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Who is Tirthankara

Tirthankaras are great souls who had descended on earth at times when the world had lost direction and was in strong grip of socio-religious crises. They appeared as ordinary human beings, passed through all the stages of life witnessing joys and sorrows, then came to realisation of Kaivalya or Kevalgyana (the essence of life) and enlightened the universe by showing the way to attain Moksha. 

'Tirthankara' is Sanskrit for "FORD-MAKER", also called JINA (Victor or Liberator), in Jainism a saviour who has succeeded in crossing over life's stream of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow. One who has freed himself/herself from the bondage of Karma by conquering räga (attachment - deceit and greed) & dvesha (aversion - anger and ego). Tirthankaras are also those who establish the four fold order (Monk, Nun, Layman, and Laywoman) of religion. 

All Tirthankaras were born as human beings but they have attained a state of perfection or enlightenment through meditation and self realization. They are the Gods of Jains. Tirthankaras are also known as Arihantas, ones who destroy their inner enemies like anger, greed, proud, attachment, passion etc. Bhagwan Adinath was the first in the series of 24 Tirthankaras while Bhagwan Mahavir (6th century BC) was the last. 

Kaalachakra (the wheel of time) has been divided into two parts: Utsarpini Kaal (a period during which knowledge and other virtues get a boost among the creatures) and Avasarpini Kaal (during which, level of knowledge and other virtues come down among the creatures). There are two kshetra (areas) called Bharat-kshetra and Videh-kshetra. Twenty four Tirthankaras appear take birth in the Bharat kshetra during every fourth kaal. According to Jainism, this is one of the absolute facts which is never going to change. The arrival of Tirthankaras on the earth has been taking place since time immemorial and the series will continue forever. 

Tirthankaras of the present Chaubisi 

According to Jaina belief, each cosmic age produces its own group of 24 Tirthankaras. Since the Tirthankara is a perfect being, there is little to distinguish one from another, except for symbolic colours or emblems. The word –natha (lord) is added as an honorific to their names. The Tirthankaras of the present Chaubisi (a group of 24 for each cosmic age) are: 

Rishabhdev Bhagwan

(Father: Nabhirai, Mother: Marudevi, Birthplace: Ayodhya, Sign: Vrishabh, Dynasty: Ikshvaku, Color: Golden) 

Ajitnath Bhagwan 

(Father: Jitshatru, Mother: Vijaysena, Birthplace: Ayodhya, Sign: Gaja, Dynasty: Ikshvaku, Color: Golden) 

Sambhavnath Bhagwan 

(Father: Jitari, Mother: Sushena, Birthplace: Shravasti, Sign: Ashva, Dynasty: Ikshvaku Color: Golden) 

Abhinandan Bhagwan 

(Father: Samvar, Mother: Siddharth, Birthplace: Ayodhya, Sign: Vanara, Dynasty: Ikshvaku Color: Golden) 

Sumatinath Bhagwan 

(Father: Meghprabh, Mother: Sumangala, Birthplace: Ayodhya, Sign: Kok, Dynasty: Ikshvaku, Color: Golden) 

Padmaprabhu Bhagwan 

(Father: Dharan, Mother: Susima, Birthplace: Kaushambi, Sign: Kamal, Dynasty: Ikshvaku, Color: Red) 

Suparshavnath Bhagwan 

(Father: Supratishta, Mother: Prithvi, Birthplace: Varanasi, Sign: Swastik, Dynasty: Ikshvaku, Color: Green) 

Chandraprabhu Bhagwan

(Father: Mahasen, Mother: Lakshmana, Birthplace: Chandrapuri, Sign: Chandra, Dynasty: Ikshvaku Color: Shukla) 

Pushpadant Bhagwan 

(Father: Sugriva, Mother: Rama, Birthplace: Kakandi, Sign: Magar, Dynasty: Ikshvaku, Color: Shukla) 

Sitalnath Bhagwan 

(Father: Dridhrath, Mother: Sunanda, Birthplace: Bhadril, Sign: Kalpavriksha, Dynasty: Ikshvaku, Color: Golden) 

Shreyanshanath Bhagwan 

(Father: Vishnu, Mother: Vishnushri, Birthplace: Singhpur, Sign: Genda, Dynasty: Ikshvaku, Color: Golden) 

Vasupujay Bhagwan 

(Father: Vasupujya, Mother: Jaya, Birthplace: Champa, Sign: Mahisha, Dynasty: Ikshvaku, Color: Red) 

Vimalnath Bhagwan 

(Father: Kritvarma, Mother: Jayashyama, Birthplace: Kampila, Sign: Shookar, Dynasty: Ikshvaku, Color: Golden) 

Aanantnath Bhagwan 

(Father: Singhsen, Mother: Vimla, Birthplace: Ayodhya, Sign: Sehi, Dynasty: Ikshvaku Color: Golden) 

Dharmanath Bhagwan 

(Father: Bhanu, Mother: Suprabha, Birthplace: Ratnapur, Sign: Vajra, Dynasty: Kuru, Color: Golden) 

Shantinath Bhagwan

(Father: Vishvasen, Mother: Aira, Birthplace: Hastinapur, Sign: Mrig, Dynasty: Ikshvaku Color: Golden) 

Kunthunath Bhagwan 

(Father: Shoorsen, Mother: Shrimati, Birthplace: Hastinapur, Sign: Aj, Dynasty: Kuru, Color: Golden) 

Aarnath Bhagwan 

(Father: Sudarshan, Mother: Mitra, Birthplace: Hastinapur, Sign: Meen, Dynasty: Kuru, Color: Golden) 

Mallinath Bhagwan 

(Father: Kumbh, Mother: Prabhavati, Birthplace: Mithila, Sign: Kalash, Dynasty: Ikshvaku Color: Golden) 

Munisuvrat Bhagwan 

(Father: Sumitra, Mother: Padma, Birthplace: Rajgrih, Sign: Kachchhap, Dynasty: Yadu Color: Blue) 

Naminath Bhagwan 

(Father: Vijay, Mother: Subhadra, Birthplace: Mithila, Sign: Nilkamal Dynasty: Ikshvaku Color: Golden) 

Neminath Bhagwan

(Father: Samudravijay, Mother: Shivadevi, Birthplace: Shouripur, Sign: Shankh, Dynasty: Yadu, Color: Blue) 

Parshavnath Bhagwan

(Father: Ashvasen, Mother: Vamadevi, Birthplace: Varanasi, Sign: Nag, Dynasty: Ugra, Color: Green) 

Vardhman Bhagwan (Mahavir Swami)