Tirthankar means a “ford-maker” or “one who has crossed the ford.”

• Etymology: tīrtha (ford) + kara (maker/doer).
• Meaning: a soul who has conquered all inner enemies (like anger, pride, deceit, greed) and has crossed the sea of samsara (cycle of birth and death). A Tirthankar shows the right path and establishes a spiritual ford (tirth) for others to cross over from bondage to liberation.
• In Jainism there are 24 Tirthankaras in each cosmic time cycle.
• Both Digambar and Shwetambar traditions affirm this concept, with only minor differences in details of each Tirthankar’s life and legends.