Tirthankar

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In Jainism, a Tirthankar ("Fordmaker") (also Tirthankara or Jina) is a human being who achieves enlightenment (perfect knowledge) through asceticism and who then becomes a role-model teacher for those seeking spiritual guidance. A Tirthankar is a special sort of arhat (someone who has totally conquered anger, pride, deceit, desire, etc.). A Tirthankar is so called because they are the founder of a "Tirth" (lit. 'ford'), a Jain community which acts as a "ford" across the "river of human misery".

Contents

Overview

After achieving enlightenment, a Tirthankar shows others the path to enlightenment. The Tirthankar's religious teachings form the Jain canons. 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' or 'nirvan'), 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 Svetambaras believe that the 19th Tirthankar, Malli Nath, 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 statues are worshipped in Jain temples 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

Tirthankaras in British Museum

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, who 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 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 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. However Rishabha, the first, achieved nirvana on the Kailasa Mountain of the Himalayas; Vasupujya died at 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
I. Lord Rishabha (Adinath) Sarvarthasiddha Vinittanagari;
Purimatala		 Nabhiraja
by Marudevi		 golden bull or ox 500 dhanusha
(poles)		 8,400,000 purva
(great years)		 Vata (banyan) Gomukha and
Chakresvari		 Pundarika;
Brahmi
II. Ajitnath Vijayavimana Ayodhya;
Sammet Shikharji		 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
III. Sambhavanath Uvarimagraiveka Savathi;
Sravasti		 Jitari
by Senamata		 golden horse 400 dhanusha 6,000,000 purva Prayala
(Buchanania latifolia)		 Trimukha and
Duritari;
or Prajnapti		 Charu;
Syama
IV. Abhinandannath Jayantavimana Ayodhya;
Sammet Shikharji		 Sambararaja
by Siddhartha		 golden monkey 350 dhanusha 5,000,000 purva Priyangu
(Panicum italicum)		 Nayaka and
Kalika; or
Yakshesvara and
Vajrasrinkhala		 Vajranabha;
Ajita
V. Sumatinath Jayantavimana Ayodhya;
Sammet Shikharji		 Megharaja
by Mangala		 golden curlew or
red goose		 300 dhanusha 4,000,000 purva Sala Tumburu and
Mahakali; or
Purushadatta		 Charama;
Kasyapi
VI. Padmaprabha Uvarimagraiveka Kausambi;
Sammet Shikharji		 Sridhara
by Susima		 red lotus 250 dhanusha 3,000,000 purva Chhatra Kusuma and
Syama; or
Manovega
or Manogupti		 Pradyotana;
Rati
VII. Suparshvanath Madhyamagraiveka Varanasi;
Sammet Shikharji		 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
VIII. Chandraprabha Vijayanta Chandrapura;
Sammet Shikharji		 Mahasenaraja
by Lakshmana		 white moon 150 dhanusha 1,000,000 purva Naga Vijaya and
Bhrikuti; or
Syama or Vijaya
and Jvalamalini		 Dinna;
Sumana
IX. Pushpadanta Anatadevaloka Kanandinagari;
Sammet Shikharji		 Sugrivaraja
by Ramarani		 white Crocodile 100 dhanusha 200,000 purva Sali Ajita and
Sutaraka;
or Mahakali		 Varahaka;
Varuni
X. Sheetalnath Achyutadevaloka Bhadrapura or Bhadilapura;
Sammet Shikharji		 Dridharatha-raja
