 Jain Tirthankaras in Jain tradition are the Supreme beings; who have attained the ultimate eternal bliss by achieving liberation from cycles of birth and death. They show the path of liberation to others by telling about religion, the importance of human life, how to be free from bondage, thus acquiring Nirvana or liberation.
According to the Jain tradition, Lord Mahavira had won over a large number of Tirthankaras. There were 14,000 monks, 36000 nuns, 1, 59,000 laymen and 3, 18,000 lay-women as his followers by his work. Each of these four groups belonged to the four ‘Tirtha’, i.e., the components of the Jain church, was under the supervision of trustworthy personalities. 24 Jain Tirthankaras The 24 Jain Tirthankaras are discussed below: Bhagwan Rishabh Dev: Bhagwan Rishabh Dev was born to Emperor Nabhi Raja and Queen Marudevi at Ayodhya in the Ikshwaku Dynasty. He is regarded as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu according to the Hindu text of Bhagavata Purana. Lord Ajitnath: Lord Ajitnath was the 2nd Jain Tirthankara of the current age –Avasarpini. He was born at Ayodhya in the Ikshwaku dynasty to Emperor Jitashatru Raja and Queen Vijaya. During his final day, Lord Ajitnath went to Sammetshikhar. He achieved Nirvana on the 5th day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra.  Lord Sambhavanath: Lord Sambhavanath was the 3rd Jain Tirthankara of the present age, Avasarpini. He was the son of Queen Sena Devi, and Emperor Jitari of Shravasti. He achieved nirvana after a 14 year period of divine practices.
Lord Abhinandannatha: Lord Abhinandannatha was the 4th Tirthankara of the present age, Avasarpini. He was the son of Emperor Sanvara Raja and Queen Sidharta Rani. He achieved nirvana on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Pausha. Lord Sumatinatha: Lord Sumatinatha was the 5th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He was the son of Queen Mangalavati/ Sumangala, and Emperor Megh of Ayodhya. He achieved nirvana under a Priyangu tree on the 11th day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra. Lord Padmaprabha: Lord Padmaprabha was the 6th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He was the son of queen Susima, and Emperor Kaushambi. On the full moon day of the month of Chaitra he achieved nirvana. Lord Suparshavnatha: Lord Suparshvanath was the 7th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He became an ascetic and preached people and later attained nirvana on the 7th day of the bright half of his month of Phalgun at Sammetshikhar. Lord Chandraprabha: Lord Chandraprabha was the 8th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. Gradually when his end approached he went to Sammetshikhar and after a month of long fasting and meditation got enlightened and achieved nirvana.  Lord Pushpadanta: Pushpadanta was the 9th Jain Tirthankara. Lord Pushpadanta was born to Sugriva of Kakandi and Rama Devi in the Ikshwaku dynasty. He achieved Nirvana at Sammetshikhar on the 9th day of the dark half of the month of Kartik.
Lord Sheetalnath: Lord Sheetalnath was the 10th Jain Tirthankara of the current age Avasarpini. He was born to Emperor Dradhrath Raja and Queen Nanda Rani at Bhaddilpur in the Ikshwaku dynasty. He achieved nirvana on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Pausha. Lord Shreyansanath: Lord Shreyansanath was the 11th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He was born to Emperor Vishnu Raja and Queen Vishnu Devi Rani at Sinhpuri. He attained nirvana on the 15th day of the dark half of the month of Magha. Lord Vasupujya Swami: Lord Vasupujya Swami was the 12th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He was born to Emperor Vasupujya Raja and Queen Jaya Devi Rani at Champapuri. He got nirvana on the 14th day of the bright half of the month of Ashadh. Lord Vimalnath: Lord Vimalnath was the 13th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He was born to Emperor Kratvarm Raja and Queen Shyama Devi at Kampilaji. On the 7th day of the dark half of the month of Ashadh, Lord Vimalnath attained nirvana at Sammetshikhar. Lord Anantnath: Lord Anantnath was the 14th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He was born to Emperor Raja Sinhsen and Queen Suyasha Rani at Ayodhya. He attained his nirvana on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Vaisakh. Lord Dharmanath: Lord Dharmanath was the 15th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He was born to Emperor Bhanu Raja and Queen Suvrata Rani at Ratnapuri. He achieved nirvana at Sammetshikhar. Lord Shantinath: Lord Shantinath was the 16th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He was born to Emperor Viswasen Raja and Queen Achira Rani at Hastinapur. On the 9th day of the bright half of the month of Pausha, he achieved nirvana. Lord Kunthunath: Lord Kunthunath was the 17th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He was born to Emperor Shursen Raja and Queen Srirani Rani at Hastinapur. He achieved nirvana on the 3rd day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra. Lord Aranath: Lord Aranath was the 18th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. He was born to Emperor Sudarshan Raja and Queen Devi Rani at Hastinapur. He achieved nirvana under a mango tree. Lord Mallinath: Lord Mallinath was the 19th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. Lord Mallinath was born to Emperor Kumbha Raja and Queen Prabhavati Rani at Mithila. Lord Unisuvrata: Lord Unisuvrata Swami was the 20th Jain Tirthankara of the current age, Avasarpini. Unisuvrata was born to Emperor Sumitra Raja and Queen Padmavati Rani at Mithila in the Hari Vansh clan. Lord Naminath: Lord Naminatha was the 21st Jain Tirthankara of the present era. He was born to Emperor Vijay Raja and Queen Vipra Rani of the Ikshwaku dynasty. After 9 months, he achieved nirvana under a Bakul Tree. Lord Neminatha: Lord Neminatha was the 22nd Jain Tirthankara of the present age. Neminatha was born to King Samudra Vijaya and Queen Shivadevi at Souripur. Lord Parashvanath: Lord Parashvanath was the 23rd Tirthankara of the present age. He was born in Varanasi as son of King Asvasena from the famous Ikshwaku Dynasty. Lord Mahavira: Lord Mahavira was the 24th and the last Tirthankara, born in Kundagram in 599 B.C. He was born to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala. He devoted the rest of his life to preaching the timeless truth of divine liberty to people around India. At the age of 72 years he attained Nirvana. |
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Jain Tirthankaras
| Jain Tirthankaras were basically the followers of Lord Mahavira. Those who were impressed by the ways and means of Lord Mahavira were part of one of the ‘Tirtha’. |
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