Mahavira 24th and last Tirthankar

Jainism
This article is part of a series on Jainism
Prayers and Vows
Navakar Mantra · Ahimsa · Brahmacharya · Satya · Nirvana · Asteya · Aparigraha · Anekantavada · Parasparopagraho Jīvānām
Key concepts
Kevala Jñāna · Cosmology · Samsara · Karma · Dharma · Mokṣa · Gunasthana · Navatattva
Major figures
The 24 Tirthankaras · Rishabha · Mahavira · Acharya  · Ganadhar · Siddhasen Divakar · Haribhadra
Jainism by region
India · Western
Sects
Svetambara · Digambara · Svetambar Terapanth · Sthanakvasi · Bisapantha · Murtipujaka
Texts
Kalpasutra · Agama · Tattvartha Sutra · Sanmatti Prakaran
Other
Timeline · Topics list
Jainism Portal  v • d • e

In Jainism, a Tirthankar (तीर्थंकर: "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, a person who has totally conquered base sensibilities such as anger, pride, deceit, or desire.

A Tirthankar is so called because he is the founder of a "Tirth" (literally, 'ford'), a Jain community which acts as a "ford" across the "river of human misery".

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 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 2010, we are exactly 2,537 years into the fifth era of the present half cycle.^{citation needed}

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 the current (descending) half cycle of time, the first Tirthankar Rishabh Dev^{citation needed}, lived sextillions of years ago and attained liberation ('moksh' or 'nirvan') towards the end of the third era. The 24th and last Tirthankar was Mahavira (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, Mallinath, 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, but in gods as beings, superior to humans but, nevertheless, not fully enlightened.

Particular Tirthankars

Tirthankaras in British Museum

Depictions of the Tirthankaras 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 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 or Lanchans (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.But as per Jain cannons Rishabha the first Tirthankar was the founder of the so-called Ikshvaku kula.

All but Rishabha received diksha (consecration) and Kevalgynan (complete enlightenment) at their native places. Rishabha became a Kevalin at Purimatala, Nemi at Girnar, and Mahavira at the Rijuvaluka river. Twenty Tirthankaras achived Nirvana on Sammet Sikhar. However Rishabha, the first, achieved nirvana on the Kailasa Mountain of the Himalayas as per digambar canons and as per shwetambar canons he achived nirvana on Ashtapad mount(which is no longer visibe to human eyes). Vasupujya attained nirvana at Champapuri in north Bengal; Neminatha on Mount Girnar in gujrat; and Mahavira, the last, at Pavapuri near patna in Bihar.

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

Narration Chart of 24 Tirathankars

For each Arhat the particulars are given below:

The total length of the lifespans of all 24 Tirthankar's combined equals 2.603672 Sextillion years.

See also

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

External links

• AtmaDharma.com Library of Jain Literature in English, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Prakrit & Sanskrit) - all freely downloadable.
• JainConnect.org Newly evolving Online Portal/Directory for Jain Community.
• www.jaina.org
• www.jainsofworld.com
• www.jainaworld.com
• www.jainsamaj.org
• 24 Tirthankaras
• JainismForWorld E-Gurukul
• Tirthankar Info
• Bhartiya Jain Milan
• 24 Tirthankaras Symbols