by Nanda		 golden Kalpavriksha or
ficus religiosa		 90 dhanusha 100,000 purva Priyangu Brahma and
Asoka; or
Manavi		 Nanda;
Sujasa
XI. Shreyansanath Achyutadevaloka Simhapuri;
Sammet Shikharji		 Vishnuraja
by Vishna		 golden rhinoceros 80 dhanusha 8,400,000 common years Tanduka Yakshet and
Manavi; or
Isvara and
Gauri		 Kasyapa;
Dharani
XII. Vasupujya Pranatadevaloka Champapuri;
Sammet Shikharji		 Vasupujya
by Jaya		 ruddy female buffalo 70 dhanusha 7,200,000 years Patala
(Bignonia suaveolens)		 Kumara and
Chanda; or
Gandhari		 Subhuma;
Dharani
XIII. Vimalnath Mahasaradevaloka Kampilyapura;
Sammet Shikharji		 Kritavarmaraja
by Syama		 golden pig 60 dhanusha 6,000,000 years Jambu
(Eugenia jambolana)		 Shanmukha and
Vidita; or
Vairo[t.]i)		 Mandara;
Dhara
XIV. Anantnath Pranatadevaloka Ayodhya;
Sammet Shikharji		 Simhasena
by Suyasah
or Sujasa		 golden porcupine 50 dhanusha 3,000,000 years Asoka
(Jonesia asoka)		 Patala and
Ankusa; or
Anantamati		 Jasa ;
Padma
XV. Dharmanath Vijayavimana Ratnapuri;
Sammet Shikharji		 Bhanuraja
by Suvrita		 golden vajra 45 dhanusha 1,000,000 years Dadhiparna
(Clitoria ternatea)		 Kinnara and
Kandarpa;
or Manasi		 Arishta;
Arthasiva
XVI. Shantinath Sarvarthasiddha Gajapura or Hastinapuri;
Sammet Shikharji		 Visvasena
by Achira		 golden deer 40 dhanusha 100,000 years Nandi
(Cedrela toona)		 Garuda and
Nirvani; or
Kimpurusha and
Mahamanasi		 Chakrayuddha;
Suchi
XVII. Kunthunath Sarvarthasiddha Gajapura;
Sammet Shikharji		 Suraraja
by Srirani		 golden goat 35 dhanusha 95,000 years Bhilaka Gandharva and
Bala; or
Vijaya		 Samba;
Damini
XVIII. Aranath Sarvarthasiddha Gajapura;
Sammet Shikharji		 Sudarsana
by Devirani		 golden fish or
Pisces		 30 dhanusha 84,000 years Amba
(Mango)		 Yaksheta and
Dhana; or
Kendra and
Ajita		 Kumbha;
Rakshita
XIX. Mallinath Jayantadevaloka Mathura;
Sammet Shikharji		 Kumbharaja
by Prabhavati		 blue jar or Kalasa 25 dhanusha 55,000 years Asoka Kubera and
Dharanapriya;
or Aparajita		 Abhikshaka;
Bandhumati
XX. Munisuvrata Aparajita-devaloka Rajagriha;
Sammet Shikharji		 Sumitraraja
by Padmavati		 black tortoise 20 dhanusha 30,000 years Champaka
(Michelia champaka)		 Varuna and
Naradatta; or
Bahurupini		 Malli;
Pushpavati
XXI. Nami Natha Pranatadevaloka Mathura;
Sammet Shikharji		 Vijayaraja
by Viprarani		 yellow;
or emerald		 blue water-lily or blue lotus 15 dhanusha 10,000 years Bakula
(Mimusops elengi)		 Bhrikuti and
Gandhari; or
Chamundi		 Subha;
Anila
XXII. Neminatha Aparajita Sauripura and Ujjinta (Ujjain);
Mount Girnar (Girnarji)		 Samudravijaya
by Sivadevi		 black conch 10 dhanusha 1,000 years Vetasa Gomedha and
Ambika; or
Sarvahna and
Kushmandini		 Varadatta;
Yakshadinna
XXIII. Parshva Pranatadevaloka Varanasi;
Sammet Shikharji		 Asvasenaraja
by Vamadevi		 blue snake 9 hands or cubits 100 years Dhataki
(Grislea tomentosa)		 Parsvayaksha or
Dharanendra
and Padmavati		 Aryadinna;
Pushpachu[d.]a
XXIV. Mahavira Pranatadevaloka Kundagrama or Chitrakuta;
Rijupaluka		 Siddhartharaja,
Sreyansa or
Yasasvin
by Trisala
Vidchadinna
or Priyakarini		 yellow lion 7 hands or cubits 72 years teak Matamga and
Siddhayika		 Indrabhuti;
Chandrabala

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

See also

External links