Paranath or Parasnath Avtar is a composition, within
Rudra Avtar
Rudra Avtar (Gurmukhi: ਰੁਦਰ ਅਵਤਾਰ) is an epic poem under the title ''Ath Rudra Avtar Kathan''(n) ''.'' It was written by Guru Gobind Singh. It was included in ''Dasam Granth Sahib'', which is considered to be the second-most im ...
, written by
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh (; 22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708), born Gobind Das or Gobind Rai the tenth Sikh Guru, a spiritual master, warrior, poet and philosopher. When his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was executed by Aurangzeb, Guru Gobind ...
, which is present in
Dasam Granth
The ''Dasam Granth'' (Gurmukhi: ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ''dasama gratha'') is a collection of various manuscripts in Sikhism containing compositions attributed to Guru Gobind Singh. . There are 358 Channds. The composition is about the life history of Parasnath and his discourse with
Matsyendranath
Matsyendranātha, also known as Matsyendra, Macchindranāth, Mīnanātha and Minapa (early 10th century) was a saint and yogi in a number of Buddhist and Hindu traditions. He is traditionally considered the revivalist of hatha yoga as well ...
. The composition is succeeded with
Sabad Patshahi 10
Sabad Patshahi 10 (Gurmukhi: ਸ਼ਬਦ ਹਜ਼ਾਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ ੧੦'','' also known as the Shabad Hazare Padishah), under the title Shabad ( pa, ਸਬਦ), are ten religious hymns composed by Guru Gobind Singh that ar ...
. Unlike Chandi Charitar and Krishna Avtar, the source of narration of Parasnath Avtar is not any of the 36 Puranas.
[Dasam Granth, S.S. Kapoor, Page 17] This narration is most likely about the 23rd
Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English language, English: literally a 'Ford (crossing), ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''Dharma (Jainism), dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the ...
,
Parshwanath
''Parshvanatha'' (), also known as ''Parshva'' () and ''Parasnath'', was the 23rd of 24 ''Tirthankaras'' (supreme preacher of dharma) of Jainism. He is the only Tirthankara who gained the title of ''Kalīkālkalpataru (Kalpavriksha in this "Kal ...
of
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...
. As the narration is about internal struggle, which resembles with Jainism.
Internal Struggle
This composition contains an internal contest between Bibek (or discernment) and Abibek (or ignorance), which explains the warriors of Dharma and Adharma.
[Page 185, When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition, 1699-1799, Purnima Dhavan,
Oxford University Press, Oct 25, 2011] All vices and virtues are shown in the form of warriors which fight in battle.
References
{{Reflist
Dasam Granth