Tirthankara

A statue of Lord Mahavira, the last Tirthankara, located in the Shri Mahaveerji temple (Rajasthan, India).

In Jainism, the Tirthankara ("Fordmaker") (also Tirthankara) refer to twenty four enlightened spiritual masters who are believed to have achieved perfect knowledge through asceticism. They are also known as Jina ("Victors") for totally conquering anger, pride, deceit, and desire.

The Tirthankara provide the highest model of spiritual conduct in the Jain religion and communal devotional practice often involves veneration of these figures. Their teachings have been compiled in the Jain scriptures known as the Ägams, also called the Jain Shrut.

Jainism is renowned throughout the world for its exemplary devotion to the practice of ahimsa (non-violence), which was embodied by the Tirthankara. The next Tirthankara will be born at the beginning of the third era of the next (ascending) half cycle of time, in approximately 81,500 years.

Cosmological Context

According to Jain cosmology, human existence is very ancient compared to most other religious calendars; consequently, it is believed that the various Tirthankaras have existed over billions of years in order to teach humanity in different epochs. Jainism states 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. 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 our current (descending) half cycle of time, the first Tirthankar Rishabh Dev, lived billions of years ago and attained liberation ('moksh' or 'nirvan') towards the end of the third era. The twenty-fourth and last Tirthankar was Mahavir Swami (599-527 B.C.E.), whose existence is a historically accepted fact. The most recent Tirthankara, known as Mahavira, is sometimes incorrectly called the founder of Jainism. At the end of his human life-span, each Tirthankara achieves liberation ('moksh' or 'nirvan'), ending the cycle of infinite births and deaths.

Iconography

Jain Miniature Painting of 24 Jain Tirthankaras from Jaipur circa 1850

Depictions of the Tirthankaras are almost 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. Alternatively they may be represented standing in the meditation Khadgasana (Kayotsarga) posture. This is similar to the military standing at attention and is a difficult posture to hold for a long period. It has the attraction to Jains that it reduces to the minimum the amount of the body in contact with the earth, and so posing a risk to the sentient creatures living in or on it.

Tirthankara images do not have distinctive facial features, clothing or (mostly) hair-styles, and are differentiated on the basis of the symbol or emblem (Lanchhana) belonging to each tirthanakar. Only two are represented differently: that of Parshvanatha, the twenty-third, who has snake-hoods over him, and Suparsva, the seventh, who the Digambarashas depict with a smaller group of snake-hoods.

Digambara representations are 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 (cognizances) carved on the cushions of their thrones.

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

Worship

Tirthankaras in British Museum

Although Tirthankara statues are worshiped in Jain temples, they are not seen as gods. Jainism does not believe in the existence of God in the sense of a creator. Moreover, while gods are beings superior to humans, they are, nevertheless, not fully enlightened.

Sectarian Differences

The Digambara sect of Jainism believes that all twenty four Tirthankars were men but Svetambara sect claims that the nineteenth Tirthankar, Malli Nath, was a woman.

Lineage

All but two of the Tirthankaras 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.

All but Rishabha received diksha (consecration) and jnana (complete enlightenment of all knowledge) at their native places. Rishabha became a Kevalin at Purimatala, Nemi at Girnar, and Mahavira at the Rijupaluka river. Twenty Tirthankaras died or obtained moksha (deliverance in bliss) on Sameta Sikhara. However Rishabha, the first, achieved nirvana on the Kailasa Mountain of the Himalayas; Vasupujya died at Champapuri in north Bengal; Neminatha on Mount Girnar; and Mahavira, the last, at Pavapur.

Narration Chart of 24 Tirathankars

The following particulars for each Arhat are given below:

Tirthankar	Heaven	Birthplace; Consecration	Parents	Complex	Symbol	Height	Age	Tree	Attendant spirits	Male disciple; Female disciple
I. Lord Rishabha (Adinath)	Sarvarthasiddha	Vinittanagari; Purimatala	Nabhiraja by Marudeva	golden	bull or ox	500 dhanusha (poles)	8,400,000 purva (great years)	Vata (banyan)	Gomukha and Chakresvari	Pundarika; Brahmi
II. Ajitnath	Vijayavimana	Ayodhya; Sammet Shikharji	Jita['s]atru by Vijayamata	golden	elephant	450 dhanusha	7,200,000 purva	['S]ala (Shorea robusta)	Mahayaksha and Ajitabala; or Rohi[n.]i	['S]i[.m]hasena; Phalgu
III. Sambhavanath	Uvarimagraiveka	Savathi; Sravasti	Jitari by Senamata	golden	horse	400 dhanusha	6,000,000 purva	Prayala (Buchanania latifolia)	Trimukha and Duritari; or Prajnapti	Charu; Syama
IV. Abhinandannath	Jayantavimana	Ayodhya; Sammet Shikharji	Sambararaja by Siddhartha	golden	monkey	350 dhanusha	5,000,000 purva	Priyangu (Panicum italicum)	Nayaka and Kalika; or Yakshesvara and Vajrasrinkhala	Vajranabha; Ajita
V. Sumatinath	Jayantavimana	Ayodhya; Sammet Shikharji	Megharaja by Mangala	golden	curlew or red goose	300 dhanusha	4,000,000 purva	Sala	Tumburu and Mahakali; or Purushadatta	Charama; Kasyapi
VI. Padmaprabha	Uvarimagraiveka	Kausambi; Sammet Shikharji	Sridhara by Susima	red	lotus	250 dhanusha	3,000,000 purva	Chhatra	Kusuma and Syama; or Manovega or Manogupti	Pradyotana; Rati
VII. Suparshvanath	Madhyamagraiveka	Varanasi; Sammet Shikharji	Pratish[t.]haraja by P[r.]ithvi	golden or emerald	swastika	200 dhanusha	2,000,000 purva	Sirisha (Acacia sirisha)	Matanga and Santa; or Varanandi and Kali	Vidirbha; Soma
VIII. Chandraprabha	Vijayanta	Chandrapura; Sammet Shikharji	Mahasenaraja by Lakshmana	white	moon	150 dhanusha	1,000,000 purva	Naga	Vijaya and Bhrikuti; or Syama or Vijaya and Jvalamalini	Dinna; Sumana
IX. Pushpadanta	Anatadevaloka	Kanandinagari; Sammet Shikharji	Sugrivaraja by Ramarani	white	Crocodile	100 dhanusha	200,000 purva	Sali	Ajita and Sutaraka; or Mahakali	Varahaka; Varuni
X. Sheetalnath	Achyutadevaloka	Bhadrapura or Bhadilapura; Sammet Shikharji	Dridharatha-raja by Nanda	golden	Kalpavriksha or [icus religiosa	90 dhanusha	100,000 purva	Priyangu	Brahma and Asoka; or Manavi	Nanda; Sujasa
XI. Shreyansanath	Achyutadevaloka	Simhapuri; Sammet Shikharji	Vishnuraja by Vishna	golden	rhinoceros	80 dhanusha	8,400,000 common years	Tanduka	Yakshet and Manavi; or Isvara and Gauri	Kasyapa; Dharani
XII. Vasupujya	Pranatadevaloka	Champapuri; Sammet Shikharji	Vasupujya by Jaya	ruddy	female buffalo	70 dhanusha	7,200,000 years	Patala (Bignonia suaveolens)	Kumara and Chanda; or Gandhari	Subhuma; Dharani
XIII. Vimalnath	Mahasaradevaloka	Kampilyapura; Sammet Shikharji	Kritavarmaraja by Syama	golden	pig	60 dhanusha	6,000,000 years	Jambu (Eugenia jambolana)	Shanmukha and Vidita; or Vairo[t.]i)	Mandara; Dhara
XIV. Anantnath	Pranatadevaloka	Ayodhya; Sammet Shikharji	Simhasena by Suyasah or Sujasa	golden	porcupine	50 dhanusha	3,000,000 years	Asoka (Jonesia asoka)	Patala and Ankusa; or Anantamati	Jasa ; Padma
XV. Dharmanath	Vijayavimana	Ratnapuri; Sammet Shikharji	Bhanuraja by Suvrita	golden	vajra	45 dhanusha	1,000,000 years	Dadhiparna (Clitoria ternatea)	Kinnara and Kandarpa; or Manasi	Arishta; Arthasiva
XVI. Shantinath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura or Hastinapuri; Sammet Shikharji	Visvasena by Achira	golden	deer	40 dhanusha	100,000 years	Nandi (Cedrela toona)	Garuda and Nirvani; or Kimpurusha and Mahamanasi	Chakrayuddha; Suchi
XVII. Kunthunath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura; Sammet Shikharji	Suraraja by Srirani	golden	goat	35 dhanusha	95,000 years	Bhilaka	Gandharva and Bala; or Vijaya	Samba; Damini
XVIII. Aranath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura; Sammet Shikharji	Sudarsana by Devirani	golden	fish or Pisces	30 dhanusha	84,000 years	Amba (Mango)	Yaksheta and Dhana; or Kendra and Ajita	Kumbha; Rakshita
XIX. Mallinath	Jayantadevaloka	Mathura; Sammet Shikharji	Kumbharaja by Prabhavati	blue	jar or Kalasa	25 dhanusha	55,000 years	Asoka	Kubera and Dharanapriya; or Aparajita	Abhikshaka; Bandhumati
XX. Munisuvrata	Aparajita-devaloka	Rajagriha; Sammet Shikharji	Sumitraraja by Padmavati	black	tortoise	20 dhanusha	30,000 years	Champaka (Michelia champaka)	Varuna and Naradatta; or Bahurupini	Malli; Pushpavati
XXI. Nami Natha	Pranatadevaloka	Mathura; Sammet Shikharji	Vijayaraja by Viprarani	yellow; or emerald	blue water-lily or blue lotus	15 dhanusha	10,000 years	Bakula (Mimusops elengi)	Bhrikuti and Gandhari; or Chamundi	Subha; Anila
XXII. Neminatha	Aparajita	Sauripura and Ujjinta (Ujjain); Mount Girnar (Girnarji)	three by Senamata	black	conch	ten dhanusha	1,000 years	Vetasa	Gomedha and Ambika; or Sarvahna and Kushmandini	Varadatta; Yakshadinna
XXIII. Parshvanatha	Pranatadevaloka	Varanasi; Sammet Shikharji	Asvasenaraja by Vamadevi	blue	snake	nine hands or cubits	100 years	Dhataki (Grislea tomentosa)	Parsvayaksha or Dharanendra and Padmavati	Aryadinna; Pushpachu[d.]a
XXIV. Mahavira	Pranatadevaloka	Kundagrama or Chitrakuta; Rijupaluka	Siddhartharaja, Sreyansa or Yasasvin by Trisala Vidchadinna or Priyakarini	yellow	lion	seven hands or cubits	72 years	teak	Matamga and Siddhayika	Indrabhuti; Chandrabala

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Dundas, Paul. The Jains (Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices). Routledge; 2 edition, 2002. ISBN 978-0415266055
• Jain, Jyotindra and Eberhard Fischer, Jaina Iconography: The Tirthankara in Jaina Sculptures, Art and Rituals. Brill Academic Publishers, 1997. ISBN 978-9004052604
• Shah, Bharat S. An Introduction to Jainism. BookSurge Publishing, 2002. ISBN 978-0962367472

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