Salakapurusa
Encyclopedia
According to the Jain cosmology
, Salakapurusas (illustrious or worthy persons), also known as trisastisalakapurusa (63 illustrious persons) are 63 illustrious beings who appear during each half-time cycle. The Jain universal or legendary history is a compilation of the deeds of these illustrious persons. They are 24 Tīrthaṅkaras
(ford makers), 12 Cakravartīs (universal monarchs, emperors of six continents), 9 Baladevas (gentle heroes), 9 Vāsudevas (violent heroes) and 9 Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes). According to Jainism, time is beginningless and eternal. The Kālacakra, the cosmic wheel of time, rotates ceaselessly. The wheel of time is divided into two half-rotations, Utsarpiṇī or ascending time cycle and Avasarpiṇī, the descending time cycle, occurring continuously after each other. Utsarpiṇī is a period of progressive prosperity and happiness where the time spans and ages are at an increasing scale, while Avsarpiṇī is a period of increasing sorrow and immorality with decline in time spans of the epochs. During each such time cycle, these 63 illustrious persons appear and establish the religion and order in society. According to Jain cosmology, since time is eternal, infinite kalacakras have elapsed and will occur in future and hence infinite sets of these 63 illustrious persons have appeared, and will appear, to establish order and religion in their respective eras.
, these persons are called salaka as they have been specially marked among men. This emphasised that the names of the salakapurusas were underlined or specially significant due to their deeds. John Cort also quotes another author, S. D. Parekh, who emphasises the root meaning of voting sticks and concludes that a salakapurusa is a great person, as his greatness has been accepted by general public.
The tradition of salakapurusas or Jain universal history started with the biographies of the Tirthankaras. Kalpasutra gives the names and brief biographies of only tirthankaras. It does not use the word salakapurusas or mention them by name, but does say that the categories of Arihant
s, Chakravartin
s, Balarama
s and Vasudeva
s are always born in royal families, thus foreshadowing 54 of the 63 salakapurusas. Furthermore, Jaini traces the origin of list of Baladeva and Vasudeva to the Jinacharitra (lives of the Jinas) by Bhadrabahu (3–4th century BCE).
There was no agreement in the initial texts as to the number of salakapurusas, and prativasudevas were often left out of the list of Jain heroes. Much of the raw material of the universal history can be found in the Jain Agamas
(earliest Svetambara
canonical literature some of which dates to 4th century BCE).
The following texts chronicle the deeds of the salakapurusas:
All traditions of Jainism now agree to the figure of 63 salakapurusas. However, the number of persons is 60 as three persons (Shantinath
, Kunthunath
and Aranath
) were Chakravartins who later on became Tirthankaras.
was the 24th and last Tīrthankara of the current descending time cycle and Rishabha was the first Tirthankara. Tīrthankaras are literally "the ford makers", who have shown the way to cross the ocean of re-birth and transmigration and hence have become a focus of reverence and worship amongst Jains. The Tirthankara provides all creatures with the means to liberate the soul from the confines of the body and to rise towards bliss, enlightenment and release from the eternal cycle of rebirth. He advocates continence, truth, non-violence, simplicity and purity for those who seek liberation. Tīrthankaras ultimately become Siddhas on liberation.
The twenty four Tīrthankaras of this descending time cycle are:
notes that, unlike in the Hindu Puranas, the names Baladeva and Vasudeva are not restricted to Balarama and Krishna in Jain puranas. Instead they serve as names of two distinct classes of mighty half brothers, who appear nine times in each half of the time cycles of the Jain cosmology
and jointly rule half the earth as half-chakravarti. Ultimately Prativasudeva is killed by Vasudeva for his unrighteousness and immorality. Jaini traces the origin of this list of brothers to the Jinacaritra (lives of the Jina
s) by Bhadrabahu swami (3-4th century BCE). Jain Ramayana is based on the stories of Rama, Lakshmana and Ravana who are the eighth Baladeva, Vasudeva, and Prativasudeva respectively. Similarly Jain Mahabharata is based on the stories of Balarama, Krishna and Jarasandha, who are the ninth and the last set of Baladeva, Vasudeva, and Prativasudeva. However, the main battle is not the Mahabharata, but the fight between Krishna and Jarasandha who is killed by Krishna.
