In Jainism, a Tirthaṅkara (; ) is a saviour and supreme preacher of the dharma (righteous path). The term refers to one who establishes a tirtha, a fordable passage across saṃsāra, the sea of interminable birth and death. According to Jains, tirthaṅkaras are the supreme preachers of dharma, who have conquered saṃsāra on their own and made a path for others to follow. After understanding the true nature of the self or soul, the Tīrthaṅkara attains kevala jnana (omniscience). A Tirthaṅkara provides a bridge for others to follow them from saṃsāra to moksha (liberation).
In Jain cosmology, the wheel of time is divided into two halves, Utsarpiṇī, the ascending time cycle, and Avasarpiṇī, the descending time cycle (said to be current now). In each half of the cycle, exactly 24 tirthaṅkaras are said to appear in this part of the universe. There have been infinitely many tirthaṅkaras in the past. The first tirthaṅkara in the present cycle (Hunda Avsarpinī) was Rishabhanatha, who is credited with formulating and organising humans to live in a society harmoniously. The 24th and last tirthaṅkara of the present half-cycle is traditionally identified as Mahavira (599 BCE–527 BCE). History records the existence of Mahavira and his predecessor, Parshvanatha, the 23rd tirthaṅkara in the 9th century BCE.
A tirthaṅkara organises the sangha, a fourfold order of male and female monastics, śrāvakas (male followers) and śrāvikās (female followers).
The tirthaṅkara's teachings form the basis for the Jain canons. The inner knowledge of tirthaṅkara is believed to be perfect and identical in every respect, and their teachings contain no contradictions. The degree of elaboration varies according to society's spiritual advancement and purity during their period of leadership. The higher the level of society's spiritual advancement and purity of mind, the lower the elaboration required.
While Jains document and revere tirthaṅkaras, their grace is said to be available to all living beings regardless of religion.
Tīrthaṅkaras are arihants who, after attaining kevala jñāna (pure infinite knowledge), preach the dharma. An Arihant is also called Jina (victor), one who has conquered inner enemies such as anger, attachment, pride, and greed. They dwell exclusively within the realm of their soul and are entirely free of kashayas, inner passions, and personal desires. As a result of this, unlimited siddhis, or spiritual powers, are readily available to them, which they use exclusively for living beings' spiritual elevation. Through darśana, divine vision, and deshna, divine speech, they help others attain kevalajñana and moksha (final liberation).
Etymology The word tirthaṅkara signifies the founder of a tirtha, a fordable passage across saṃsāra, the sea of interminable births and deaths. Tīrthaṅkaras are variously called "Teaching Gods", "Ford-Makers", "Crossing Makers", and "Makers of the River-Crossing".
Historicity and Hagiography
The Historical Tirthaṅkaras Academic and historical consensus broadly accepts Parshvanatha (c. 8th century BCE) and Mahavira (c. 6th century BCE) as historical figures. Parshvanatha, the 23rd tirthaṅkara, is understood as a predecessor who preached the "fourfold restraint" (chaturyama dharma). Mahavira is seen as a reformer and the final systematizer of Jain thought, who re-established the Jain monastic and lay community based on Parshvanatha's teachings, notably adding celibacy as the fifth great vow.
The Hagiographical Tradition The lives of the other 22 tirthaṅkaras are considered to be part of a sacred, cosmological history operating within vast, non-historical timeframes. Texts such as the Kalpa Sutra detail their lives, which follow a formulaic pattern: birth into a royal family, a period of worldly life, renunciation of the world (diksha), a period of asceticism leading to omniscience (kevala jnana), and finally, final liberation (nirvana).
