Jain dharm ki sthapna kisi ek vyakti ne nahi kiya tha. Jain dharm anadi hai, yaani shuru se chalta aa raha dharm maana jata hai. Iska vyavaharik roop 24 Tirthankaron ki parampara se bana hai.

• Is yug me pehle Tirthankara Rishabhanatha (Adi­nath) ki sthapna ko bahut mahatva diya jata hai, kyunki unhone dharm ki shiksha ki prarambh ki thi.
• Aaj ki current half-cycle (avasarpini) ke ant tak Mahavira (24th Tirthankara) aakar Jain dharm ki adarsh aur vyavahar ko ek aadhar mil gaya, parantu dharm ki anadi parampara pehle se hi chalti aa rahi thi.
• Digambar aur Shvetambar dono sampradayo me yeh maana jata hai ki Mahavira ke samay tak dharm ki sanraksha aur vyavahar mil gaya tha, lekin Mahavira ne use punarsthapit ya sangathit kiya, na ki naya srijan kiya.

Yeh dono traditions me thodi bhinnataayein ho sakti hain, par mool tatva ki samajh yahi hai ki Jain dharm anadi hai aur 24 Tirthankaron ki kramik kranti se chala aa raha hai.

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