Tirthankara

Mahavira, 24th and last Tīrthaṅkara

Jainism
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In Jainism, a Tīrthaṅkara (Sanskrit: तीर्थंकर "ford-Maker", Old Tamil: கடவுள் Kaṭavuḷ) is a human being who achieves moksa ("liberation, enlightenment") through asceticism and who then becomes a role-model and teacher for those seeking spiritual guidance.

According to Jain teachings, a being who obtains Kevala Jnana - a kevalin - is sure to attain moksa. One who attains moksa is referred to as a siddha, but only a siddha who establishes or revitalises Jainism - one who establishes a "ford" or tīrtha across the river of human misery - is called a tīrthaṅkara.

Overview

The Tīrthaṅkaras' religious teachings form the Jain canons. The inner knowledge of all Tīrthaṅkaras is perfect and identical in every respect, for the teachings of one Tīrthaṅkara 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 Tīrthaṅkara achieves moksa or nirvana, ending the cycle of infinite births and deaths.

Jainism posits that 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. As of 2011, we are exactly 2,538 years into the fifth era of the present half cycle.^{[citation needed]}

Jains believe that exactly twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras are born in each half-cycle of time in this part of the universe. The first Tīrthaṅkara, Rishabha, who is credited for formulating and organising humans to live in a society harmoniously, attained liberation towards the end of the third era. The 24th and last Tīrthaṅkara was Mahavira (599-527 BC), whose existence is historically-accepted fact. Digambara Jains believe that all twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras were men because women cannot achieve moksa, but Svetambara Jains believe that the 19th Tīrthaṅkara, Mallinath, was a woman and that sex and gender are no impediment to moksa.

The next Tīrthaṅkara 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 Tīrthaṅkaras direct us to enlightenment, their statues are worshipped in Jain temples by Jains aspiring to achieve enlightenment. Tīrthaṅkaras are not God or gods. Jainism does not believe in the existence of God in the sense of a creator; they are considered super-human beings but also lack full enlightenment.

Particular Tīrthaṅkaras

Tīrthaṅkaras in British Museum

Depictions of the Tīrthaṅkaras in various forms, including images and statues, 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 Parshva, the twenty-third, who has snake-hoods over him, and Suparshvanath, the seventh, whom the Digambaras depict with a smaller group of snake-hoods.

Digambara representations are nude however those of the Svetambaras are 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 or Lanchans (cognizances) carved on the cushions of their thrones.

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.

All but Rishabha received diksha “consecration” and Kevala Jnana (complete enlightenment) at their native places. Rishabha became a ‘’Kevalin’’ at Purimatala, Nemi at Girnar, and Mahavira at the Rijuvaluka river. Twenty Tīrthaṅkaras achieved nirvana on Sammet Sikhar. Digamaras believe Rishabha did so on Mount Kailash while Svetambaras state he achieved nirvana on Mount Ashtapada. Vasupujya attained nirvana at Champapuri in North Bengal; Neminatha on Mount Girnar in Gujarat; and Mahavira, the last, at Pawapuri, near modern Bihar's capital, Patna.

Twenty-one of the Tirthakaras are said to have attained Moksha in the kayotsarga “standing mediation” posture and Rishabha, Nemi and Mahavira in the padmasana “lotus throne” posture.

Narration Chart of 24 Tirathankars

For each Siddha the particulars are given below:

