Stamp to be Issued in Honor of Tirthankara Parshvanath

Udaipur : The Government of India will issue a commemorative stamp to mark the 2900th birth anniversary and 2800th nirvana anniversary of the 23rd Tirthankara of Jainism, Lord Parshvanath.

BJP MP from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Brijmohan Agrawal, requested the Union Minister of Communications and Northeast Development, Jyotiraditya Scindia, who informed about this through a letter dated September 11, 2024. Notably, the Jain community had earlier requested Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to issue a commemorative stamp on Tirthankara Parshvanath.

Shraman Dr. Pushpendra stated that the life of Tirthankara Parshvanath is considered an ideal of non-violence and compassion. For 70 years, he awakened and enlightened all beings by waving the flag of non-violence throughout India. By eliminating superstitions, malpractices, and rigidities, he lit the lamp of right faith in every household and showed the path of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, and non-possession. The issuance of a stamp on him is a matter of joy and pride for the entire Jain community.

It may be noted that the 2900th birth anniversary of Tirthankara Bhagwan Shri Parshvanath will be celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country on December 25, 2024 (Paush Krishna Dashami).

It is noteworthy that the first stamp on Jainism was issued by the government on May 6, 1935, which featured a picture of the Shetalnath Jain Temple in Calcutta. This temple, built in 1868, is famous for its artistic work of mirrors and enameling on its walls and ceiling (stamp-2). This 1-114 anna stamp was part of a set of four stamps of temples and pilgrimage sites issued to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V’s reign.