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Tirthankara

"Jinas" redirects here. For Buddhism, see Five Jinas. For the singular, see Jina (disambiguation).

Jain miniature painting of 24 Jain Tirthankaras, Jaipur, c. 1850
The 24 Tirthankaras forming the tantric meditative syllable Hrim, painting on cloth, Gujarat, c. 1800

In Jainism, a Tirthankara (IAST: tīrthaṅkara; lit. 'ford-maker') is a saviour and supreme preacher of the dharma (righteous path).[1] The word tirthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha,[2] a fordable passage across saṃsāra, the sea of interminable birth and death. According to Jains, tirthankaras are the supreme preachers of dharma, who have conquered saṃsāra on their own and made a path for others to follow.[3] After understanding the true nature of the self or soul, the Tīrthaṅkara attains kevala jnana (omniscience). A Tirthankara provides a bridge for others to follow them from saṃsāra to moksha (liberation).[4]

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 tirthankaras grace this part of the universe. There have been infinitely many tirthankaras in the past.[5] The first tirthankara in the present cycle (Hunda Avsarpini) was Rishabhanatha, who is credited with formulating and organising humans to live in a society harmoniously. The 24th and last tirthankara of the present half-cycle was Mahavira (599 BC–527 BC).[6][7][8] History records the existence of Mahavira and his predecessor, Parshvanatha, the 23rd tirthankara.[9]

A tirthankara organises the sangha, a fourfold order of male and female monastics, srāvakas (male followers) and śrāvikās (female followers).[10]

The tirthankara's teachings form the basis for the Jain canons. The inner knowledge of tirthankara 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 tirthankaras, their grace is said to be available to all living beings regardless of religion.[11]

Tīrthaṅkaras are arihants who, after attaining kevala jñāna (pure infinite knowledge),[12] preach the dharma. An Arihant is also called Jina (victor), one who has conquered inner enemies such as anger, attachment, pride, and greed.[4] 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).

  1. ^ Britannica Tirthankar Definition, Encyclopædia Britannica, archived from the original on 20 March 2020, retrieved 5 February 2012
  2. ^ Babb 1996, p. 5.
  3. ^ "Tirthankara | Definition, Names, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b Sangave 2006, p. 16.
  5. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 20.
  6. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 19.
  7. ^ Taliaferro & Marty 2010, p. 286.
  8. ^ Sanghvi, Vir (14 September 2013), Rude Travel: Down The Sages, Hindustan Times, archived from the original on 18 May 2015
  9. ^ Zimmer 1953, p. 182-183.
  10. ^ Balcerowicz 2009, p. 17.
  11. ^ Flügel 2010.
  12. ^ Sangave 2006, p. 164.

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