Tirthankara

Image of Rishabhanatha (first tirthankara)

In Jainism, a tirthankara (Sanskrit tīrthaṅkara) is an all knowing Teaching God who teaches the path to liberation from the cycle of births and deaths, called saṃsāra. According to Jains, over time, Jain teachings are gradually forgotten. Then, a rare individual is born who at some point in his life renounces the world to conquer the saṃsāra, the cycle of death and rebirth, on his own. After Tirthankara attains Kevala Jnana (omniscience) he refounds Jainism. Tirthankara provides a bridge for others to follow him from saṃsāra (worldy existence) to moksha (liberation).

According to Jains, exactly twenty-four tirthankaras grace this part of the universe in each half of the Jain time cycle. The first tirthankara was Rishabhanatha, who is said to have taught men various arts and professions including agriculture. The 24th and last tirthankara of present half-cycle was Mahavira (599-527 BC). His predecessor, Parshvanatha, the twenty-third tirthankara was an important historical figure.

The teachings tirthankara are compiled as scriptures called Agamas. All tirthankaras teach same philosophy and ethics and their teachings do not contradict. While tirthankaras are worshiped by Jains, there grace is said to be available for all living beings, regardless of religious orientation.

Tirthankaras are called Jina (victor), which means one who has conquered inner enemies such as anger, attachment, pride and greed. They are entirely free of all passions, and personal likes and dislikes. After attaining omniscience, they are free from eighteen imperfections like hunger, thirst, sleep etc.

Meaning

Tirthankara images at Gwalior Fort

The word tirthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha which means a fordable passage across the sea of repeated births and deaths (called saṃsāra). Tirthankaras are also called "Teaching Gods", "Ford-Makers", "Crossing Makers" and "Makers of the River-Crossing.

Tirthankara

The tīrthaṅkara nama-karma, a special type of karma is mentioned in the Jain texts. Bondage of this karma raises a soul to the supreme status of a Tīrthaṅkara. Tattvartha Sutra, a major Jain text, list down sixteen observances which lead to the influx of this karma-

Panch Kalyanaka

Auspicious dreams seen by a tirthankara's mother during pregnancy

Five auspicious events called, Pañca kalyāṇaka happen in the life of every tirthankara:

1. Gārbha kalyāṇaka (conception): When soul of the tirthankara comes into his mother's womb.
2. Janma kalyāṇaka (birth): Birth of a tirthankara. Indra, the head of celestial beings performs a ritual on tirthankara on Mount Meru.
3. Dīkṣā kalyāṇaka (renunciation): When a tirthankara renounces all worldly possessions and become an ascetic.
4. Jñāna kalyāṇaka: The event when a tirthankara attains omniscience and becomes all knowing. After this celestial beings erect a divine preaching hall called samavasarana from where he delivers sermons.
5. Nirvāṇa kalyāṇaka (liberation): When a tirthankara leaves his mortal body, it is known as nirvana. It is followed by the final liberation, moksha. Their soul goes to Siddhashila (topmost part of the Universe as per Jains) forever where they enjoy everlating happiness.

Samavasarana

Samavasarana of a tirthankara

After attaining omniscience, a tirthankara preaches the path to liberation in the samavasarana. According to Jain texts, the heavenly pavilion is erected by devas (heavenly beings) where devas, humans and animals assemble to hear the tirthankara. A tirthankara's speech is listened by all humans and animals in their own language. It is believed that during this speech, there is no unhappiness for miles around the site.

Tīrthaṅkaras of present cosmic age

Jainism teaches that time has no beginning or end. It moves like the wheel of a cart. Jains divide the time cycle in two halves, Utsarpiṇī or ascending time cycle and avasarpiṇī, the descending time cycle. 24 tirthankaras are born in each half of this cycle. In Jain tradition the tirthankaras were royal in their final lives, and Jain texts record details of their previous lives.  

Twenty-one of the tirthankaras are said to have attained moksha in the kayotsarga (standing meditation posture), while Rishabhanatha, Neminatha and Mahavira are said to have attained moksha in the Padmasana (lotus position).

List of the 24 tirthankaras

Present cosmic age

Image of tirthankara Neminatha, 12th century, Government Museum, Mathura

In chronological order, the names, emblems and colours of the 24 tirthankaras of this age are mentioned below: Dhanuṣa means "bow" and hatha means "hands".

No.	Name	Symbol	Colour	Height
1	Rishabhanatha (Adinatha)	Bull	Golden	500 dhanuṣa
2	Ajitanatha	Elephant	Golden	450 dhanuṣa
3	Sambhavanatha	Horse	Golden	400 dhanuṣa
4	Abhinandananatha	Monkey	Golden	350 dhanuṣa
5	Sumatinatha	Goose	Golden	300 dhanuṣa
6	Padmaprabha	Padma	Red	250 dhanuṣa
7	Suparshvanatha	Swastika	Golden	200 dhanuṣa
8	Chandraprabha	Crescent Moon	White	150 dhanuṣa
9	Pushpadanta	Crocodile or Makara	White	100 dhanuṣa
10	Shitalanatha	Shrivatsa	Golden	90 dhanuṣa
11	Shreyanasanatha	Rhinoceros	Golden	80 dhanuṣa
12	Vasupujya	Buffalo	Red	70 dhanusa
13	Vimalanatha	Boar	Golden	60 dhanusa
14	Anantanatha	Porcupine according to the Digambara Falcon according to the Śvētāmbara	Golden	50 dhanuṣa
15	Dharmanatha	Vajra	Golden	45 dhanuṣa
16	Shantinatha	Antelope or deer	Golden	40 dhanuṣa
17	Kunthunatha	Goat	Golden	35 dhanuṣa
18	Aranatha	Nandyavarta or fish	Golden	30 dhanuṣa
19	Māllīnātha	Kalasha	Blue	25 dhanuṣa
20	Munisuvrata	Tortoise	Black	20 dhanuṣa
21	Naminatha	Blue lotus	Golden	15 dhanuṣa
22	Neminatha	Shankha	Black	10 dhanuṣa
23	Parshvanatha	Snake	Blue	9 hatha
24	Mahavira	Lion	Golden	4 hatha

Gallery

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  Depiction of Twenty four tirthankaras
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