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Tirthankara

Tirthankara (PrakritTirtha = ford ), also called Jina (victor, winner or conqueror), literally meaning 'ford-maker', who (re-)establishes the religion and the Sangh (the four fold order/community of ascetics and lay followers).

The day when a tirthankara was born, got diksha, atteined omniscience and got liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is given in lunar days, so called tithis.

 The 24 Tirthankaras of the present cycle of existence:

Symbol

#

Name(s) of Tirthankara

Symbol (Svetambara)

01

Rishabhanatha / Adinatha

bull

02

Ajitanatha

elephant

03

Sambhavanatha

horse

04

Abinandana

monkey

05

Sumatinatha

Krauncha bird

06

Padmaprabha

red lotus

07

Suparshavanatha

swastika

08

Chandraprabha

crescent

09

Suvidhinatha / Pushpadanta

crocodil

10

Shitalanatha

shrivatsa

11

Shreyamsanatha

rhinoceros

12

Vasupujya

buffalo

13

Vimalanatha

boar

14

Anantanatha

falcon

15

Dharmanatha

vajra

16

Shantinatha

antelope

17

Kunthunatha

goat

18

Aranatha

nandyavarta

19

Mallinatha

water jar

20

Munisuvrata

tortoise

21

Naminatha

blue lotus

22

Neminatha / Arishtnemi

conch

23

Parshvanatha

serpent

24

Mahavira

lion

 

The last Tirtankara known as Mahavira (~ 599 BC), a contemporary of Buddha, and  Parshvanatha (~850 BC) found acceptance as historic persons. The appearance of the other 22 predecessors reach for eons.

24 Tirthankara of Gingee, South Arcot, Tamilnadu / India. ~600AD

In Jainism a Tirthankara  (he or she) is a liberated soul who has attained omniscience and guides the souls to the opposite shores of the ocean of the world to save them from the cycles of repeated earth existences (rebirth). Tirthankara also are called Jina (vanquisher, victor, conqueror), their followers Jains.
To them, a Tirthankara is greater than the gods because he transcends the laws of Space and Time.




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