Tirthankara

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The 24 Tirthankars

In Jainism, a Tīrthaṅkara (Sanskrit: तीर्थंकर "ford-Maker", Tamil: கடவுள் Kaṭavuḷ) is a human being who helps in achieving liberation and enlightenment as an "Arihant" by destroying their soul-constraining (ghati) karmas, became a role-model and leader for those seeking spiritual guidance. Tirthankaras revitalize Jain Society by organisation of fourfold Jain Order consisting of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. Not all souls become Tīrthaṅkaras. There are twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras in this time era who revitalized the Jain Order.

Tirthankara is also said to mean “full moon,” a metaphorical reference to Kevala Jnana, the spiritual state achieved by exalted and rare beings.^{[citation needed]} Keval Gnan is a state of permanent, perpetual, absolute knowledge of the Soul; it is the precursor to moksha, final liberation from samsara, the cycle of birth and death.

Jain scriptures define the term tirthankara as follows: the contrivance which help us to cross the great ocean of worldly life is called Tirtha and the person who makes that tirtha is known as tirthankara.

Overview

Tīrthaṅkaras religious teaching form the basis for Jain canons. The inner knowledge of Tīrthaṅkara is perfect and identical in every respect and their teachings do not contradict one another. However, the degree of elaboration varies according to the spiritual advancement and purity of the society during their period of leadership. The higher the spiritual advancement and purity of mind of the society, the lower the elaboration required.

While Tirthankaras are documented and revered by those of Jain faith, their grace is said to be available to living beings, regardless of religious orientation.

Tirthankaras dwell exclusively within the realm of their Soul, and are entirely free of kashayas, inner passions, and personal desires. As a result of this, unlimited siddhis, spiritual powers, are readily available to them – which they use exclusively for the spiritual elevation of living beings. Through their darshan, divine vision, and deshna, divine speech, they grant their own state of Keval Gnan, and moksha, final liberation to anyone seeking it sincerely.

At the end of his human life-span, a Tīrthaṅkara achieves siddha status, ending the cycle of infinite births and deaths.

Jainism postulates that time has no beginning or end. It moves like the wheel of a cart. Jains believe that exactly twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras are born in each half-cycle of time in this part of the universe. The first Tīrthaṅkara is Rishabha, who is credited for formulating and organising humans to live in a society harmoniously. The 24th and last Tīrthaṅkara was Mahavira (599-527 BC). Digambara Jains believe that Tīrthaṅkara were men, but Svetambara Jains believe that the 19th Tīrthaṅkara, Mallinath, was a woman.

Particular Tīrthaṅkaras

Tīrthaṅkaras in the British Museum

Tīrthaṅkara images are usually seated with their legs crossed in front, the toes of one foot resting close upon the knee of the other, and the right hand lying over the left in the lap.

In Jain tradition the Tīrthaṅkaras were royal in their final lives, and Jain traditions record details of their previous lives, usually as royalty. Their clan and families are also among those recorded in very early, or legendary, Hindu history. All but two of the Jains are ascribed to the Ikshvaku dynasty. Munisuvrata, the twentieth, and Neminatha, the twenty-second, were of the Harivamsa. Jain canons state that Rishabha, the first Tīrthaṅkara, founded the Ikshvaku.

Twenty Tīrthaṅkaras achieved siddha status on Shikharji. Vasupujya attained nirvana at Champapuri in North Bengal; Neminatha on Girnar in Gujarat; and Mahavira, the last at Pawapuri, near modern Bihar's capital, Patna.

Twenty-one of the Tīrthaṅkaras are said to have attained moksha in the kayotsarga (standing meditation) posture, while Rishabha, Nemi and Mahavira are said to have attained moksha in the lotus position.

List of tīrthaṅkara

In chronological order, the names, signs, colors etc. of the 24 Tīrthaṅkaras of this age are mentioned below