According to Jain texts, Vasudevas are generally of dark complexion and wear yellow garments. There are seven weapons and symbols of Vasudeva, namely: conch, discus (sudarsana cakra), club, bow, sword, jewel (kaustubha mani) and a garland of flowers (vanamala). Baladevas, half-brothers of Vasudevas, are described as fair in complexion and wear garments of dark blue and have a banner of palm tree. Their symbols or weapons are: bow, plough, pestle and arrow. The two brothers are inseparable and they jointly rule three continents as half-Chakravarti. Although Vasudeva is the mightier of the two, Baladeva is depicted as superior for his non-violent ways and he achieves liberation. Out of nine Baladevas, eight attain liberation and the last one goes to heaven. On the other hand, Vasudevas go to hell on account of their violent exploits, even if they were is to uphold righteousness.
The list of Baladeva, Vasudeva and Prativasudeva are:
The mother of a Tirthankara and Chakravarti sees 14 dreams (16 dreams in some traditions) when the embryo enters her womb. The mother of a Vasusdeva sees seven dreams, while that of a Baladeva sees only four dreams. The mother of a Prati-vasudeva sees no dreams.
Certain Jain texts also depict the comparative powers of Salakapurusas in the following manner:
Jain cosmology
Jain cosmology is the description of the shape and functioning of the physical and metaphysical Universe and its constituents according to Jainism, which includes the canonical Jain texts, commentaries and the writings of the Jain philosopher-monks...
, Salakapurusas (illustrious or worthy persons), also known as trisastisalakapurusa (63 illustrious persons) are 63 illustrious beings who appear during each half-time cycle. The Jain universal or legendary history is a compilation of the deeds of these illustrious persons. They are 24 Tīrthaṅkaras
Tirthankar
In Jainism, a ' |ford]]-Maker", ) is a human being who achieves moksa through asceticism and who then becomes a role-model and teacher for those seeking spiritual guidance....
(ford makers), 12 Cakravartīs (universal monarchs, emperors of six continents), 9 Baladevas (gentle heroes), 9 Vāsudevas (violent heroes) and 9 Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes). According to Jainism, time is beginningless and eternal. The Kālacakra, the cosmic wheel of time, rotates ceaselessly. The wheel of time is divided into two half-rotations, Utsarpiṇī or ascending time cycle and Avasarpiṇī, the descending time cycle, occurring continuously after each other. Utsarpiṇī is a period of progressive prosperity and happiness where the time spans and ages are at an increasing scale, while Avsarpiṇī is a period of increasing sorrow and immorality with decline in time spans of the epochs. During each such time cycle, these 63 illustrious persons appear and establish the religion and order in society. According to Jain cosmology, since time is eternal, infinite kalacakras have elapsed and will occur in future and hence infinite sets of these 63 illustrious persons have appeared, and will appear, to establish order and religion in their respective eras.
Origin and Etymology
The word salakapurusa is often translated as illustrious persons or worthy persons or mighty persons. It is derived from the Sanskrit compound of words salaka and purusa. "Purusa" means person, but "salaka" is of ambiguous etymology in this context. The primary meaning of the word salaka (Sanskrit: Śalākā, Pali: salākā, Prakrit: salāgā, salāyā) is "stick". In the Buddhist context it meant a ticket consisting of wooden sticks meant for voting or to distribute food; but in Jain context it was used to mean a stick and also a measurement and when combined with "purusa" to denote great heroes. According to 11th century Jain author, monk Acharya HemachandraAcharya Hemachandra
Acharya Hemachandra was a Jain scholar, poet, and polymath who wrote on grammar, philosophy, prosody, and contemporary history. Noted as a prodigy by his contemporaries, he gained the title Kalikāl Sarvagya "all-knowing of the Kali Yuga"....
, these persons are called salaka as they have been specially marked among men. This emphasised that the names of the salakapurusas were underlined or specially significant due to their deeds. John Cort also quotes another author, S. D. Parekh, who emphasises the root meaning of voting sticks and concludes that a salakapurusa is a great person, as his greatness has been accepted by general public.
