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.Flügel, P. (2010). 

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 
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 
Five auspicious events called, Pañca kalyāṇaka happen in the life of every tirthankara:
 Gārbha kalyāṇaka (conception): When soul of the tirthankara comes into his mother's womb.
 Janma kalyāṇaka (birth): Birth of a tirthankara. Indra, the head of celestial beings performs a ritual on tirthankara on Mount Meru.
 Dīkṣā kalyāṇaka (renunciation): When a tirthankara renounces all worldly possessions and become an ascetic.
 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.
 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 
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 
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

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Category:Jainism