Tīrthaṅkara	Heaven before birth	Birthplace; Consecration	Parents	Complexion	Symbol	Tree	Attendant spirits	Male disciple; Female disciple	Place of Nirvana
1 Rishabha	Sarvarthasiddha	Vinittanagari; Palitana	Nabhiraja by Marudevi	golden	bull or ox	Vata (banyan)	Gomukha and Chakresvari	Pundarika; Brahmi	Ashtapad (Kailasha)
2 Ajitnath	Vijayavimana	Ayodhya; Shikharji	Jitashatru by Vijayamata	golden	elephant	Shala (Shorea robusta)	Mahayaksha and Ajitabala; or Rohi[n.]i	Shimhasena; Phalgu	Shikharji
3 Sambhavanath	Uvarimagraiveka	Savathi; Sravasti	Jitari by Senamata	golden	horse	Prayala (Buchanania latifolia)	Trimukha and Duritari; or Prajnapti	Charu; Syama	Samet Sikhar
4 Abhinandannath	Jayantavimana	Ayodhya; Shikharji	Sambararaja by Siddhartha	golden	monkey	Priyangu (Panicum italicum)	Nayaka and Kalika; or Yakshesvara and Vajrasrinkhala	Vajranabha; Ajita	Shikharji
5 Sumatinath	Jayantavimana	Ayodhya; Shikharji	Megharaja by Mangala	golden	curlew or red goose	Shala	Tumburu and Mahakali; or Purushadatta	Charama; Kasyapi	Shikharji
6 Padmaprabha	Uvarimagraiveka	Kausambi; Sammet Shikharji	Sridhara by Susima	red	lotus	Chhatra	Kusuma and Shyama; or Manovega or Manogupti	Pradyotana; Rati	Shikharji
7 Suparshvanath	Madhyamagraiveka	Varanasi; Shikharji	Pratishtharaja by Prthvi	golden or emerald	swastika	Sirisha (Albizia lebbeck)	Matanga and Santa; or Varanandi and Kali	Vidirbha; Soma	Shikharji
8 Chandraprabha	Vijayanta	Chandrapura; Sammet Shikharji	Mahasenaraja by Lakshmana	white	moon	Naga	Vijaya and Bhrikuti; or Shyama or Vijaya and Jvalamalini	Dinna; Sumana	Shikharji
9 Suvidhinatha	Anatadevaloka	Kanandinagari; Shikharji	Sugrivaraja by Ramarani	white	Crocodile	Sali	Ajita and Sutaraka; or Mahakali	Varahaka; Varuni	Shikharji
10 Sheetalnath	Achyutadevaloka	Bhadrapura or Bhadilapura; Shikharji	Dridharatha-raja by Nanda	golden	Kalpavriksha or Ficus religiosa	Priyangu	Brahma and Asoka; or Manavi	Nanda; Sujasa	Shikharji
11 Shreyansanath	Achyutadevaloka	Simhapuri; Shikharji	Vishnuraja by Vishna	golden	rhinoceros	Tanduka	Yakshet and Manavi; or Ishvara and Gauri	Kasyapa; Dharani	Shikharji
12 Vasupujya	Pranatadevaloka	Champapuri; Shikharji	Vasupujya by Jaya	ruddy	female buffalo	Patala (Bignonia suaveolens)	Kumara and Chanda; or Gandhari	Subhuma; Dharani	Champapuri
13 Vimalnath	Mahasaradevaloka	Kampilyapura; Shikharji	Kritavarmaraja by Shyama	golden	pig	Jambu (Eugenia jambolana)	Shanmukha and Vidita; or Vairoti)	Mandara; Dhara	Shikharji
14 Anantnath	Pranatadevaloka	Ayodhya; Shikharji	Simhasena by Suyasah or Sujasa	golden	porcupine	Asoka (Saraca asoca)	Patala and Ankusa; or Anantamati	Jasa ; Padma	Shikharji
15 Dharmanath	Vijayavimana	Ratnapuri; Shikharji	Bhanuraja by Suvrita	golden	vajra	Dadhiparna (Clitoria ternatea)	Kinnara and Kandarpa; or Manasi	Arishta; Arthasiva	Samet Sikhar
16 Shantinath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura or Hastinapuri; Shikharji	Visvasena by Achira	golden	deer	Nandi (Cedrela toona)	Garuda and Nirvani; or Kimpurusha and Mahamanasi	Chakrayuddha; Suchi	Shikharji
17 Kunthunath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura; Shikharji	Suraraja by Srirani	golden	goat	Bhilaka	Gandharva and Bala; or Vijaya	Samba; Damini	Samet Sikhar
18 Aranath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura; Shikharji	Sudarsana by Devirani	golden	fish or Pisces	Amba (Mango)	Yaksheta and Dhana; or Kendra and Ajita	Kumbha; Rakshita	Shikharji
19 Mallinath	Jayantadevaloka	Mithila; Shikharji	Kumbharaja by Prabhavati	blue	jar or Kalasa	Asoka	Kubera and Dharanapriya; or Aparajita	Abhikshaka; Bandhumati	Shikharji
20 Munisuvrata	Aparajita-devaloka	Rajagriha; Shikharji	Sumitraraja by Padmavati	black	tortoise	Champaka (Magnolia champaca)	Varuna and Naradatta; or Bahurupini	Malli; Pushpavati	Shikharji
21 Nami Natha	Pranatadevaloka	Mithila; Sammet Shikharji	Vijayaraja by Viprarani	yellow; or emerald	blue water-lily or blue lotus	Bakula (Mimusops elengi)	Bhrikuti and Gandhari; or Chamundi	Subha; Anila	Shikharji
22 Neminatha	Aparajita	Sauripura and Ujjinta (Ujjain); Mount Girnar	Samudravijaya by Sivadevi	black	conch	Vetasa	Gomedha and Ambika; or Sarvahna and Kushmandini	Varadatta; Yakshadinna	Mount Girnar
23 Parshva	Pranatadevaloka	Varanasi; Sammet Shikharji	Asvasenaraja by Vamadevi	blue	snake	Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa)	Parsvayaksha or Dharanendra and Padmavati	Aryadinna; Pushpachuda	Shikharji
24 Mahavira	Pranatadevaloka	Kundagrama (Vaishali District Bihar) ; Rijubalika	Siddhartharaja and Trisala	yellow	lion	teak	Matanga and Siddhayika	Indrabhuti; Chandanbala	Pava Puri

See also

• Arihant (Jainism)
• Deshna
• Moksa (Jainism)
• Tattva (Jainism)
• Simandhar Swami
• Types of Karma
• Kevala Jnana
• Kanji Swami
• Kundakunda

References

• Sangave, Vilas Adinath (2001), Facets of Jainology: Selected Research Papers on Jain Society, Religion, and Culture, Mumbai: Popular Prakashan, ISBN 978-81-7154-839-2