The tradition of salakapurusas or Jain universal history started with the biographies of the Tirthankaras. Kalpasutra gives the names and brief biographies of only tirthankaras. It does not use the word salakapurusas or mention them by name, but does say that the categories of Arihant
Arihant (Jainism)
Arihant in Jainism is a siddha who has not yet died and thereby lost all aghatiya karma. The Ṇamōkāra mantra begins, Ṇamō arihantāṇaṁ "I praise the arihants"....
s, Chakravartin
Chakravartin
Chakravartin , is a term used in Indian religions for an ideal universal ruler, who rules ethically and benevolently over the entire world. Such a ruler's reign is called sarvabhauma. It is a bahuvrīhi, literally meaning "whose wheels are moving", in the sense of "whose chariot is rolling...
s, Balarama
Balarama
Balarama , also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra and Halayudha, is the elder brother of the divine being, Krishna in Hinduism. Within Vaishnavism Hindu traditions Balarama is worshipped as an Avatar of Vishnu, and he is also listed as such in the Bhagavata Purana...
s and Vasudeva
Vasudeva
In Hindu itihasa , Vasudeva is the father of Krishna, the son of Shoorsen, of the Yadu and Vrishni dynasties. His sister Kunti was married to Pandu. He was a partial incarnation of Rishi Kashyap....
s are always born in royal families, thus foreshadowing 54 of the 63 salakapurusas. Furthermore, Jaini traces the origin of list of Baladeva and Vasudeva to the Jinacharitra (lives of the Jinas) by Bhadrabahu (3–4th century BCE).
There was no agreement in the initial texts as to the number of salakapurusas, and prativasudevas were often left out of the list of Jain heroes. Much of the raw material of the universal history can be found in the Jain Agamas
Jain Agamas
Agamas are canonical texts of Jainism based on Mahavira’s teachings. Mahavira’s preaching were orally compiled by his disciples into various Sutras which were collectively called Jain canonical or Agamic literature. Traditionally these sutras were orally passed on from teachers to the disciples...
(earliest Svetambara
Svetambara
The Śvētāmbara is one of the two main sects of Jainism, the other being the Digambar. Śvētāmbara "white-clad" is a term describing its ascetics' practice of wearing white clothes, which sets it apart from the Digambara "sky-clad" Jainas, whose ascetic practitioners go naked...
canonical literature some of which dates to 4th century BCE).
The following texts chronicle the deeds of the salakapurusas:
- Kalpasutra – Devoted mainly to stories of Rishabha, Neminatha, Parsva and Mahavira. It names other tirthankaras and also mentions the categories of Chakravartins, Baldeva and Vasudeva without giving individual names.
- Samavayanga SutraSamavayanga SutraThe Samavayanga Sutra is the 4th amongst the 12 Angas of the Jaina canon. The sutra is believed to have been composed by Gandhara Sudharma Svami. This ancient manuscript is the holy book of the Svetambara sect. This text contains the essence of Jain religion, defined and catalogued systematically....
– This text gives description of sixty-three and fifty-four salakapurusas in different places. - SatkhandagamaSatkhandagamaSatkhandāgama , literally the "Scripture in Six Parts", is the foremost and oldest Digambara Jain sacred text. According to Digambara tradition, the original canonical scriptures of the Jains were totally lost within a few centuries of Nirvana of Lord Mahavira...
(1st century) – This gives a description of Jain universal history in a rudimentary form. - Paumacarya by Vimalasuri (2nd century) – This is the Jain version of Ramayana. The story of Rama the eighth Baladeva is narrated within the context of 63 salakapurusas. The later texts were influenced by Paumacarya.
- Tiloya PanattiTiloya PanattiTiloya Panatti is one of the earlier Prakrit texts on Jain cosmology composed by Acarya Yativrshabha.-The subject matter:Jain Cosmology has a unique perception of the Universe. It perceives different solar and lunar entities in a manner that is different from the current cosmology as well those put...
by Yativrisabha (7th century) – This text gives descriptions of other Jain heroes i.e. 9 Naradas, 11 Rudras and 24 Kamadevas, but specifically states that there are only 63 salakapurusas. - Cauppanamahapurisacariya by Silanka (9th century) – This narrates the deeds of fifty-four great heroes.
- AdipuranaAdipuranaAdipurana is a 10th century Kannada text written in Champu style, a mix of prose and verse, dealing with the ten lives of the first tirthankara, Adinatha, also known as Rishabhanatha . This work is known to be the first work of Kannada poet Adikavi Pampa . It is based on the story narrated by...
by Jinasena and Gunabhadra (10th century) – This text is also known as Trisastilaksanamahapurana (The great purana describing 63 great heroes). By this time the number of heroes had come to be fixed at 63. - Trisastisalakapurusacaritra by Hemacandra (11th century) – The deeds of 63 illustrious persons, and one of the most popular text of Jain universal history.
