraprabha was born in Chandrapuri (located near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh), making the city a traditional geographic center for his veneration.

In Jainism, Sammed Shikharji (located on Parasnath Hill in Jharkhand) serves as the geographical location where 20 of the 24 attained liberation. According to Jain texts, Chandraprabha attained ultimate spiritual liberation at this site alongside 1,000 other ascetic monks. The specific hilltop shrine () dedicated to his liberation is known as . Instead of a traditional idol, this tonk enshrines his footprints (), which are actively worshipped by pilgrims from both the and sects.

Other temples

In central India, Sonagiri in Madhya Pradesh serves as a major (place of salvation) for Jains, who also refer to it as . The site comprises 103 temples, with 77 located on the hill and 26 in the village below. Its principal deity () is a rock-cut image of Chandraprabha dating to the 5th or 6th century.

In northern and western India, the Tijara Jain temple in Rajasthan is a prominent shrine dedicated to him, while the historic Jaisalmer Fort houses a dedicated Chandraprabhu temple within its complex. Other temples in western India include shrines at the Pavagadh hill complex, the Lunwa Jain temple, and sites in Chandravati and Veraval in Gujarat.

In southern India, the Saavira Kambada Basadi (Thousand Pillared Temple) in Moodabidri, Karnataka, was constructed in 1430 CE and remains a significant architectural and religious center and is also known as Jain Kashi. Other notable shrines in Karnataka include the Dharmasthala Temple and the site at Mandaragiri. In Tamil Nadu, the Vijayamangalam Jain temple was constructed around 678 CE during the reign of King Konguvelir of the Velir dynasty. Additional southern complexes include the Kumbakonam Jain Temple in Tamil Nadu and the Jainimedu Jain temple in Palakkad, Kerala.

Chandraprabha

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