Tirthankar

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Tirthankar

In Jainism

Jainism

Jainism is one of the oldest Indian religions that originated in India. Jains believe that every soul is divine and has the potential to achieve God-consciousness....
, a Tirthankar ("Fordmaker") (also Tirthankara or Jina) is a human

Human

A human being, also human or man, is a member of a species of bipedalism primates in the family Hominidae . Mitochondrial DNA evidence indicates that modern humans originated in east Africa about 200,000 years ago....
being who achieves enlightenment (perfect knowledge)

Enlightenment (concept)

Enlightenment broadly means wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception. However, the English language word covers two concepts which can be quite distinct: religion or spiritual enlightenment and secular or intellectual enlightenment....
through asceticism and who then becomes a role-model teacher for those seeking spiritual guidance. A Tirthankar is a special sort of arhat

Arhat

In the shramana traditions of ancient India arhat or arahant signified a spiritual practitioner who had?to use an expression common in the tipitaka?"laid down the burden"?and realised the goal of nirvana, the culmination of the spiritual life ....
(someone who has totally conquered anger, pride, deceit, desire, etc.). A Tirthankar is so called because they are the founder of a "Tirth" (lit.

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In Jainism

Jainism

Human

Enlightenment (concept)

Arhat

Ford (crossing)

A ford is a place in a watercourse that is shallow enough to be crossed by wading, on horseback, or in a wheeled vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low....
" across the "river of human misery".

Overview

After achieving enlightenment, a Tirthankar shows others the path to enlightenment. The Tirthankar's religious

Religion

A religion is an organized approach to human spirituality which usually encompasses a set of myth, symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a supernatural or transcendence quality, that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power or truth....
teachings form the Jain canon

Canon law

Canon law is internal ecclesiastical law governing the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church churches, and the Anglicanism of churches....
s. The inner knowledge of all Tirthankars is perfect and identical in every respect, for the teachings of one Tirthankar do not contradict those of another. However, the degree of elaboration varies according to the spiritual advancement and purity of humans during that period. The higher the spiritual advancement and purity of mind, the lower the elaboration required.

At the end of his human life-span, a Tirthankar achieves liberation ('moksh

Moksha

In Indian religions, Moksha or Mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth or reincarnation and all of the suffering and limitation of worldly existence....
' or 'nirvan

Nirvana

In sramana thought, Nirvana is the state of being free from both dukkha and the cycle of rebirth. It is an important concept in Buddhism and Jainism....
'), ending the cycle of infinite births and deaths.

Jainism states time has no beginning or end. It moves like the wheel of a cart. There have been an infinite number of time cycles before our present era and there will be an infinite number of time cycles after this age. At the beginning of the twenty first century, we are approximately 2,530 years into the fifth era of the present half cycle.

Twenty four Tirthankars are born in each half cycle of time (that is forty eight in each full cycle), in this part of the universe. In our current (descending) half cycle of time, the first Tirthankar Rishabh Dev, lived billions of years ago and attained liberation ('moksh' or 'nirvan') towards the end of the third era. The 24th and last Tirthankar was Mahavir Swami (599-527 BC), whose existence is a historically accepted fact. Digambaras believe that all twenty four Tirthankars were men but Svetambara

Svetambara

The Svetambara is one of the two main sects of Jainism, the other being Digambar. Wiktionary:Svetambar literally means "white-clad", describing the practice of wearing white clothes, which sets it apart from Digambar , whose practitioners wear no clothes....
s believe that the 19th Tirthankar, Mallinath

Mallinath

Mallinath was the nineteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, Mallinath became a siddha - a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....
, was a woman.

The next Tirthankar in our part of the universe will be born at the beginning of the third era of the next (ascending) half cycle of time, in approximately 81,500 years.

As Tirthankars direct us to enlightenment, their statue

Statue

A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a Bust , and at least close to life-size, or larger....
s are worshipped in Jain temple

Temple

A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A ??templum?? constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur....
s by Jains aspiring to achieve enlightenment. Tirthankars are not God or gods. Jainism does not believe in the existence of God in the sense of a creator, and gods are beings superior to humans but, nevertheless, not fully enlightened.

Particular Tirthankars

Depictions in various forms, including images, statues, etc., of the Tirthankaras are always represented as 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. Only two are represented differently: that of Parsvanatha, the twenty-third, who has snake-hoods over him, and Suparsva, the seventh, whom the Digambarashas depict with a smaller group of snake-hoods.

