Tirthankar

In Jainism, a Tirthankar (तीर्थंकर: "Fordmaker or Propagator"; 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 arihant, who establishes the fourfold religious order consisting of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen after achieving omniscience. Every Tirthankar revitalises the Jain order.
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 2011, we are exactly 2,538 years into the fifth era of the present half cycle.
Jains believe that exactly twenty four Tirthankars are born in each half cycle of time in this part of the universe. The first Tirthankar Rishabh Dev who lived a very long time ago was credited for formulating and organising humans to live in a society harmoniously, attained liberation ('moksh' or 'nirvan') towards the end of the third era. The 24th and last Tirthankar was Mahavir (599-527 BCE), 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==
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 achieved Nirvaan 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 achieved 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 Arihant the particulars are given below:
Tirthankar 	Heaven before birth	Birthplace;Consecration 	Parents 	Complexion 	Symbol 	Height 	Number of Years Lived 	Tree 	Attendantspirits 	Male disciple;Female disciple	Place of Nirvan 	Birth
1 Lord Rishabha (Adinath)	Sarvarthasiddha 	Vinittanagari;Palitana 	Nabhirajaby Marudevi 	golden 	bull or ox 	1,500 Meters 	592.704 Quintillion Years	Vata (banyan) 	Gomukha andChakresvari 	Pundarika;Brahmi 	Ashtapad (Kailasha)	10^224 Years Ago
2 Ajitnath 	Vijayavimana 	Ayodhya;Sammet Shikharji 	Jita['s]atruby Vijayamata 	golden 	elephant 	1,350 Meters 	508.032 Quintillion Years	['S]ala(Shorea robusta) 	Mahayaksha andAjitabala;or Rohi[n.]i 	['S]i[.m]hasena;Phalgu 	Sammed Sikhar 	5 x 10^223 Years Ago
3 Sambhavanath 	Uvarimagraiveka 	Savathi;Sravasti 	Jitariby Senamata 	golden 	horse 	1,200 Meters 	423.360 Quintillion Years	Prayala(Buchanania latifolia)	Trimukha andDuritari;or Prajnapti 	Charu;Syama 	Samet Sikhar 	2 x 10^223 Years Ago
4 Abhinandannath 	Jayantavimana 	Ayodhya;Sammet Shikharji 	Sambararajaby Siddhartha 	golden 	monkey 	1,050 Meters 	352.8 Quintillion Years 	Priyangu(Panicum italicum) 	Nayaka andKalika; orYakshesvara andVajrasrinkhala 	Vajranabha;Ajita 	Samet Sikhar 	10^223 Years Ago
5 Sumatinath 	Jayantavimana 	Ayodhya;Sammet Shikharji 	Megharajaby Mangala 	golden 	curlew orred goose 	900 Meters 	282.24 Quintillion Years 	Sala 	Tumburu andMahakali; orPurushadatta 	Charama;Kasyapi 	Samet Sikhar 	10^222 Years Ago
6 Padmaprabha 	Uvarimagraiveka 	Kausambi;Sammet Shikharji 	Sridharaby Susima 	red 	lotus 	750 Meters 	211.68 Quintillion Years 	Chhatra 	Kusuma andSyama; orManovegaor Manogupti 	Pradyotana;Rati 	Samet Sikhar 	10^221 Years Ago
7 Suparshvanath 	Madhyamagraiveka 	Varanasi;Sammet Shikharji 	Pratish[t.]harajaby P[r.]ithvi 	goldenor emerald 	swastika 	600 Meters 	141.12 Quintillion Years 	Sirisha(Acacia sirisha) 	Matangaand Santa; orVaranandiand Kali 	Vidirbha;Soma 	Samet Sikhar 	10^220 Years Ago
