What is a Tirthankara in Jainism?

In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a savior who has successfully crossed over life’s stream of rebirths and created a path for others to follow. Each cosmic age is believed to produce 24 Tirthankaras. Mahavira (6th century BCE) was the most recent Tirthankara. According to tradition, his predecessor, Parshvanatha, lived approximately 250 years prior. Jain believers pay homage to Tirthankaras as representatives of great beings, hoping to be filled with renunciation and virtue, encouraging them on the path toward liberation. Tirthankaras are venerated as saints in temples with images of them, viewed as examples for Jainas, not objects of a cult.

How many Tirthankaras are there in Jainism?

In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a savior who has successfully crossed the stream of rebirths and created a path for others to follow. According to Jain beliefs, each cosmic age produces a group of 24 Tirthankaras. Mahavira, who lived in the 6th century BCE, was the last Tirthankara to appear. The Tirthankaras are venerated as saints in temples with their images and are viewed as examples for Jainas to purify themselves morally.

What role do Tirthankaras play in Jain beliefs?

In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a savior who has successfully crossed the stream of rebirths, creating a path for others to follow. Each cosmic age is believed to produce 24 Tirthankaras. The Tirthankaras are venerated as saints, and their images are housed in temples. Jain believers pay homage to Tirthankaras as representatives of great beings, hoping to cultivate renunciation and virtue, which encourages them on their path toward liberation. They are not worshiped as gods who can give blessings or interfere in human affairs. The names of the 24 Tirthankaras are attributed to dreams by their mothers before their births. Rishabhanatha, also known as Adinatha, is considered the first Tirthankara.

Who was Mahavira, and why is he important among the Tirthankaras?

Mahavira , the 24th and last Tirthankara , is a key figure in Jainism. He was born about 599 BCE and died in 527 BCE. Mahavira, also known as Jina or "Conqueror," systematized Jainism's doctrines and established its monastic rules. He taught achieving salvation by extreme asceticism and nonviolence, influencing followers to embrace vegetarianism. His core teachings included the five great vows ( mahavratas ): renouncing killing, untruths, greed, sexual pleasure, and attachments. Mahavira's emphasis on nonviolence profoundly impacted Indian culture.

How are Tirthankaras different from other religious figures in Jainism?

In Jainism, Tirthankaras are revered as saviors who have successfully crossed the stream of rebirths, creating a path for others to follow. They are distinct from other religious figures because they have achieved complete perfection and purification of the soul, reaching a state of eternal liberation known as moksha . Jain believers pay homage to Tirthankaras as representatives of great beings, hoping to cultivate renunciation and virtues, guiding them towards their own liberation. While they are venerated as saints, they are not worshiped as personal gods who can grant blessings but are seen as examples for moral purification. A Tirthankara is called a kevalin (possessor of omniscience). Becoming a Tirthankara requires the development of a particular type of karmic destiny.

What are some common symbols and stories associated with Tirthankaras?

In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a savior who successfully crossed the stream of rebirths, creating a path for others to follow. Each Tirthankara is represented by symbols, colors, and stories. Common Tirthankara symbols: * Rishabhanatha : the bull * Parshvanatha : snake * Mahavira : lion The names of the 24 Tirthankaras are based on dreams their mothers had before their births or circumstances surrounding their birth. Legends often emphasize a Tirthankara's association with animals, such as Parshvanatha, who saved a serpent. The Jains developed their own legendary history, the Deeds of the 63 Illustrious Men, which Western scholars call the Universal History. Jain believers pay homage to Tirthankaras as representatives of great beings, hoping to be filled with renunciation and virtue, encouraging them on the path to liberation.

Tirthankara

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Quick Facts

Sanskrit:: “Ford-maker”

Also called:: Jina (“Victor”)

See all related content

Tirthankara

Jainism

Also known as: Jina, Tīrthaṅkara

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

Top Questions

What is a Tirthankara in Jainism?
In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a savior who has successfully crossed over life’s stream of rebirths and created a path for others to follow. Each cosmic age is believed to produce 24 Tirthankaras. Mahavira (6th century BCE) was the most recent Tirthankara. According to tradition, his predecessor, Parshvanatha, lived approximately 250 years prior.

Jain believers pay homage to Tirthankaras as representatives of great beings, hoping to be filled with renunciation and virtue, encouraging them on the path toward liberation. Tirthankaras are venerated as saints in temples with images of them, viewed as examples for Jainas, not objects of a cult.
2 Britannica Sources
1. saint: Jainism
2. Tirthankara
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How many Tirthankaras are there in Jainism?
In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a savior who has successfully crossed the stream of rebirths and created a path for others to follow. According to Jain beliefs, each cosmic age produces a group of 24 Tirthankaras. Mahavira, who lived in the 6th century BCE, was the last Tirthankara to appear. The Tirthankaras are venerated as saints in temples with their images and are viewed as examples for Jainas to purify themselves morally.
2 Britannica Sources
1. saint: Jainism
2. Tirthankara
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What role do Tirthankaras play in Jain beliefs?
In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a savior who has successfully crossed the stream of rebirths, creating a path for others to follow. Each cosmic age is believed to produce 24 Tirthankaras. The Tirthankaras are venerated as saints, and their images are housed in temples.

Jain believers pay homage to Tirthankaras as representatives of great beings, hoping to cultivate renunciation and virtue, which encourages them on their path toward liberation. They are not worshiped as gods who can give blessings or interfere in human affairs. The names of the 24 Tirthankaras are attributed to dreams by their mothers before their births. Rishabhanatha, also known as Adinatha, is considered the first Tirthankara.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who was Mahavira, and why is he important among the Tirthankaras?
Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara, is a key figure in Jainism. He was born about 599 BCE and died in 527 BCE.

Mahavira, also known as Jina or "Conqueror," systematized Jainism's doctrines and established its monastic rules. He taught achieving salvation by extreme asceticism and nonviolence, influencing followers to embrace vegetarianism. His core teachings included the five great vows (mahavratas): renouncing killing, untruths, greed, sexual pleasure, and attachments. Mahavira's emphasis on nonviolence profoundly impacted Indian culture.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Mahavira
2. Tirthankara
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How are Tirthankaras different from other religious figures in Jainism?
In Jainism, Tirthankaras are revered as saviors who have successfully crossed the stream of rebirths, creating a path for others to follow. They are distinct from other religious figures because they have achieved complete perfection and purification of the soul, reaching a state of eternal liberation known as moksha.

Jain believers pay homage to Tirthankaras as representatives of great beings, hoping to cultivate renunciation and virtues, guiding them towards their own liberation. While they are venerated as saints, they are not worshiped as personal gods who can grant blessings but are seen as examples for moral purification. A Tirthankara is called a kevalin (possessor of omniscience). Becoming a Tirthankara requires the development of a particular type of karmic destiny.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some common symbols and stories associated with Tirthankaras?
In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a savior who successfully crossed the stream of rebirths, creating a path for others to follow. Each Tirthankara is represented by symbols, colors, and stories.

Common Tirthankara symbols:
* Rishabhanatha: the bull
* Parshvanatha: snake
* Mahavira: lion

The names of the 24 Tirthankaras are based on dreams their mothers had before their births or circumstances surrounding their birth. Legends often emphasize a Tirthankara's association with animals, such as Parshvanatha, who saved a serpent. The Jains developed their own legendary history, the Deeds of the 63 Illustrious Men, which Western scholars call the Universal History.

Jain believers pay homage to Tirthankaras as representatives of great beings, hoping to be filled with renunciation and virtue, encouraging them on the path to liberation.
5 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Tirthankara, in Jainism, a saviour who has succeeded in crossing over life’s stream of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow. Mahavira (6th century bce) was the last Tirthankara to appear. According to tradition, his predecessor, Parshvanatha, lived about 250 years earlier; the other Tirthankaras mentioned in the Jain scriptures cannot be considered historical figures. According to Jain belief each cosmic age produces its own group of 24 Tirthankaras, the first of whom—if it is an age of descending purity—are giants, but they decrease in stature and appear after shorter intervals of time as the age proceeds.

In art the Tirthankara is represented either standing stiffly in the pose known as kayotsarga (“dismissing the body”) or seated cross-legged on a lion throne in the posture of meditation, dhyanamudra. The images are often carved out of marble or other highly polished stone or are cast in metal, the cold surfaces serving to emphasize the frozen detachment from life. Since the Tirthankara is a perfect being, there is little to distinguish one from another, except for symbolic colours or emblems. The names of the 24 Tirthankaras are attributed to dreams by their mothers before their births or to some other circumstance surrounding their entry into the world. The suffix -natha, “lord,” may be added as an honorific to their names.

In order of their appearance, the names, signs, and colours of the Jinas of this age are (1) Rishabhanatha (“Lord Bull”), or Adinatha (“Lord First”), his emblem the bull, his colour golden; (2) Ajita (“Invincible One”), elephant, golden; (3) Shambhava (“Auspicious”), horse, golden; (4) Abhinandana (“Worship”), ape, golden; (5) Sumati (“Wise”), heron, golden; (6) Padmaprabha (“Lotus-Bright”), lotus, red; (7) Suparshva (“Good-Sided”), the swastika symbol, golden; (8) Chandraprabha (“Moon-Bright”), moon, white; (9) Suvidhi, or Pushpadanta (“Religious Duties” or “Blossom-Toothed”), dolphin or makara (sea dragon), white; (10) Shitala (“Coolness”), the shrivatsa symbol, golden; (11) Shreyamsha (“Good”), rhinoceros, golden; (12) Vasupujya (“Worshiped with Offerings of Possessions”), buffalo, red; (13) Vimala (“Clear”), boar, golden; (14) Ananta (“Endless”), hawk (according to the Digambara sect, ram or bear), golden; (15) Dharma (“Duty”), thunderbolt, golden; (16) Shanti (“Peace”), antelope or deer, golden; (17) Kunthu (meaning uncertain), goat, golden; (18) Ara (a division of time), the nandyavarta (an elaborated swastika; according to the Digambara sect, fish), golden; (19) Malli (“Wrestler”), water jug, blue; (20) Suvrata, or Munisuvrata (“Of Good Vows”), tortoise, black; (21) Nami (“Bowing Down”), or Nimin (“Eye-Winking”), blue lotus, golden; (22) Nemi, or Arishtanemi (“The Rim of Whose Wheel Is Unhurt”), conch shell, black; (23) Parshvanatha (“Lord Serpent”), snake, green; (24) Vardhamana (“Prospering”), later called Mahavira (“Great Hero”), lion, golden.

Tirthankara

Thank you for signing up!