- Kahavali by Bhadresvara (13th century) — This text raised the number of salakapurusa to 72 by adding 9 Naradas.
All traditions of Jainism now agree to the figure of 63 salakapurusas. However, the number of persons is 60 as three persons (Shantinath
Shantinath
Shantinath was the sixteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Shantinath was born to King Viswasen Raja and Queen Achira Rani at Hastinapur in the Ikshvaku clan...
, Kunthunath
Kunthunath
Kunthunath was the seventeenth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Kunthunath was born to King Shursen Raja and Queen Srirani Rani at Hastinapur in the Ikshvaku clan...
and Aranath
Aranath
Aranath was the eighteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he was born around 16,584,980 BCE. He became a siddha - a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Aranath was born to King Sudarshan Raja and Queen Devi Rani at Hastinapur in the Ikshvaku clan...
) were Chakravartins who later on became Tirthankaras.
Tirthankaras
Tīrthankaras (also known as Jinas) are Arhatas who are teachers and revivers of the Jain philosophy. There are 24 Tīrthankaras in each half time cycle; MahāvīraMahavira
Mahāvīra is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamāna who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. In Tamil, he is referred to as Arukaṉ or Arukadevan...
was the 24th and last Tīrthankara of the current descending time cycle and Rishabha was the first Tirthankara. Tīrthankaras are literally "the ford makers", who have shown the way to cross the ocean of re-birth and transmigration and hence have become a focus of reverence and worship amongst Jains. The Tirthankara provides all creatures with the means to liberate the soul from the confines of the body and to rise towards bliss, enlightenment and release from the eternal cycle of rebirth. He advocates continence, truth, non-violence, simplicity and purity for those who seek liberation. Tīrthankaras ultimately become Siddhas on liberation.
- Rishabha or AdinathaRishabha (Jain tirthankar)In Jainism, R̥ṣabha or Ādinātha , also known as the "Lord of Kesariya") was the first of the 24 Tīrthaṅkaras. According to Jain beliefs, R̥ṣabha founded the Ikshvaku dynasty and was the first Tīrthaṅkara of the present age...
- Ajitanath
- Sambhavanatha
- Abhinandananatha
- Sumatinatha
- PadmaprabhaPadmaprabhaPadmaprabha was the sixth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha - a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Padmaprabha was born to King Shridhar Raja and Queen Susimadevi at Koushambi in the Ikshvaku clan...
- Suparshvanatha
- ChandraprabhaChandraprabhaIn Jainism, Chandraprabha was the eighth Tirthankara of the present age or Avasarpini. According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Chandraprabha was born to King Mahasena and Queen Lakshmana Devi at Chandrapuri to the Ikshvaku dynasty...
- PushpadantaPushpadantaIn Jainism, Puṣpadanta In Jainism, Puṣpadanta In Jainism, Puṣpadanta . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha and an arihant, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....
- Sheetalanatha
- Shreyansanatha
- VasupujyaVasupujyaVasupujya Swami was the twelve Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Vasupujya was born to King Vasupujya Raja and Queen Jaya Devi Rani at Champapuri in the Ikshvaku clan...
- Vimalanatha
- Anantanatha
- Dharmanatha
- Shantinatha
- Kunthunatha
- Aranatha
- Mallinatha
- MunisuvrataMunisuvrataMunisuvrata Swami was the twentieth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he was born around 1,184,980 BCE. He became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Munisuvrata was born to King Sumitra Raja and Queen Padmavati Rani at Mithila in the...
- NaminathaNami NathaNaminatha was the twenty-first Jain Tirthankar of the current era. According to Jain beliefs, he was born around 584,979 BCE . He became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Naminatha was born to King Vijay Raja and Queen Vipra Rani of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who were the...
- Neminathaa
- ParshvaParshvaPārśva or Paras was the twenty-third Tirthankara "Ford-Maker" in Jainism . He is the earliest Jain leader generally accepted as a historical figure. Pārśva was a nobleman belonging to the Kshatriya varna....
- MahaviraMahaviraMahāvīra is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamāna who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. In Tamil, he is referred to as Arukaṉ or Arukadevan...