8 Chandraprabha 	Vijayanta 	Chandrapura;Sammet Shikharji 	Mahasenarajaby Lakshmana 	white 	moon 	450 Meters 	70.56 Quintillion Years 	Naga 	Vijaya andBhrikuti; orSyama or Vijayaand Jvalamalini	Dinna;Sumana 	Samet Sikhar 	10^219 Years Ago
9 Pushpadanta 	Anatadevaloka 	Kanandinagari;Sammet Shikharji 	Sugrivarajaby Ramarani 	white 	Crocodile 	300 Meters 	14.112 Quintillion Years 	Sali 	Ajita andSutaraka;or Mahakali 	Varahaka;Varuni 	Samet Sikhar 	10^218 Years Ago
10 Sheetalnath 	Achyutadevaloka 	Bhadrapura or Bhadilapura;Sammet Shikharji 	Dridharatha-rajaby Nanda 	golden 	Kalpavriksha orficus religiosa	270 Meters 	7.056 Quintillion Years 	Priyangu 	Brahma andAsoka; orManavi 	Nanda;Sujasa 	Samet Sikhar 	10^217 Years Ago
11 Shreyansanath 	Achyutadevaloka 	Simhapuri;Sammet Shikharji 	Vishnurajaby Vishna 	golden 	rhinoceros 	240 Meters 	8,400,000 Years 	Tanduka 	Yakshet andManavi; orIsvara andGauri 	Kasyapa;Dharani 	Samet Sikhar 	10^212 Years Ago
12 Vasupujya 	Pranatadevaloka 	Champapuri;Sammet Shikharji 	Vasupujyaby Jaya 	ruddy 	female buffalo 	210 Meters 	7,200,000 Years 	Patala(Bignonia suaveolens) 	Kumara andChanda; orGandhari 	Subhuma;Dharani 	Champapuri 	4 x 10^211 Years Ago
13 Vimalnath 	Mahasaradevaloka 	Kampilyapura;Sammet Shikharji 	Kritavarmarajaby Syama 	golden 	pig 	180 Meters 	6,000,000 Years 	Jambu(Eugenia jambolana) 	Shanmukha andVidita; orVairo[t.]i) 	Mandara;Dhara 	Samet Sikhar 	1.6 x 10^211 Years Ago
14 Anantnath 	Pranatadevaloka 	Ayodhya;Sammet Shikharji 	Simhasenaby Suyasahor Sujasa 	golden 	porcupine 	150 Meters 	3,000,000 Years 	Asoka(Jonesia asoka) 	Patala andAnkusa; orAnantamati 	Jasa ;Padma 	Samet Sikhar 	7 x 10^210 Years Ago
15 Dharmanath 	Vijayavimana 	Ratnapuri;Sammet Shikharji 	Bhanurajaby Suvrita 	golden 	vajra 	135 Meters 	2,500,000 Years 	Dadhiparna(Clitoria ternatea)	Kinnara andKandarpa;or Manasi 	Arishta;Arthasiva 	Samet Sikhar 	3 x 10^210 Years Ago
16 Shantinath 	Sarvarthasiddha 	Gajapura or Hastinapuri;Sammet Shikharji 	Visvasenaby Achira 	golden 	deer 	120 Meters 	100,000 Years 	Nandi(Cedrela toona) 	Garuda andNirvani; orKimpurusha andMahamanasi 	Chakrayuddha;Suchi 	Samet Sikhar 	10^194 Years Ago
17 Kunthunath 	Sarvarthasiddha 	Gajapura;Sammet Shikharji 	Surarajaby Srirani 	golden 	goat 	105 Meters 	95,000 Years 	Bhilaka 	Gandharva andBala; orVijaya 	Samba;Damini 	Samet Sikhar 	10^194 Years Ago
18 Aranath 	Sarvarthasiddha 	Gajapura;Sammet Shikharji 	Sudarsanaby Devirani 	golden 	fish orPisces 	90 Meters 	84,000 Years 	Amba(Mango) 	Yaksheta andDhana; orKendra andAjita 	Kumbha;Rakshita 	Samet Sikhar 	16,584,980 BCE
19 Mallinath 	Jayantadevaloka 	Mithila;Sammet Shikharji 	Kumbharajaby Prabhavati 	blue 	jar or Kalasa 	75 Meters 	55,000 Years 	Asoka 	Kubera andDharanapriya;or Aparajita 	Abhikshaka;Bandhumati 	Samet Sikhar 	6,584,980 BCE
20 Munisuvrata 	Aparajita-devaloka 	Rajagriha;Sammet Shikharji 	Sumitrarajaby Padmavati 	black 	tortoise 	60 Meters 	30,000 Years 	Champaka(Michelia champaka) 	Varuna andNaradatta; orBahurupini 	Malli;Pushpavati 	Samet Sikhar 	1,184,980 BCE
