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While tirthankaras are documented and revered by Jains, their grace is said to be available to all living beings, regardless of religious
orientation.[10]
Tīrthaṅkaras are arihants who after attaining kevalajñāna (pure infinite knowledge)[11] preach the true dharma. An Arihant is also
called Jina (victor), that is one who has conquered inner enemies such as anger, attachment, pride and greed.[3] 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 the spiritual elevation of living
beings. Through darśana, divine vision, and deshna, divine speech, they help others in attaining kevalajñana, and moksha (final
liberation) to anyone seeking it sincerely.
Contents
Meaning
Tīrthaṅkara-naam-karma
Panch Kalyanaka
Samavasarana
Tīrthaṅkaras of present cosmic age
List of the 24 tirthankaras
Present cosmic age
Next cosmic age
Iconography
In other religions
Gallery
See also
References
Citations
Sources
Meaning
The word tirthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha which means a fordable
passage across the sea of interminable births and deaths (called
saṃsāra).[12][13][14][15] Tirthankaras are variously called "Teaching Gods", "Ford-
-Crossing.[16][15]
Makers", "Crossing Makers" and "Makers of the River
Tīrthaṅkara-naam-karma
Jain texts propound that a special type ofkarma, the tīrthaṅkara nama-karma, raises
a soul to the supreme status of aTīrthaṅkara. Tattvartha Sutra, a major Jain text, list Tirthankara images at Siddhachal
Caves inside Gwalior Fort.
down sixteen observances which lead to thebandha (bondage) of this karma:[17]
Samavasarana
After attaining kevalajñāna, a tirthankara preaches the path to liberation in the
samavasarana. According to Jain texts, the heavenly pavilion is erected by devas
(heavenly beings) where devas, humans and animals assemble to hear the
tirthankara.[22] A tirthankara's speech is heard by all humans and animals in their
own language. It is believed that during this speech, there is no unhappiness for
miles around the site.[23]
In Jain tradition, the 20 tirthankaras attained moksha on mount Shikharji, in the present Indian state of Jharkhand.[26] Rishabhanatha
attained nirvana on Mount Kailash, presently located in Tibet[27] , close to Indian border, Vasupujya at Champapuri in North
Bengal[28] , Neminatha on mount Girnar, Gujarat, and Mahavira, the last tirthankara, at Pawapuri, near modern Patna. Twenty-one of
the tirthankaras are said to have attained moksha in the kayotsarga (standing meditation posture), while Rishabhanatha, Neminatha
and Mahavira are said to have attained moksha in thePadmasana (lotus position).[16]
Iconography
A tīrthaṅkara is represented either seated in lotus position (Padmasana) or standing in the meditation in Khadgasana (Kayotsarga)
posture.[34][35] Usually they are depicted seated with their legs crossed in front, the toes of one foot resting close upon the knee of the
other, and the right hand lying over the left in the lap.[1] Tirthanakar idols looks similar and are differentiated on the basis of symbol
or emblem (Lanchhana) belonging to each tirthanakar except Parshvanatha, statues of Parshvanath have snake crown on head. The
first Tirthankara Rishabha can be identified withlocks of hair falling on his shoulders. SometimesSuparshvanath is shown with small
snake-hood. The symbols are marked in centre or in the corner of the pedestal of statue. Both sects of Jainism Digambara and
Svetambara have different depiction of idols. Digambara images are naked without any beautification whereas Svetambara ones are
clothed and decorated with temporary ornaments.[36] The images are often marked with Srivatsa on the chest and Tilaka on fore
head.[37] Srivatsa is one of the ashtamangala (auspicious symbol). It can look somewhat like a fleur-de-lis, an endless knot, a flower
or diamond-shaped symbol.[38]
In other religions
The first Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha is mentioned in Hindu texts like the Rigveda,[39] Vishnupurana and Bhagwata Purana.[40] The
Yajurveda mentions the name of three Tīrthaṅkaras – Ṛiṣhabha, Ajitnātha and Ariṣṭanemi.[41] The Bhāgavata Purāṇa includes
legends about the Tirthankaras of Jainism particularly Rishabha.[42] Yoga Vasishta, Chapter 15, Sloka 8 the saying ofRama:
[43]
I am not Rama. I have no desire for material things. Like Jina I want to establish peace within myself.