Digambara representations are quite nude, while those of the Svetambaras are clothed and decorated with crowns and ornaments. They are further distinguished from one another in representations by their attendant Yakshas and Yakshinis, as well as by their associated chihnas (cognizances) carved on the cushions of their thrones.

All but two of the Jains are ascribed to the Ikshvaku

Ikshvaku

Ikshvaku was the first king of the Ikshvaku dynasty and founder of the Solar Dynasty of Kshatriyas in Vedic civilization in ancient India....
family (or Kula or Kul, which in Sanskrit means "heart community" or "intentional/chosen community/family"). Munisuvrata, the twentieth, and Neminatha, the twenty-second, were of the Harivamsa

Harivamsa

The Harivamsha is an important work of Sanskrit literature, containing 16,374 shloka, mostly in metre. The text is also known as . This text is believed as a khila to the Mahabharata and traditionally ascribed to Vyasa....
race.

All but Rishabha received diksha (consecration) and jnana (complete enlightenment) at their native places. Rishabha became a Kevalin at Purimatala, Nemi at Girnar, and Mahavira at the Rijupaluka river. Twenty Tirthankaras died or obtained moksha (deliverance in bliss) on Sameta Sikhara

Shikharji

Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....
. However Rishabha, the first, achieved nirvana on the Kailasa Mountain of the Himalayas; Vasupujya died at Champapuri

Champapuri

Champapuri was the capital of the king Lomapada of Anga Kingdom as per epic Ramayana. As per epic Mahabharata, Karna is mentioned as ruling the Anga kingdom from Champapuri ....
in north Bengal; Neminatha on Mount Girnar; and Mahavira, the last, at Pavapur.

Twenty-one of the Tirthakaras are said to have attained Moksha in the Kayotsarga posture; Rishabha, Nemi; and Mahavira on the padmasana (lotus throne).

Narration Chart of 24 Tirathankars

The following particulars for each Arhat are given below:

