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Tirthankaras · Number 7/24

Suparshvanatha

Shown with a serpent canopy, often mistaken for Parshvanatha — count the hoods.

Swastika
tirthankaras/tk-07-suparshvanatha.jpg · 1200×1600
Suparshvanatha, Tirthankara 7
07

The story

His name refers to the sides of the body, explained by the queen's body becoming healthy and free of affliction during the pregnancy.

His emblem, the swastika, is one of the eight auspicious symbols in Jainism. Its four arms stand for the four states of existence — heavenly, human, animal and hellish — from which the soul seeks release.

Look closely at the hoodsSuparshvanatha is the other Tirthankara shown with a serpent canopy — usually of one, five or nine hoods, while Parshvanatha usually has seven or more. Many images labelled Parshvanatha are in fact Suparshvanatha. Count the hoods, and check the emblem on the pedestal.