The Rishabhanatha Debate Rishabhanatha (or Adinatha), the first tirthaṅkara, holds a unique position. He is credited within the tradition as the founder of human civilization, teaching agriculture, law, and social order. While he is a hagiographical figure, some scholars have speculated on a pre-historical link. They point to the nude standing figures and the prominent "bull" motif found on seals from the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1300 BCE) as possible, though unproven, evidence of a proto-Jain or proto-Rishabha cult. Theology and sectarian views Tīrthaṅkara-naam-karma
Jain texts propound that a special type of karma, the tīrthaṅkara nama-karma, raises a soul to the supreme status of a Tīrthaṅkara. The Tattvartha Sutra, a major Jain text, lists 16 observances that lead to the bandha (bondage) of this karma: Purity of right faith Reverence Observance of vows and supplementary vows without transgressions Ceaseless pursuit of knowledge Perpetual fear of the cycle of existence Giving gifts (charity) Practising austerities according to one's capacity Removal of obstacles that threaten the equanimity of ascetics Serving the meritorious by warding off evil or suffering Devotion to omniscient lords, chief preceptors, preceptors, and the scriptures Practice of the six essential duties Propagation of the teachings of the omniscient Fervent affection for one's brethren following the same path.
Panch Kalyanaka (Five Auspicious Events) Five auspicious events called Pañca kalyāṇaka mark every tirthaṅkara's life: Chyavana kalyāṇaka (conception): When a tirthaṅkara's ātman (soul) comes into their mother's womb. Janma kalyāṇaka (birth): Birth of a tirthaṅkara. Indra performs a ceremonial bath on tirthaṅkara on Mount Meru. Diksha kalyāṇaka (renunciation): When a tirthaṅkara renounces all worldly possessions and becomes an ascetic. Keval Gyan kalyāṇaka (omniscience): When a tirthaṅkara attains kevalajñāna (infinite knowledge). A samavasarana (divine preaching hall) is then erected from where they deliver sermons and establish 'tirth (chaturvidh sangha). Nirvāṇa/Moksha kalyāṇaka (liberation): Nirvana is when a tirthaṅkara leaves their mortal body. It is followed by the final liberation, moksha, after which their soul resides in Siddhashila.
Samavasarana
After attaining kevalajñāna, the tirthaṅkara preaches the path to liberation in the samavasarana. According to Jain texts, devas (heavenly beings) erect the heavenly pavilion where devas, humans, and animals assemble to hear the tirthaṅkara. A samavasarana is a three-level structure. The lowest level, made of rajat (silver), is the parking space for vehicles. The second is the svarna (gold) level. All animals reside in the svarna level, while the highest level, made of precious gems, is reserved for various important figures, such as kings and their families, the devas and the ascetics. Humans and animals hear a tirthaṅkara's speech in their language. It is believed that during this speech, there is no unhappiness for miles around the site.
List of Tīrthaṅkaras Jainism postulates that time has no beginning or end. It moves like the wheel of a cart. The wheel of time is divided into two halves, Utsarpiṇī (ascending half cycle) and Avasarpiṇī (descending half cycle). 24 tirthaṅkaras are born in each half of this cycle. In Jain tradition, the tirthaṅkaras were royal in their final lives, and Jain texts record details of those lives. Their clan and families are also among those recorded in legendary stories. According to Jain canons, Rishabhanatha, the first tirthaṅkara, founded the Ikshvaku dynasty, from which 21 other tirthaṅkaras rose over time. Two tirthaṅkaras – Munisuvrata, the 20th, and Neminatha, the 22nd – belonged to the Harivamsa dynasty.
In Jain tradition, the 20 tirthaṅkaras attained moksha on Mount Shikharji, in the present Indian state of Jharkhand. Rishabhanatha attained nirvana on Mount Ashtāpada (Mount Kailash), Vasupujya in Champapuri, Bihar, Neminatha on Mount Girnar, Gujarat, and Mahavira, the last tirthaṅkara, at Pawapuri, near modern Patna. Twenty-one of the tirthaṅkaras are said to have attained moksha in the kayotsarga (standing meditation posture), while Rishabhanatha, Neminatha, and Mahavira are said to have done so in the Padmasana (lotus position).