Champat Rai Jain, a 20th-century Jain writer, claimed that the "Four and Twenty Elders" mentioned in the Book of Revelation (the
final book of the ChristianBible) are "Twenty-four Tirthankaras".[44]
Gallery
Aangi decoration of Image of Rishabhanatha, Tirthankara statue, late Rishabhanatha (left) and
Tirthankara. the first Tirthankara, 7th medieval period, The Mahavira (right), 11th
century Prince of Wales Museum Century, British Museum
Parshvanatha, at the
Adinatha Temple in
Ranakpur, Rajasthan
See also
Mythological data of Tirthankara
God in Jainism
Tattva (Jainism)
Simandhar Swami
Kundakunda
References
Citations
1. Britannica Tirthankar Definition (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/596895/Tirthankar), Encyclopædia
Britannica
2. Babb 1996, p. 5.
3. Sangave 2006, p. 16.
4. Taliaferro & Marty 2010, p. 286.
5. Dundas 2002, p. 20.
6. Dundas 2002, p. 19.
7. Sanghvi, Vir (14 September 2013),Rude Travel: Down The Sages(http://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch-stories/ru
de-travel-down-the-sages/article1-1121641.aspx)
, Hindustan Times
8. Zimmer 1953, p. 182-183.
9. Balcerowicz 2009, p. 17.
10. Flügel, P. (2010). The Jaina Cult of Relic Stūpas. Numen: International Review For The History Of Religions, 57(3/4),
389–504. doi:10.1163/156852710X501351
11. Sangave 2006, p. 164.
12. Upinder Singh 2016, p. 313.
13. Balcerowicz 2009, p. 16.
14. Sangave 2006, p. 169-170.
15. Champat Rai Jain 1930, p. 3.
16. Zimmer 1953, p. 212.
17. Vijay K. Jain 2011, p. 91.
18. Cort 2001, p. 110.
19. "HereNow4U.net :: Glossary/Index – T
erms – Eastern Terms – Chyavana Kalyanak"(http://www.herenow4u.net/inde
x.php?id=74859), HereNow4u: Portal on Jainism and next level consciousness
20. Wiley 2009, p. 200.
21. Wiley 2009, p. 246.
22. Vijay K. Jain 2015, p. 200.
23. Pramansagar 2008, p. 39-43.
24. Natubhai Shah 2004, p. 15.
25. Vijay K. Jain 2015, p. 151.
26. Osho 2016, p. 4.
27. Jain 2009, p. 273.
28. Burgess 1874, p. 136.
29. Doniger 1999, p. 550.
30. Vijay K. Jain 2015, p. 181-208.
31. Tirthankara (EMBLEMS OR SYMBOLS) pdf(http://www.jainuniversity.org/pdfbooks/030414060736pdfbooks.pdf)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20150713111418/http://www
.jainuniversity.org/pdfbooks/030414060736pdfbo
oks.pdf) 13 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
32. Structural View of the Universe – Time (Kal or Samaya) (http://www.jaina.org/?page=RealityExistence)
33. Dundas 2002, p. 276.
34. Zimmer 1953, p. 209-210.
35. Umakant P. Shah 1987, p. 79.
36. Cort 2010.
37. Red sandstone figure of a tirthankara(http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/asia/r/red_s
andstone_figure_of_a_tirt.aspx)
38. Jain & Fischer 1978, p. 15, 31.
39. George 2008, p. 318.
40. Rao 2007, p. 13.
41. Dr. K. R. Shah 2011, p. 9.
42. Ravi Gupta and Kenneth Valpey (2013), The Bhagavata Purana, Columbia University Press,ISBN 978-0231149990,
pages 151–155
43. ://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/quote/greatmen.htm
44. Champat Rai Jain 1930, p. 78.
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