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Illustrated Tirthankar
Charitra |
Up-pravartak
Shri Amar Muni |
Word �Nath� : A Study
A misconception prevails that the suffix �Nath� with
the names of many Tirthankars is the influence of the �Nath� sect of
Yogis. It is baseless as the founder of the Nath sect, Matsyendranth
belonged to the 800 A.D. The suffix Nath is found in much earlier Jain
works like Bhagavati Sutra and Avashyak Sutra. Yati Vrishabhacharya in his
Tiloyana Pannats has also used this suffix (400 A..D). As such it appears
that it was Matsyendra who was influenced by the popularity of Neminath
and Parshvanath and started using the suffix Nath.
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