Tīrthaṅkara	Heaven before birth	Birthplace; Consecration	Parents	Complexion	Symbol	Height	Number of Years Lived	Tree	Attendant spirits	Male disciple; Female disciple	Place of Nirvan	Birth
1 Rishabha	Sarvarthasiddha	Vinittanagari; Palitana	Nabhiraja by Marudevi	golden	bull or ox	1500m	592.704 Quintillion Years	Vata (banyan)	Gomukha and Chakresvari	Pundarika; Brahmi	Ashtapad (Kailasha)	10224 Years Ago
2 Ajitnath	Vijayavimana	Ayodhya; Shikharji	Jitashatru by Vijayamata	golden	elephant	1,350 Meters	508.032 Quintillion Years	Shala (Shorea robusta)	Mahayaksha and Ajitabala; or Rohi[n.]i	Shimhasena; Phalgu	Shikharji	5 x 10223 Years Ago
3 Sambhavanath	Uvarimagraiveka	Savathi; Sravasti	Jitari by Senamata	golden	horse	1200m	423.360 Quintillion Years	Prayala (Buchanania latifolia)	Trimukha and Duritari; or Prajnapti	Charu; Syama	Samet Sikhar	2 x 10223 Years Ago
4 Abhinandannath	Jayantavimana	Ayodhya; Shikharji	Sambararaja by Siddhartha	golden	monkey	1050m	352.8 Quintillion Years	Priyangu (Panicum italicum)	Nayaka and Kalika; or Yakshesvara and Vajrasrinkhala	Vajranabha; Ajita	Shikharji	10223 Years Ago
5 Sumatinath	Jayantavimana	Ayodhya; Shikharji	Megharaja by Mangala	golden	curlew or red goose	900 Meters	282.24 Quintillion Years	Shala	Tumburu and Mahakali; or Purushadatta	Charama; Kasyapi	Shikharji	10222 Years Ago
6 Padmaprabha	Uvarimagraiveka	Kausambi; Sammet Shikharji	Sridhara by Susima	red	lotus	750m	211.68 Quintillion Years	Chhatra	Kusuma and Shyama; or Manovega or Manogupti	Pradyotana; Rati	Shikharji	10221 Years Ago
7 Suparshvanath	Madhyamagraiveka	Varanasi; Shikharji	Pratishtharaja by Prthvi	golden or emerald	swastika	600 Meters	141.12 Quintillion Years	Sirisha (Albizia lebbeck)	Matanga and Santa; or Varanandi and Kali	Vidirbha; Soma	Shikharji	10220 Years Ago
8 Chandraprabha	Vijayanta	Chandrapura; Sammet Shikharji	Mahasenaraja by Lakshmana	white	moon	450m	70.56 Quintillion Years	Naga	Vijaya and Bhrikuti; or Shyama or Vijaya and Jvalamalini	Dinna; Sumana	Shikharji	10219 Years Ago
9 Pushpadanta	Anatadevaloka	Kanandinagari; Shikharji	Sugrivaraja by Ramarani	white	Crocodile	300m	14.112 Quintillion Years	Sali	Ajita and Sutaraka; or Mahakali	Varahaka; Varuni	Shikharji	10218 Years Ago
10 Sheetalnath	Achyutadevaloka	Bhadrapura or Bhadilapura; Shikharji	Dridharatha-raja by Nanda	golden	Kalpavriksha or Ficus religiosa	270m	7.056 Quintillion Years	Priyangu	Brahma and Asoka; or Manavi	Nanda; Sujasa	Shikharji	10217 Years Ago
11 Shreyansanath	Achyutadevaloka	Simhapuri; Shikharji	Vishnuraja by Vishna	golden	rhinoceros	240m	8,400,000 Years	Tanduka	Yakshet and Manavi; or Ishvara and Gauri	Kasyapa; Dharani	Shikharji	10212 Years Ago
12 Vasupujya	Pranatadevaloka	Champapuri; Shikharji	Vasupujya by Jaya	ruddy	female buffalo	210 Meters	7,200,000 Years	Patala (Bignonia suaveolens)	Kumara and Chanda; or Gandhari	Subhuma; Dharani	Champapuri	4 x 10211 Years Ago
13 Vimalnath	Mahasaradevaloka	Kampilyapura; Shikharji	Kritavarmaraja by Shyama	golden	pig	180 Meters	6,000,000 Years	Jambu (Eugenia jambolana)	Shanmukha and Vidita; or Vairoti)	Mandara; Dhara	Shikharji	1.6 x 10211 Years Ago
14 Anantnath	Pranatadevaloka	Ayodhya; Shikharji	Simhasena by Suyasah or Sujasa	golden	porcupine	150 Meters	3,000,000 Years	Asoka (Saraca asoca)	Patala and Ankusa; or Anantamati	Jasa ; Padma	Shikharji	7 x 10210 Years Ago