Present cosmic age
In chronological order, the names, emblems and colours of the 24 tirthaṅkaras of this age are:
No. Name Emblem Colour 1 Rishabhanatha (Adinatha) Bull Golden 2 Ajitanatha Elephant Golden 3 Sambhavanatha Horse Golden 4 Abhinandananatha Monkey Golden 5 Sumatinatha Flamingo Golden 6 Padmaprabha Padma Red 7 Suparshvanatha Swastika Green 8 Chandraprabha Crescent Moon White 9 Pushpadanta (Suvidhinath) Crocodile or Makara White 10 Shitalanatha Kalpavriksha according to the Digambara. Srivatsa according to Svetambara Golden 11 Shreyanasanatha Rhinoceros Golden 12 Vasupujya Buffalo Red 13 Vimalanatha Boar Golden 14 Anantanatha Porcupine according to the DigambaraFalcon according to the Śvētāmbara Golden 15 Dharmanatha Vajra Golden 16 Shantinatha Antelope or deer Golden 17 Kunthunatha Goat Golden 18 Aranatha Nandavarta or fish Golden 19 Māllīnātha Kalasha Blue 20 Munisuvrata Tortoise Black/Dark Blue 21 Naminatha Blue lotus Golden 22 Neminatha Shankha Black/Dark Blue 23 Parshvanatha Snake Green 24 Mahavira Lion Golden
Next cosmic age
The next 24 tirthaṅkaras, who will be born in utsarpinī age, are:
No. Name Previous human birth 1 Padmanabha King Bimbisara 2 Surdev Mahavira's uncle Suparshva 3 Suparshva King Kaunik's son king Udayin 4 Svamprabh The ascetic Pottil 5 Sarvanubhuti Śrāvaka Dridhayadha 6 Devshruti Kartik's Shreshti 7 Udaynath Shravak Shamkha 8 Pedhalputra Shravak Ananda 9 Pottil Shravak Sunand 10 Shatak Sharavak Shatak 11 Suvrat Satyaki of Mahabharata 12 Amam Krishna 13 Shrinishkashay Satyaki Rudhra 14 Nishpulak Krishna's brother Balbhadra also known as Balrama 15 Nirmam Shravika Sulsa 16 Chitragupta Krishna's brother's mother Rohini Devi 17 Samadhinath Revati Gathapatni 18 Samvarnath Sharavak Shattilak 19 Yashodhar Rishi Dwipayan 20 Vijay Karna of Mahabharata 21 Malladev Nirgranthaputra or Mallanarada 22 Devachandra Shravak Ambadh 23 Anantvirya Shravak Amar 24 Bhadrakat Swati
Iconography and Art
A tīrthaṅkara is represented either in the lotus position (Padmasana) or in the meditation Khadgasana (Kayotsarga) posture. The latter, which is similar to the military standing at attention, is a difficult posture to hold for long and is preferred by Jains because it minimizes the amount of the body in contact with the earth, and thus the risk to sentient creatures living in or on it. If seated, they are usually depicted seated with their legs crossed in front, the toes of one foot resting upon the knee of the other leg, and the right hand lying over the left in the lap.
Tirthaṅkara images have no distinctive facial features, clothing, or (mostly) hairstyles, and are differentiated based on the symbol or emblem (Lanchhana) belonging to each tirthaṅkara except Parshvanatha. Statues of Parshvanatha have a snake crown. The first Tirthaṅkara, Rishabha, is identifiable by the locks of hair falling on his shoulders. Sometimes Suparshvanath is shown with a small snake-hood. The symbols are marked in the centre or the corner of the statue's pedestal. The Jain sects Digambara and Śvetāmbara have different depictions of idols. Digambara images are naked without any ornamentation, whereas Śvetāmbara ones are clothed and decorated with temporary ornaments. The images are often marked with Srivatsa on the chest and Tilaka on the forehead. Srivatsa is one of the ashtamangala (auspicious symbols), which sometimes resembles fleur-de-lis, an endless knot, a flower, or a diamond-shaped symbol.