Tirthankara

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Jainism
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The symbol of Jainism
Total population
about 5 million
Founder
Adinatha
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India, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, United States
Scriptures
Agama
Languages
Prakrit, Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil, Gujarati, Hindi
The 24 Tirthankars

Tīrthaṅkara is a term given to the twenty-four major propagators of the religion of Jainism. According to the tradition, he 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.[1][2] Tirthankaras revitalize Jain Society by organisation of fourfold Jain Order consisting of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen.[3] 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.[4]

Contents

Overview[edit]

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. [5]

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[edit]

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.[6]

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[edit]

In chronological order, the names, signs, colors etc. of the 24 Tīrthaṅkaras of this age are mentioned below[7][8][9][clarification needed]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Britannica Tirthankara Definition". Retrieved 02-04-2012. 
  2. ^ "Tirthankara Definition". Retrieved 02-04-2012. 
  3. ^ "Tirthankara reestablishes the four fold order". Retrieved 02-04-2012. 
  4. ^ Sangave 2001, p. 101
  5. ^ Flügel, P. (2010). The Jaina Cult of Relic Stūpas. Numen: International Review For The History Of Religions, 57(3/4), 389-504. doi:10.1163/156852710X501351
  6. ^ "Tirthankara Depictions". Retrieved 02-04-2012. 
  7. ^ "Chronological information on the 24 Tirthankaras, Britannica". Retrieved 02-04-2012. 
  8. ^ "Chronological information on the 24 Tirthankaras". Retrieved 02-04-2012. 
  9. ^ "General chronological information on the 24 Tirthankaras". Retrieved 02-04-2012. 

References[edit]

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