Tirthankar

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In Jainism, a Tirthankar ("Fordmaker") (also Tirthankara or Jina) is a human who achieves enlightenment (perfect knowledge), through asceticism. S/he becomes a Jina (after totally conquering anger, pride, deceit, desire, etc.). A Tirthankar is the founder of a "Tirth", a Jain community which acts as a "ford" across the "river of human misery".

After achieving enlightenment, a Tirthankar shows others the path to enlightenment. His/her 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/her human life-span, a Tirthankar achieves liberation ('moksh' or 'nirvan'), ending the cycle of infinite births and deaths.

Jainism states 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. At the beginning of the twenty first century, we are approximately 2,530 years into the fifth era of the present half cycle.

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^{[citation needed]}, lived billions of years ago and attained liberation ('moksh' or 'nirvan') towards the end of the third era. The 24th and last Tirthankar was Mahavir Swami (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, Malli Nath, 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, and gods are beings superior to humans but, nevertheless, not fully enlightened.

Contents 1 Particular Tirthankars 2 Narration Chart of 24 Tirathankars 3 Description of Rishaba Deva and Tirthankar(Arhat) in Bhagvata Purana 4 See also 5 External link

[edit] Particular Tirthankars

The images of the Tirthankaras are always represented as seated with their legs crossed in front the toes of one foot resting close upon the knee of the other; the right hand lies over the left in the lap. All are represented exactly alike except that of Parsvanatha, the twenty-third, has the snake-hoods over him; and, with the Digambaras, Suparsva - the seventh, has also a smaller group of snake hoods. The Digambara images are all quite nude; those of the Svetambaras are represented as clothed, and they decorate them with crowns and ornaments. They are distinguished from one another by their attendant Yakshas and Yakshinis as well as by their respective chihnas or cognizances which are carved on the cushion of the throne.

All the Jains are ascribed to the Ikshvaku family (kula) except the twentieth Munisuvrata and twenty-second Neminatha, who were of the Harivamsa race.

All received diksha or consecration at their native places; and all obtained jnana or complete enlightenment at the same, except Rishabha who became a Kevalin at Purimatala, Nemi at Girnar, and Mahavira at the Rijupaluka river; and twenty of them died or obtained moksha (deliverance in bliss) on SametaSikhara . But Rishabha, the first, achieved nirvana on the Kailasa Mountain the Himalayas; Vasupujya died at Champapuri in north Bengal; Neminatha on mount Girnar; and Mahavira, the last, at Pavapur.

