Tirthankars

Introduction

Kalyänak (Auspicious Events)

Chyavana or Garbha Kalyänak – (Conception Event)

Janma Kalyänak – (Birth Event)

Dikshä or Tapa Kalyänak – (Initiation Event)

Kevaljnän Kalyänak – (Omniscience Event)

Nirvän Kalyänak – (Nirvana Event)

Number of Tirthankars:

Past and Future Tirthankars:

Tirthankar Studies:

Role of Celestial Beings:

Conclusion

Emblems and Place of Nirvän of 24 Tirthankars:

Birth Place and Parents Name of 24 Tirthankars:

 

Introduction

Time rolls along in eternal cycles of rise and decline.  Utsarpini is a “rising” era in, which human morale and natural conditions improve over time.  At the end of Utsarpini, begins Avasarpini, a “declining” era of the same length, in, which human morale and virtues deteriorate.  Each era consists of six sub divisions called Äräs.  During the 3rd and 4th Äräs of every rising and declining era of each cycle, twenty‑four souls become Tirthankars in our region known as Bharat Kshetra.  They are the humans like us who rise to that level.  They had gradually purified their soul in prior lives after achieving Samyag Darshan and had acquired a special karma called Tirthankar Näm Karma.  The Tirthankar Näm Karma is acquired by performing one or more of the 20 specific austerities.

Tirthankar Näm Karma matures in the final life and leads the person to become a Tirthankar after taking Dikshä and observing austerities to destroy all Ghäti (destructive) karmas.  After attaining omniscience (Kevaljnän), Tirthankar organizes the Jain religion to suit the changing times.  They reinstate the fourfold order of Sädhus (monks), Sädhvis (nuns), Shrävaks (male householders), and Shrävikäs (female householders) of Jain religion.

Tirthankars are also called Arihantas, Jinas, Kevalis, and Vitarägi.  Arihanta means “destroyer of inner enemies,” Jin means “victor of inner enemies,” and Vitarägi means “one who does not have attachment or hatred towards anyone or anything.” This means that they are totally detached from worldly aspects.  They have destroyed four Ghäti Karmas, namely:

·         Jnänävaraniya (knowledge obscuring) Karma

·         Darshanävaraniya (perception obscuring) Karma

·         Mohaniya (deluding) Karma

·         Antaräya (obstructing) Karma

Kalyänak (Auspicious Events)

Jains celebrate five major events from the life of a Tirthankar.  They are called Kalyänak (auspicious events).  They are:

Chyavana or Garbha Kalyänak – (Conception Event)

This is the event when a Tirthankar’s soul leaves its previous body, and is conceived in the mother’s womb.

Janma Kalyänak – (Birth Event)

This is the event when the Tirthankar is born.

Dikshä or Tapa Kalyänak – (Initiation Event)

This is the event when the Tirthankar gives up all his/her worldly possessions and becomes a monk/nun.

Kevaljnän Kalyänak – (Omniscience Event)

This is the event when a Tirthankar completely destroys four Ghäti Karmas and attains the Kevaljnän (absolute knowledge).  Celestial angels create a Samavasaran for

Tirthankars from where he/she delivers the first sermon.  This is the most important event for the entire Jain order as the Tirthankar re-establishes Jain Sangha and preaches the Jain path of purification and liberation.

Nirvän Kalyänak – (Nirvana Event)

This event is when a Tirthankar’s soul is liberated from this worldly physical existence forever and becomes a Siddha.  On this day, the Tirthankar’s soul destroys the remaining four Aghäti Karmas completely, and attains salvation, the state of eternal bliss.

Digambar tradition indicates that women cannot become Tirthankar or be liberated because they need to cover their body with cloths after the renunciation (after becoming nuns).  Hence they cannot follow the fifth Mahä-vrata (Non‑possession) fully.  For liberation, it is essential that all five Mahä-vratas be followed fully.  Shvetämbar tradition interprets the fifth Mahä-vrata as Non-possessiveness indicating that monks and nuns may need to wear the minimum cloths needed to properly function their daily activities in the society (e.g.  Gochari – Going to laypeople home for food).  However they should not have any attachments to their cloths.

Number of Tirthankars:

It was stated earlier that Tirthankars are born only in 3rd and 4th Äräs in our region called Bharat Kshetra of Jambu Dwip.  Since we are in the 5th Ärä now, no Tirthankar exist in our region.  In the 3rd and 4th Äräs of current Avasarpini cycle, the twenty-four Tirthankars were borne in our region.  Generally, we state that there are twenty-four Tirthankars, we specifically mean that there were twenty-four Tirthankars in the 3rd and 4th Ärä of the current Avasarpini time cycle. 