Chakravarti
A Chakravarti (Universal Monarch) is the emperor of the world, lord of the material realm. Though he possesses worldly power, he often finds his ambitions dwarfed by the enormity of the cosmos. Jain purunas give a list of 12 Chakravartins who flourished in this descending time cycle. Golden in complexion, they all belonged to Kasyapa gotra. One of the greatest Chakravartis mentioned in Jain scriptures is Bharata in whose memory India came to be known as "Bharata-varsha". After conquering the whole world, King Bharata, brimming with pride, sought to inscribe his great feat on the slopes of Mount Meru. To his great dismay, he found the names of many other kings carved on Meru. Like him, they too had conquered the world. He was not the first man to do so. He was not the last. There were many before him, there were many after him. Bharata, humbled by the experience, returned to his kingdom to do his duty, aware that his actions were not unique and that his existence was not special. The names of the twelve Chakravartins as per Jain Texts are:- Bharata - Tirthankara Rishabha's son.
- Sagara - Ancestor of BhagirathaBhagirathaBhageeratha was a great king in Hindu mythology who brought the River Ganges to Earth.-Early life:Bhageeratha was the king of Kosala, a kingdom in ancient India. He was a descendent of the great king Sagara of the Suryavamsa, or Sun Dynasty...
as per Hindu puranasPuranasThe Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...
. - Maghavana
- Sanatkumara
- Shantinatha - (also a Tirthankara)
- Kunthunatha - (also a Tirthankara)
- Aranatha - (also a Tirthankara)
- Subhuma
- Padmanabha
- Harishena
- Jayasena
- Brahmadatta
Triad of Baladeva, Vasudeva and Prativasudeva
In every half time cycle, there are 9 sets of Baladevas (gentle heroes), Vāsudevas (violent heroes) and Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes). Certain Digambara texts refer to them as Balabhadra, Narayana and Pratinarayana respectively. Padmanabh JainiPadmanabh Jaini
Prof. Dr. Padmanabh Shrivarma Jaini is a India born scholar of Jainism and Buddhism, currently living in Berkeley, USA. He was born in a Digambar family, however he is equally familiar with both the Digambara and Svetambara forms of Jainism...
notes that, unlike in the Hindu Puranas, the names Baladeva and Vasudeva are not restricted to Balarama and Krishna in Jain puranas. Instead they serve as names of two distinct classes of mighty half brothers, who appear nine times in each half of the time cycles of the Jain cosmology
Jain cosmology
Jain cosmology is the description of the shape and functioning of the physical and metaphysical Universe and its constituents according to Jainism, which includes the canonical Jain texts, commentaries and the writings of the Jain philosopher-monks...
and jointly rule half the earth as half-chakravarti. Ultimately Prativasudeva is killed by Vasudeva for his unrighteousness and immorality. Jaini traces the origin of this list of brothers to the Jinacaritra (lives of the Jina
Jina
Jina may refer to:*Tirthankara, in Jainism*Jina, Sibiu, a commune in Sibiu County, Romania*Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics...
s) by Bhadrabahu swami (3-4th century BCE). Jain Ramayana is based on the stories of Rama, Lakshmana and Ravana who are the eighth Baladeva, Vasudeva, and Prativasudeva respectively. Similarly Jain Mahabharata is based on the stories of Balarama, Krishna and Jarasandha, who are the ninth and the last set of Baladeva, Vasudeva, and Prativasudeva. However, the main battle is not the Mahabharata, but the fight between Krishna and Jarasandha who is killed by Krishna.
According to Jain texts, Vasudevas are generally of dark complexion and wear yellow garments. There are seven weapons and symbols of Vasudeva, namely: conch, discus (sudarsana cakra), club, bow, sword, jewel (kaustubha mani) and a garland of flowers (vanamala). Baladevas, half-brothers of Vasudevas, are described as fair in complexion and wear garments of dark blue and have a banner of palm tree. Their symbols or weapons are: bow, plough, pestle and arrow. The two brothers are inseparable and they jointly rule three continents as half-Chakravarti. Although Vasudeva is the mightier of the two, Baladeva is depicted as superior for his non-violent ways and he achieves liberation. Out of nine Baladevas, eight attain liberation and the last one goes to heaven. On the other hand, Vasudevas go to hell on account of their violent exploits, even if they were is to uphold righteousness.