21 Nami Natha 	Pranatadevaloka 	Mithila;Sammet Shikharji 	Vijayarajaby Viprarani 	yellow;or emerald	blue water-lily or blue lotus 	45 Meters 	10,000 Years 	Bakula(Mimusops elengi) 	Bhrikuti andGandhari; orChamundi 	Subha;Anila 	Samet Sikhar 	584,979 BCE
22 Neminatha 	Aparajita 	Sauripura and Ujjinta (Ujjain);Mount Girnar (Girnarji)	Samudravijayaby Sivadevi 	black 	conch 	30 Meters 	1,000 Years 	Vetasa 	Gomedha andAmbika; orSarvahna andKushmandini 	Varadatta;Yakshadinna 	Mount Girnar 	3228 BCE
23 Parshva 	Pranatadevaloka 	Varanasi;Sammet Shikharji 	Asvasenarajaby Vamadevi 	blue 	snake 	7.7142852 Feet	100 Years 	Dhataki(Grislea tomentosa) 	Parsvayaksha orDharanendraand Padmavati 	Aryadinna;Pushpachu[d.]a 	Samet Sikhar 	877 BCE
24 Mahavira 	Pranatadevaloka 	Kundagrama or kshatriyakund ;Rijubalika 	Siddhartharaja,Sreyansa orYasasvinby TrisalaVidchadinnaor Priyakarini	yellow 	lion 	7 Feet 	72 Years 	teak 	Matanga andSiddhayika 	Indrabhuti;Chandrabala 	Pava Puri 	599 BCE
The total length of the lifespans of all 24 Tirthankar's combined equals 2.603672 Sextillion years.
==Living tirthankars==
In the present time and age, there are no living tirthankars on this Earth. The last living on Earth in this age was tirthankar Bhagwan Shri Mahavir Swami, who attained omniscience some 2500 years ago. Nevertheless, this universe is never devoid of living tirthankars at any point of time though they exist in other parts of the universe. Currently in Mahavideh Kshetra there are 20 living tirthankars and their names are :
* Shri Simandhar Swami
* Shri Yughmandhar Swami
* Shri Bahu Swami
* Shri Subahu Swami
* Shri Sujat Swami
* Shri Swayamprabha Swami
* Shri Rhushabbhanan Swami
* Shri Anantavirya Swami
* Shri Soorprabha Swami
* Shri Vishalprabha Swami
* Shri Vajadhar Swami
* Shri Chandranan Swami
* Shri Chandrabahu Swami
* Shri Bhuyoung Swami
* Shri Ishwar Swami
* Shri Namiprabha Swami
* Shri Virsen Swami
* Shri Mahabhadra Swami
* Shri Devyash Swami
* Shri Abhivirya Swami.
The twenty Viharman Tirthankars existing at present in the Mahavideh area were born at the same time just after the Nirvana of the 17th Tirthankar of Bharat area, Kunthunath. All of them took Diksah together just after the Nirvana of 20th Tirthankar Munisuvrat. Just after one month of becoming ascetics they all attained omniscience. They all will get liberated at the same time after the Nirvana of the seventh Tirthankar of future ascending cycle of time, Shri Udaynath.
When all these Tirthankars are liberated other future Tirthankars will attain omniscience in the other part of Mahavideh area. This is an unbroken tradition since time immemorial and will continue for all time to come. The rule is that a minimum of twenty Tirthankars must always exist. The maximum number can go up to 170.http://www.jainworld.com/jainbooks/tirthankar/apendix-8.htm
==References==
*http://www.sacred-texts.com/jai/sbe22/sbe2288.htm
*http://www.jain24.org/index.phpoption=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.
* Jaina.org
* Jainsamaj.org
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