According to Jainism, there are 15 regions in the universe where the possibility of Tirthankars exist.  Out of these, 10 regions (5 Bharat and 5 Airävat) are such that the human behavior and natural conditions continuously changes and Tirthankars appear only during 3rd and 4th Äräs.

The other five regions (5 Mahä-Videha) are such that the conditions are always conducive to have Tirthankar.  At present, there exist four Tirthankars in each Mahä-Videha Kshetra (regions).  Thus, there are a total of 20 Tirthankars preaching Jainism in Mahä-Videha regions at present time.  Shri Simandhar Swami is one of the 20 Tirthankars.  In many Jain temples, an idol of Shri Simandhar Swami is installed which represents and reminds us that at present there are living Tirthankars preaching Jainism in the other part of the universe.  This is also important since a soul can transmigrate to and take a human birth in one of the Mahä-Videha regions now and progress to reach liberation even though it is not possible to attain liberation in the present time in our region (Bharat Kshetra).

Past and Future Tirthankars:

There were also twenty-four Tirthankars  (Chovisi) in our region in the past Utsarpini half cycle of time.  There will also be twenty-four Tirthankars in the next Utsarpini half cycle.  The names of both are found in our scriptures.  There have been infinite such  Chovisis in our Bharat Kshetra as well as Airävat Kshetra.  Therefore when we state that there are twenty-four Tirthankars, we must remember that our statement applies only to our current Avasarpini cycle.  In reality, there have been infinite number of Tirthankars existed in the past in our region and hence infinite Siddhas. 

Tirthankar Studies:

There exist many Stutis praising the qualities of Tirthankars in Jain literature.  Following is the list of some popular Stutis.

·         Logassa Ujjoyagare (Chaturvishati Stav) Sutra – This sutra is recited in praise of the twenty-four Tirthankars.  It consists of names of each Tirthankar and their qualities.

·         Namutthunam (Shakra Stav) Sutra – This sutra is sung by Indra the king of Celestial Beings in the praise of Arihantas (present and past).  In this stuti, only their virtues are stated without any specific names.

·         Bhaktämar Stotra – This is most popular Stotra and is accepted by both Digambar and Shvetämbar Jain sects.  This was composed by Ächärya Manatung-suri in praise of Tirthankar Rushabhadev.

·         Anandghana Chovisi – Jain monk Shri Änandghanji who was a great poet has composed 24 Stutis (one stuti for each Tirthankar) in praise of twenty-four Tirthankars.

Role of Celestial Beings:

There are other significant events also in the life of a Tirthankar.  After Tirthankar’s soul is conceived, the mother has fourteen dreams as per Shvetämbar tradition (Digambar texts mention two additional dreams making the total to sixteen).  A Tirthankar’s soul, while even in mother’s womb, possesses three types of knowledge, namely Mati Jnän (sensory knowledge), Shruta Jnän (scriptural knowledge), and Avadhi Jnän (clairvoyance).  Celestial beings (Indras and other heavenly beings) are devoted to Tirthankars and take part in ceremonies like birth and the bathing of newborn on Mount Meru. 

One year before the time of renunciation, a group of celestial angels come to pay homage to the future Tirthankar.  They remind him/her to renounce the world and re-establish religious order for the benefit of all living beings.  When a Tirthankar renounces the worldly life, he attains Manah-Paryäya Jnän (telepathy), the fourth type of the knowledge, which enables the Tirthankar to read the minds of other living beings.  Celestial beings also participate in the celebrations of other Kalyänaks and for setting up 8 Pratihärya during sermons given by Tirthankar.

 

Conclusion

There are five very auspicious events in the life of a Tirthankar.  They are conception, birth, renunciation (initiation into monkhood), attaining omniscience, and nirvana.  A Tirthankar has acquired the Tirthankar-Näm Karma in the second previous life by having an intense desire to alleviate the suffering of all living beings.  The fruits of that karma resulted in the soul being born as a Tirthankar Bhagawän.  We celebrate these five major events of the Tirthankar’s life in the form of Pancha-Kalyänak Pujäs.  The nirvana places of Tirthankars are pilgrimage places.  Tirthankars are supreme human beings and our faultless human models in whom we take spiritual refuge.