15 Dharmanath	Vijayavimana	Ratnapuri; Shikharji	Bhanuraja by Suvrita	golden	vajra	135m	2,500,000 Years	Dadhiparna (Clitoria ternatea)	Kinnara and Kandarpa; or Manasi	Arishta; Arthasiva	Samet Sikhar	3 x 10210 Years Ago
16 Shantinath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura or Hastinapuri; Shikharji	Visvasena by Achira	golden	deer	120 Meters	100,000 Years	Nandi (Cedrela toona)	Garuda and Nirvani; or Kimpurusha and Mahamanasi	Chakrayuddha; Suchi	Shikharji	10194 Years Ago
17 Kunthunath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura; Shikharji	Suraraja by Srirani	golden	goat	105m	95,000 Years	Bhilaka	Gandharva and Bala; or Vijaya	Samba; Damini	Samet Sikhar	10194 Years Ago
18 Aranath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura; Shikharji	Sudarsana by Devirani	golden	fish or Pisces	90 Meters	84,000 Years	Amba (Mango)	Yaksheta and Dhana; or Kendra and Ajita	Kumbha; Rakshita	Shikharji	16,584,980 BCE
19 Mallinath	Jayantadevaloka	Mithila; Shikharji	Kumbharaja by Prabhavati	blue	jar or Kalasa	75 Meters	55,000 Years	Asoka	Kubera and Dharanapriya; or Aparajita	Abhikshaka; Bandhumati	Shikharji	6,584,980 BCE
20 Munisuvrata	Aparajita-devaloka	Rajagriha; Shikharji	Sumitraraja by Padmavati	black	tortoise	60 Meters	30,000 Years	Champaka (Magnolia champaca)	Varuna and Naradatta; or Bahurupini	Malli; Pushpavati	Shikharji	1,184,980 BCE
21 Nami Natha	Pranatadevaloka	Mithila; Sammet Shikharji	Vijayaraja by Viprarani	yellow; or emerald	blue water-lily or blue lotus	45 Meters	10,000 Years	Bakula (Mimusops elengi)	Bhrikuti and Gandhari; or Chamundi	Subha; Anila	Shikharji	584,979 BCE
22 Neminatha	Aparajita	Sauripura and Ujjinta (Ujjain); Mount Girnar	Samudravijaya by Sivadevi	black	conch	30m	1,000 Years	Vetasa	Gomedha and Ambika; or Sarvahna and Kushmandini	Varadatta; Yakshadinna	Mount Girnar	3228 BCE
23 Parshva	Pranatadevaloka	Varanasi; Sammet Shikharji	Asvasenaraja by Vamadevi	blue	snake	7.7142852 Feet	100 Years	Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa)	Parsvayaksha or Dharanendra and Padmavati	Aryadinna; Pushpachuda	Shikharji	877 BCE
24 Mahavira	Pranatadevaloka	Kundagrama (Vaishali District Bihar) ; Rijubalika	Siddhartharaja, Sreyansa or Yasasvin by Trisala Vidchadinna or Priyakarini	yellow	lion	7 Feet	72 Years	teak	Matanga and Siddhayika	Indrabhuti; Chandrabala	Pava Puri	599 BCE

The total length of the lifespans of all 24 Tīrthaṅkaras combined equals 2.603672 Sextillion years.

Living Tīrthaṅkaras

At present time and age, there are no living Tīrthaṅkaras on this Earth. The last living on Earth in this age was Mahavira, who attained omniscience some 2500 years ago.

Nevertheless, Jains believe the universe is never devoid of living Tīrthaṅkaras at any point of time, even though they may at times exist only in other parts of the universe.

See also

• Ahimsa in Jainism
• Deshna
• Dharma (Jainism)
• Jain cosmology
• Karma in Jainism
• Moksa (Jainism)
• Samsara (Jainism)
• Tattva (Jainism)
• Types of Karma

References

• http://www.sacred-texts.com/jai/sbe22/sbe2288.htm
• http://www.jain24.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=27&limitstart=12
• http://www.jaine.org/Science/General%20Science/article_210.php

External links

• AtmaDharma.com Library of Jain Literature in English, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Prakrit & Sanskrit) - all freely downloadable.
• www.jaina.org
• www.jainsamaj.org
• JainReligion.in Jain Dharma, Jain Tīrthaṅkara, Jainism, Jain Songs.