Tirthankar	Heaven	Birthplace; Consecration	Parents	Complex	Symbol	Height	Age	Tree	Attendant spirits	Male disciple; Female disciple	Place of Nirvan
I. Lord Rishabha (Adinath) Rishabha (Jain tirthankar) In Jainism, Rishabh Dev or Adinatha was the first of the 24 Tirthankara. He belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty, which was also known as the "House of the Sun"....	Sarvarthasiddha	Vinittanagari; Purimatala	Nabhiraja by Marudevi	golden	bull or ox	500 dhanusha (poles)	8,400,000 purva (great years)	Vata (banyan Banyan A banyan is a Ficus that starts its life as an epiphyte when its seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host tree . "Banyan" often refers specifically to the species Ficus benghalensis, though the term has been generalized to include all figs that share a unique life cycle, and systematics to refer to the subgenus Urostigma'... )	Gomukha and Chakresvari Chakreshvari Chakreshvari is the Shasan-devi or the Yakshi of Lord Rishabha, the first Tirthankara. She is also known as Apratichakra. She is the patron deity of the Khandelwal Jain community....	Pundarika; Brahmi	Ashtapad (Kailasha)
II. Ajitnath Ajitnath Ajitnatha was the second Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Vijayavimana	Ayodhya; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Jita['s]atru by Vijayamata	golden	elephant	450 dhanusha	7,200,000 purva	['S]ala (Shorea robusta)	Mahayaksha and Ajitabala; or Rohi[n.]i	['S]i[.m]hasena; Phalgu	Samet Sikhar
III. Sambhavanath Sambhavanath Sambhavanath was the third Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Uvarimagraiveka	Savathi; Sravasti	Jitari by Senamata	golden	horse	400 dhanusha	6,000,000 purva	Prayala (Buchanania latifolia)	Trimukha and Duritari; or Prajnapti	Charu; Syama	Samet Sikhar
IV. Abhinandannath Abhinandannath Abhinandannatha or Abhinandan Swami was the fourth Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Jayantavimana	Ayodhya; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Sambararaja by Siddhartha	golden	monkey	350 dhanusha	5,000,000 purva	Priyangu (Panicum italicum)	Nayaka and Kalika; or Yakshesvara and Vajrasrinkhala	Vajranabha; Ajita	Samet Sikhar
V. Sumatinath Sumatinath Sumatinatha was the fifth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Jayantavimana	Ayodhya; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Megharaja by Mangala	golden	curlew or red goose	300 dhanusha	4,000,000 purva	Sala	Tumburu and Mahakali; or Purushadatta	Charama; Kasyapi	Samet Sikhar
VI. Padmaprabha Padmaprabha Padmaprabha 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....	Uvarimagraiveka	Kausambi; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Sridhara by Susima	red	lotus	250 dhanusha	3,000,000 purva	Chhatra	Kusuma and Syama; or Manovega or Manogupti	Pradyotana; Rati	Samet Sikhar
VII. Suparshvanath Suparshvanath Suparshvanath was the seventh Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Madhyamagraiveka	Varanasi; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Pratish[t.]haraja by P[r.]ithvi	golden or emerald	swastika	200 dhanusha	2,000,000 purva	Sirisha (Acacia sirisha)	Matanga and Santa; or Varanandi and Kali	Vidirbha; Soma	Samet Sikhar
VIII. Chandraprabha Chandraprabha Chandraprabha was the eighth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Vijayanta	Chandrapura; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Mahasenaraja by Lakshmana	white	moon	150 dhanusha	1,000,000 purva	Naga	Vijaya and Bhrikuti; or Syama or Vijaya and Jvalamalini	Dinna; Sumana	Samet Sikhar
IX. Pushpadanta Pushpadanta Pushpadanta, also known as Suvidhinath, was the ninth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Anatadevaloka	Kanandinagari; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Sugrivaraja by Ramarani	white	Crocodile	100 dhanusha	200,000 purva	Sali	Ajita and Sutaraka; or Mahakali	Varahaka; Varuni	Samet Sikhar
X. Sheetalnath Sheetalnath Sheetalnath was the tenth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Achyutadevaloka	Bhadrapura or Bhadilapura; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Dridharatha-raja by Nanda	golden	Kalpavriksha or ficus religiosa	90 dhanusha	100,000 purva	Priyangu	Brahma and Asoka; or Manavi	Nanda; Sujasa	Samet Sikhar
XI. Shreyansanath Shreyansanath Shreyansanath was the eleventh Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a Siddha - a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Achyutadevaloka	Simhapuri; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Vishnuraja by Vishna	golden	rhinoceros	80 dhanusha	8,400,000 common years	Tanduka	Yakshet and Manavi; or Isvara and Gauri	Kasyapa; Dharani	Samet Sikhar
XII. Vasupujya Vasupujya Vasupujya 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....	Pranatadevaloka	Champapuri; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Vasupujya by Jaya	ruddy	female buffalo	70 dhanusha	7,200,000 years	Patala (Bignonia suaveolens)	Kumara and Chanda; or Gandhari	Subhuma; Dharani	Champapuri
XIII. Vimalnath Vimalnath Vimalnath was the thirteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a Siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Mahasaradevaloka	Kampilyapura; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Kritavarmaraja by Syama	golden	pig	60 dhanusha	6,000,000 years	Jambu (Eugenia jambolana)	Shanmukha and Vidita; or Vairo[t.]i)	Mandara; Dhara	Samet Sikhar