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

[edit] 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	Sarvarthasiddha	Vinittanagari; Purimatala	Nabhiraja by Marudeva	golden	bull	500 dhanusha (poles)	8,400,000 purva (great years)	Vata (banyan)	Gomukha and Chakresvari	Pundarika; Brahmi
II. Ajitnath	Vijayavimana	Ayodhya	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 or 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	Sambararaja by Siddhartha	golden	ape	350 dhanusha	5,000,000 purva	Priyangu (Panicum italicum)	Nayaka and Kalika; or Yakshesvara and Vajrasrinkhala	Vajranabha; Ajita
V. Sumatinath	Jayantavimana	Ayodhya	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	Sridhara by Susima	red	lotus bud	250 dhanusha	3,000,000 purva	Chhatra	Kusuma and Syama; or Manovega or Manogupti	Pradyotana; Rati
VII. Suparshvanath	Madhyamagraiveka	Varanasi	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	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	Sugrivaraja by Ramarani	white	crab	100 dhanusha	200,000 purva	Sali	Ajita and Sutaraka; or Mahakali	Varahaka; Varuni
X. Sheetalnath	Achyutadevaloka	Bhadrapura or Bhadilapura	Dridharatha-raja by Nanda	golden	Srivatsa; or ficus religiosa	90 dhanusha	100,000 purva	Priyangu	Brahma and Asoka; or Manavi	Nanda; Sujasa
XI. Shreyansanath	Achyutadevaloka	Simhapuri	Vishnuraja by Vishna	golden	rhinoceros; or Garuda	80 dhanusha	8,400,000 common years	Tanduka	Yakshet and Manavi; or Isvara and Gauri	Kasyapa; Dharani
XII. Vasupujya	Pranatadevaloka	Champapuri	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	Kritavarmaraja by Syama	golden	boar	60 dhanusha	6,000,000 years	Jambu (Eugenia jambolana)	Shanmukha and Vidita; or Vairo[t.]i)	Mandara; Dhara
XIV. Anantnath	Pranatadevaloka	Ayodhya	Simhasena by Suyasah or Sujasa	golden	falcon; or bear	50 dhanusha	3,000,000 years	Asoka (Jonesia asoka)	Patala and Ankusa; or Anantamati	Jasa ; Padma
XV. Dharmanath	Vijayavimana	Ratnapuri	Bhanuraja by Suvrita	golden	thunderbolt	45 dhanusha	1,000,000 years	Dadhiparna ([[Clitoria ternatea]])	Kinnara and Kandarpa; or Manasi	Arishta; Arthasiva
XVI. Shantinath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura or Hastinapuri	Visvasena by Achira	golden	antelope	40 dhanusha	100,000 years	Nandi (Cedrela toona)	Garuda and Nirvani; or Kimpurusha and Mahamanasi	Chakrayuddha; Suchi
XVII. Kunthunath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura	Suraraja by Srirani	golden	goat	35 dhanusha	95,000 years	Bhilaka	Gandharva and Bala; or Vijaya	Samba; Damini
XVIII. Aranath	Sarvarthasiddha	Gajapura	Sudarsana by Devirani	golden	Nandyavarta diagram; or Pisces	30 dhanusha	84,000 years	Amba (Mango)	Yaksheta and Dhana; or Kendra and Ajita	Kumbha; Rakshita
XIX. Mallinath	Jayantadevaloka	Mathura	Kumbharaja by Prabhavati	blue	jar	25 dhanusha	55,000 years	Asoka	Kubera and Dharanapriya; or Aparajita	Abhikshaka; Bandhumati
XX. Munisuvrata	Aparajita-devaloka	Rajagriha	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	Vijayaraja by Viprarani	yellow; or emerald	blue water-lily; or Asoka tree	15 dhanusha	10,000 years	Bakula ([[Mimusops elengi]])	Bhrikuti and Gandhari; or Chamundi	Subha; Anila
XXII. Neminatha	Aparajita	Sauripura and Ujjinta or Mount Girnar	3 by Senamata	black	conch	10 dhanusha	1,000 years	Vetasa	Gomedha and Ambika; or Sarvahna and Kushmandini	Varadatta; Yakshadinna
XXIII. Parshva	Pranatadevaloka	Varanasi and SametaSikhara	Asvasenaraja by Vamadevi	blue	serpent	9 hands or cubits	100 years	Dhataki ([[Grislea tomentosa]])	Parsvayaksha or Dharanendra and Padmavati	Aryadinna; Pushpachu[d.]a
XXIV. Mahavira	Pranatadevaloka	Kundagrama or Chitrakuta and Rijupaluka	Siddhartharaja, Sreyansa or Yasasvin by Trisala Vidchadinna or Priyakarini	yellow	lion	7 hands or cubits	72 years	teak	Matamga and Siddhayika	Indrabhuti; Chandrabala

[edit] Description of Rishaba Deva and Tirthankar(Arhat) in Bhagvata Purana

SANSKRIT VERSE

yasya kilānucaritam upākarṇya końka-veńka-kuṭakānāḿ rājārhan-nāmopaśikṣya kalāv adharma utkṛṣyamāṇe bhavitavyena vimohitaḥ sva-dharma-patham akuto-bhayam apahāya kupatha-pākhaṇḍam asamañjasaḿ nija-manīṣayā mandaḥ sampravartayiṣyate

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued speaking to Mahārāja Parīkṣit: My dear King, the King of Końka, Veńka and Kuṭaka whose name was Arhat, heard of the activities of Ṛṣabhadeva and, imitating Ṛṣabhadeva's principles, introduced a new system of religion. Taking advantage of Kali-yuga, the age of sinful activity, King Arhat, being bewildered, gave up the Vedic principles, which are free from risk, and concocted a new system of religion opposed to the Vedas. That was the beginning of the Jain dharma. Many other so-called religions followed this atheistic system.

-Srimad Bhagvatam: Canto 5, Chapter 6, Verse 9

[edit] See also

• Deshna

[edit] External link

• http://www.balasainet.com/members/jainism/tirthankar.html