The list of Baladeva, Vasudeva and Prativasudeva are:
| No. | Baladeva / Balabhadra | Vasudeva/ Narayana | Prativasudeva/ Pratinarayana |
| 1 | Acala | Tripushta(or prishtha) | Asvagriva |
| 2 | Vijaya | Dvipushta (or prishtha) | Taraka |
| 3 | Dharmaprabha (Bhadra) | Svayambhu | Naraka |
| 4 | Suprabha | Purushottama | Nisumbha |
| 5 | Sudarsana | Nara (Purusha) simha | Madhukatiabha |
| 6 | Nandi (Ananda) | Pundarika | Prahlada |
| 7 | Nandimitra (Mandana) | Dattadeva | Bali |
| 8 | Padma (Ramachandra) | Lakshmana Lakshmana Lakshmana was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana... (or Narayana) |
Ravana Ravana ' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister... |
| 9 | Rama (Balarama Balarama Balarama , also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra and Halayudha, is the elder brother of the divine being, Krishna in Hinduism. Within Vaishnavism Hindu traditions Balarama is worshipped as an Avatar of Vishnu, and he is also listed as such in the Bhagavata Purana... ) |
Krishna Krishna Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu... |
Jarasandha Jarasandha Jarasandha was a great and legendary king of Magadha. He was the son of a vedic king named Brihadratha. He was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva. But he is generally held in negative light owing to his enmity with the Yadav clan in the Mahābhārata.... |
Hierarchy
Out of the above five classes of illustrious persons, Tirthankaras are placed at the top. They establish the religion and attain liberation. The Chakravarti attain liberation if they renounce their kingdom, or else go to hell if they indulge in sensual pleasures. Next in rank are Baladevas who are gentle heroes and devout laymen, who attain liberation corresponding to Tirthankaras. Vasudevas are also devout Jain laymen and ultimately attain liberation, but are first reborn in hell because of their violent actions.The mother of a Tirthankara and Chakravarti sees 14 dreams (16 dreams in some traditions) when the embryo enters her womb. The mother of a Vasusdeva sees seven dreams, while that of a Baladeva sees only four dreams. The mother of a Prati-vasudeva sees no dreams.
Certain Jain texts also depict the comparative powers of Salakapurusas in the following manner:
- A bull is as powerful as 12 warriors.
- A horse is as powerful as 10 bulls.
- A buffalo is as powerful as 12 horses.
- An elephant is as powerful as 15 buffalos.
- A lion with mane is as powerful as 500 elephants.
- An octoped (Astapada mythical eight limbed animal) is as powerful as 2,000 maned lions.
- A Baldev is as powerful as 1 million octopeds.
- A Vasudev is as powerful as 2 Baldevs. (A Prati-vasudeva is slightly less powerful that a Vasudeva)
- A Chakravarti is as powerful as 2 Vasudevs.
- A king of serpent gods is as powerful as 100,000 Chakravartis.
- An Indra is as powerful as 10 million kings of serpent gods.
- The power of innumerable Indras is insignificant as compared to that of the small finger of a Tirthankar.
Other important classes
In Jain universal history, other than these 63 Salakapurusa, there are other classes of people who, though not depicted as salakapurusas, are important enough to be mentioned separately. They are:- 9 Naradas (Bhima, Mahabhima, Rudra, Maharudra, Kala, Mahakala, Durmukha, Narakamukha, Adhomukha)
- 11 Rudras (Bhimabali, Jitasatru, Rudra, Visvanala, Supratishtha, Achala, Pundarika, Jitadhara, Jitanabhi, Pitha, Satyaki)
- 24 Kamdevas (Bahubali, Prajapati, Sridhara, Prasenacandra, Candravarna, Agniyukta, Sanatkumara, Vatsaraja, Kanakaprabha, Meghaprabha, Santinatha, Kunthu-natha, Arahanatha, Vijayaraja, Srichandra, Nalaraja (male figure of the mythological couple Nalraja and Queen Damyanti), Hanumant, Baliraja, Vasudeva, Pradyumna, Nagakumata, Jivamdhara, Jambusvami)
- 24 Fathers of the Tirthankaras (For list refer Tirthankara Table)
- 24 Mothers of the Tirthankaras. (For list refer Tirthankara Table)
- 14 Kulakaras (Pratisvati, Sammati, Kshemamkara, Kshemamdhara, Simamkare, Simamdhara, Vimalavahana, Chakshushment, Yasasvin, Abhichandra, Candrabha, Merudeve, Prasenachandra, Nabhinarendra)