Answer

In Jain tradition, the 24 future Tirthankars of the next time-cycle are known, and many texts also mention their previous birth names or present-known identities.

A commonly accepted list is:

• 1. Padmanābha — previous birth: King Śreṇik
• 2. Suradeva — previous birth: Supārśva
• 3. Suparśva — previous birth: King Udāyī
• 4. Svayamprabha — previous birth: Pottila
• 5. Sarvānubhūti — previous birth: Dr̥ḍhāyu
• 6. Devashruta — previous birth: Kārtika
• 7. Udaya — previous birth: Śaṅkha
• 8. Pedhāla — previous birth: Ānand
• 9. Pottila — previous birth: Sunanda
• 10. Śataka — previous birth: Śataka
• 11. Munisuvrata — previous birth: Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva
• 12. Amama — previous birth: Baladeva
• 13. Niṣkaṣāya — previous birth: Sulasā Śrāvikā
• 14. Niṣpulāka — previous birth: Revati
• 15. Nirmama — previous birth: King Śātānīka
• 16. Citragupta — previous birth: Dāruka
• 17. Samādhi — previous birth: Śaṅkha
• 18. Saṃvara — previous birth: Ambada
• 19. Yaśodhara — previous birth: Śāradvatī
• 20. Vijaya — previous birth: Vijaya
• 21. Mallinātha — previous birth: Vijayā
• 22. Devacandra — previous birth: Devacandra
• 23. Anantavīrya — previous birth: Anantavīrya
• 24. Bhadrakṛt — previous birth: Bhadrakṛt

Important Note

Lists of future Tirthankars and their earlier identities can vary slightly between Jain traditions and textual sources. The most widely known point is that King Śreṇik, a contemporary of Bhagwan Mahavir, is traditionally believed to become the first Tirthankar of the future cycle, named Padmanābha.

Takeaway

The teaching reminds us that even souls currently bound by karma can rise to the highest spiritual state through right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, and the purification of karma.