24 Jain Tirthankar Photos Names and Symbols

24 Jain Tirthankar Photos, Names, and Symbols

In almost every religion, There is a concept of the soul. In Jain Philosophy, This soul gets trapped in a cycle of the world of rebirth and death owing to its previous "Karma". This rebirth or death can occur in various realms of existence or consciousness. This cycle of the world is also known as "Samsara".

The only way to get free from this cycle is through the path of the righteous "Dharma".

Jains believe that this righteous path is shown and guided by 24 Spiritual teachers who incarnate on earth from time to time. These teachers are also called as 24 Tirthankars.

The word Tirth means a pilgrimage and Tirthankara means the one who is the founder of a pilgrimage. They inspire, guide humanity to be in the path of oneness and attain "Moksha" from the bondage of Samsara.

Consider the world as a river of infinite birth and deaths -Then Tirthankars are the Makers of the River-Crossing. They make the bridge and guide humanity to cross that river and attain infinite knowledge with the eternal bliss
Tirthankaras are the individuals who have conquered the "Samsara".

The first Tirthankara was RishabhDev who lived on earth millions of years ago.
There are two sects of Jainism - viz Svetambara and Digambara.
All 24 Tirthankara are believed to be men according to Digambara while the former believes that 19th Tirthankara Mallinatha was a woman.

#1 Rishabnatha

#2 Ajitanatha

#3 Sambhavanatha

#4 Abhinandananatha

#5 Sumatinatha

#6 Padamprabha

#7 Suparshvanatha

#8 Chandraprabha

#9 Pushpadanatha

#10 Shitalanatha

#11 Shreyansanatha

#12 Vasupujya

#13 Vimalanatha

#14 Anantanatha

#15 Dharmanatha

#16 Shantinatha

#17 Kunthunatha

#18 Aranatha

#19 Mallinatha

#20 Munisuvrata

#21 Naminatha

#22 Neminatha

#23 Parshvanatha

#24 Mahavira

A Tirthankara is represented either seated in Padmasana or standing in the meditation in Khadgasana posture.

The life of a Tirthankar is described in 5 auspicious events. This is called Panca Kalyanka in Jain tradition. These are - 

1. Conception: When the soul of a Tirthankara comes into his mother's womb.
2. Birth: Tthe birth of a Tirthankara. Lord Indra performs a ceremonial bath on Tirthankara on Mount Meru.
3. Renunciation: When a Tirthankara renounces all worldly possessions and become an ascetic.
4. Omniscience: The event when a Tirthankara attains infinite knowledge. A divine preaching hall is erected from where he delivers sermons. It is a place where all have an opportunity to acquire wisdom.
5. Liberation: When a Tirthankara leaves his mortal body, it is known as Nirvana. It is followed by the final liberation, moksha. Their souls dwell in Siddhashila (place beyond universe - where liberated souls exist) after that.

Interesting Fact  -

A Jain writer namedChampat Rai Jain claimed that "Four and Twenty Elders"  mentioned in the final book of the Christian Bible are"24 Tirthankaras".

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Image Credits

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2. Jain cloud [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
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15. Capankajsmilyo [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
16. Dineshkannambadi [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
17. Capankajsmilyo [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
18. Capankajsmilyo [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
19. Capankajsmilyo [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
20. Drsushrutshah [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
21. Biswarup Ganguly  [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
22. Jain cloud [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
23. I [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
24. Dayodaya [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons