Why is Bahubali bhagwan not a tirthankar
Bahubali (also called Gomateshwar) is highly revered in Jainism as a great tapasvi and as a Siddha who attained moksha, but he is not a Tirthankar.
Why not a Tirthankar:
- Tirthankaras are the 24 beings who revitalize and teach the Jain Dharma in each cosmic cycle. They set up the path, establish the teachings, and leave behind a formal, enduring framework for others to follow.
- Bahubali is regarded as a supreme Jain ascetic who achieved enlightenment (kevala jnana) and liberation, but he did not establish or revive the Jain doctrine or found a teaching lineage. Therefore he is honored as a Siddha and a model of detachment, not as a Tirthankar.
- In both Digambar and Śvetāmbar traditions, the 24 Tirthankaras are fixed, and Bahubali is not counted among them. He is celebrated for his renunciation, self-control, and spiritual example.
In short, Bahubali is venerated for his attainments as a realized soul, but the role of a Tirthankar—founding or reviving the Jain path and sutras—belongs to the 24 Tirthankaras, not to Bahubali.