Nirvana (Jainism)

in Jainism

Jainism

Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...

 means final release from the karmic bondage. When an enlightened human, such as an 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"....

 or a Tirthankara extinguishes his remaining aghatiya karmas and thus ends his worldly existence, it is called . Technically, the death of an Arihant is called of the arihant, as he has ended his worldly existence and attained liberation. Moksa, that is to say, liberation follows . An Arihant becomes a siddha, the liberated one, after attaining nirvana. However, the word is often used to mean moksa, as well. Hence means:

1. Death of an Arihant, who becomes liberated thereafter, and
2. Moksa
   Moksa (Jainism)
   ' or Mokkha means liberation, salvation or emancipation of soul. It is a blissful state of existence of a soul, completely free from the karmic bondage, free from samsara, the cycle of birth and death. A liberated soul is said to have attained its true and pristine nature of infinite bliss,...
   
   

Description of of a Tirthankara in Jain Texts

Kalpasutra gives an elaborate account of Mahavira’s

Mahavira

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...

 .

as Moksa

The terms moksa

Moksa (Jainism)

' or Mokkha means liberation, salvation or emancipation of soul. It is a blissful state of existence of a soul, completely free from the karmic bondage, free from samsara, the cycle of birth and death. A liberated soul is said to have attained its true and pristine nature of infinite bliss,...

and nirvana are often used interchangeably in the Jain texts.

Uttaradhyana Sutra provides an account of Gautama explaining the meaning of to Kesi a disciple of Parsva.