 

Emblems and Place of Nirvän of 24 Tirthankars:

 

 

Tirthankar Name

Emblem

# of Ganadhar

Place of Nirvän

01

Rushabha or Ädi Näth

Bull

84

Ashtäpad (Kailäsa)

02

Ajit-Näth

Elephant

90

Samet Sikhar

03

Sambhavnäth-Näth

Horse

105

Samet Sikhar

04

Abhinandan Swami

Monkey

103

Samet Sikhar

05

Sumatinath

Ruddy Goose

116

Samet Sikhar

06

Padmaprabha

Red Lotus

111

Samet Sikhar

07

Supärshvanäth

Swastika

95

Samet Sikhar

08

Chandra-Prabha

Crescent Moon

93

Samet Sikhar

09

Pushpadanta or Suvidhi-Näth

Crocodile

88

Samet Sikhar

10

Shital-Näth

Shrivatsa or wishing tree

81

Samet Sikhar

11

Shreyäns-Näth

Rhinoceros

77

Samet Sikhar

12

Väsupujya Swami

Buffalo

66

Champäpuri

13

Vimal-Näth

Boar

55

Samet Sikhar

14

Anant-Näth

Bear or hawk

50

Samet Sikhar

15

Dharma-Näth

Thunderbolt

43

Samet Sikhar

16

Shänti-Näth

Deer

36

Samet Sikhar

17

Kunthu-Näth

Male Goat

35

Samet Sikhar

18

Ara Näth

Nandävarta or Fish

30

Samet Sikhar

19

Malli-Näth

Water pot

28

Samet Sikhar

20

Muni Suvrata Swami

Tortoise

18

Samet Sikhar

21

Nami Näth

Blue Lotus

17

Samet Sikhar

22

Nemi-Näth

Conch

11

Mount Girnar

23

Pärshva Näth

Serpent

10

Samet Sikhar

24

Mahävir Swami or Vardhamän

Lion

11

Pävä Puri

 

 

·         Mahävir Swami attained nirvana at Päväpuri,

·         Nemi-Näth attained nirvana at Girnar,

·         Väsupujya attained nirvana at Champäpuri,

·         Rushabhadev attained nirvana at Mount Ashtäpad (Kailäsa).

·         Other Twenty Tirthankars attained nirvana at mount Samet Shikhar.

*Ganadhars are the chief disciples of the Tirthankars.

 

 

Birth Place and Parents Name of 24 Tirthankars:

 

Tirthankar Name

Father

Mother

Birth Place

01

Rishabha Dev or Ädi Näth

King Näbhi-

Maru-Devi

Ayodhyä

02

Ajit-Näth

Jita Shatru

Vijay

Ayodhyä (Vinitä)

03

Sambhava-Näth Näth

Jitäri

Senä

Shrävasti

04

Abhinandan Swämi

Samvar

Siddhärtha

Ayodhyä (Vinitä)

05

Sumati-Näth

Megharath

Sumangalä

Ayodhyä

06

Padma Prabha

Dharana (Sridhara)

Susimä

Kaushambi

07

Supärshva-Näth

Supratishtha

Prithvi

Väränasi (Banaras)

08

Chandra Prabha

Mahäsen

Lakshman

Chandrapuri

09

Pushpadanta or Suvidhi-Näth Näth

Sugriva

Rama (Supriya)

Kakandi

10

Shital-Näth

Dridharatha

Sunandä

Bhadrikapuri

11

Shreyäns-Näth

Vishnu

Vishnudevi (Vishna)

Simhapuri

12

Väsupujya Swämi

King Vasu

Vijayä (Jayä)

Champäpuri

13

Vimal Näth

Kritvarma

Suramyä (Shyämä)

Kampilya

14

Anant Näth

Simhasen

Suyashä

Ayodhyä

15

Dharma Näth

King Bhänu

Suvratä

Ratnapuri

16

Shänti-Näth

Vishvasen

Achirä

Hastinäpur

17

Kunthu-Näth

Surya (Surasen)

Shree-Devi

Hastinäpur

18

Ara-Näth

Sudarshan

Miträ (Devi)

Hastinäpur

19

Malli Näth

Kumbha

Rakshitä (Prabha)

Mithilä

20

Muni Suvrata Swämi

Sumitra

Padmävati

Kusagranagar (Räjgruhi)

21

Nami Näth

Vijay

Vaprä (Viprä)

Mithilä (Mathura)

22

Nemi-Näth

Samudravijay

Shivädevi

Sauripura (Dvaraka)

23

Pärshva Näth

Ashvasen

Vämä

Käshi (Banaras)

24

Mahävir Swämi or Vardhamän

Siddhärtha

Trishalä

Kshatriyakund