XIV. Anantnath Anantnath Anantnath was the fourteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Pranatadevaloka	Ayodhya; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Simhasena by Suyasah or Sujasa	golden	porcupine	50 dhanusha	3,000,000 years	Asoka (Jonesia asoka)	Patala and Ankusa; or Anantamati	Jasa ; Padma	Samet Sikhar
XV. Dharmanath Dharmanath Dharmanath was the fifteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Vijayavimana	Ratnapuri; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Bhanuraja by Suvrita	golden	vajra Vajra Vajra is a Sanskrit word meaning both thunderbolt and diamond. As a material device, the vajra is a short metal weapon that has the symbolic nature of a diamond and that of the thunderbolt ....	45 dhanusha	1,000,000 years	Dadhiparna (Clitoria ternatea Clitoria ternatea Clitoria ternatea is a vine native to tropical and equatorial Asia, but has been introduced to Africa, Australia and the New World. It grows well in moist neutral soil and requires little care.... )	Kinnara and Kandarpa; or Manasi	Arishta; Arthasiva	Samet Sikhar
XVI. 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....	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura or Hastinapuri; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Visvasena by Achira	golden	deer	40 dhanusha	100,000 years	Nandi (Cedrela toona)	Garuda and Nirvani; or Kimpurusha and Mahamanasi	Chakrayuddha; Suchi	Samet Sikhar
XVII. 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....	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Suraraja by Srirani	golden	goat	35 dhanusha	95,000 years	Bhilaka	Gandharva and Bala; or Vijaya	Samba; Damini	Samet Sikhar
XVIII. Aranath Aranath Aranath was the eighteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha - a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Sudarsana by Devirani	golden	fish or Pisces PISCES PISCES is a border control database system largely based on biometrics developed by Booz Allen Hamilton...	30 dhanusha	84,000 years	Amba (Mango Mango Mangoes belong to the genus *Mangifera*, consisting of numerous species of tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae.... )	Yaksheta and Dhana; or Kendra and Ajita	Kumbha; Rakshita	Samet Sikhar
XIX. Mallinath Mallinath Mallinath was the nineteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, Mallinath became a siddha - a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Jayantadevaloka	Mathura; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Kumbharaja by Prabhavati	blue	jar or Kalasa	25 dhanusha	55,000 years	Asoka	Kubera and Dharanapriya; or Aparajita	Abhikshaka; Bandhumati	Samet Sikhar
XX. Munisuvrata Munisuvrata Munisuvrata Swami was the twentieth Jain Tirthankar of the present age . According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Aparajita-devaloka	Rajagriha; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Sumitraraja by Padmavati	black	tortoise	20 dhanusha	30,000 years	Champaka (Michelia champaka)	Varuna and Naradatta; or Bahurupini	Malli; Pushpavati	Samet Sikhar
XXI. Nami Natha Nami Natha Naminatha was the twenty-first Jain Tirthankar of the current Avsarpini. According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma....	Pranatadevaloka	Mathura; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Vijayaraja by Viprarani	yellow; or emerald	blue water-lily or blue lotus	15 dhanusha	10,000 years	Bakula (Mimusops elengi Mimusops elengi Mimusops elengi... )	Bhrikuti and Gandhari; or Chamundi	Subha; Anila	Samet Sikhar
XXII. Neminatha	Aparajita	Sauripura and Ujjinta (Ujjain); Mount Girnar (Girnarji)	Samudravijaya by Sivadevi	black	conch	10 dhanusha	1,000 years	Vetasa	Gomedha and Ambika Ambika (Jainism) Ambika or Ambika Devi is the ' or the ' of the 22nd Tirthankara Neminatha. Sheis also known as Ambai, Amba and Amra Kushmandini.... ; or Sarvahna and Kushmandini	Varadatta; Yakshadinna	Mount Girnar
XXIII. Parshva Parshva Parshvanath or Parshvanatha was the twenty-third Tirthankara in Jainism. fl. ca. in the 9th Century BCE, traditionally . He is the earliest Jain leader generally accepted as a historical figure....	Pranatadevaloka	Varanasi; Sammet Shikharji Shikharji Shri Sammed Shikharji , located near Giridih, in Jharkhand States and territories of India, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world....	Asvasenaraja by Vamadevi	blue	snake	9 hands or cubits	100 years	Dhataki (Grislea tomentosa)	Parsvayaksha or Dharanendra and Padmavati Padmavati (Jainism) The demi-goddess Padmavati is very popular amongst Jains. Padmavati is the main deity at Humbaj, the famous Jain pilgrim centre.Padmavati is different from Lakshmi....	Aryadinna; Pushpachu[d.]a	Samet Sikhar
XXIV. Mahavira Mahavira Mahavira is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamana who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism....	Pranatadevaloka	Kundagrama or Chitrakuta; Rijubalika	Siddhartharaja, Sreyansa or Yasasvin by Trisala Vidchadinna or Priyakarini	yellow	lion	7 hands or cubits	72 years	teak	Matamga and Siddhayika	Indrabhuti; Chandrabala	Pava Puri

Item Description:

1 Dhanush This is approximately 9 feet or 3 meters

1 Lakh 100,000 (One hundred thousand)

1 Purva 84 Lakh x 84 Lakh Years = 70,560,000,000,000 years = 70,560 billion years

Tirthankar

Overview

Particular Tirthankars

Narration Chart of 24 Tirathankars

See also

External links