Don't we know the chovisi prior to the previous chovisi?
Answer
In Jain tradition, the names of the present Chovisi and the previous Chovisi are well known in accepted tradition.
But for the Chovisi before the previous Chovisi, we generally do not have a commonly accepted, clearly established list of names in the same way.
So the careful answer is:
Sorry, I can only provide information that is clearly established within Jain tradition.
Explanation
In Jain cosmology, time moves through endless cycles of:
- Utsarpini – ascending half-cycle
- Avasarpini – descending half-cycle
In certain periods of these cycles, 24 Tirthankars appear. This group of 24 is called a Chovisi.
Traditionally, Jain texts and teachings commonly discuss:
- Present Chovisi – beginning with Shri Rishabhdev Bhagwan and ending with Shri Mahavir Swami
- Past Chovisi – the 24 Tirthankars of the previous time-cycle
- Future Chovisi – the 24 Tirthankars of the coming time-cycle
Beyond these, Jain Dharma teaches that time is beginningless and endless, so there have been innumerable Chovisis in the past and there will be innumerable Chovisis in the future. However, their individual names are not all commonly preserved or taught in standard tradition.
Takeaway
Jain Dharma accepts that there have been infinite Tirthankars across beginningless time, but it does not mean that the names of every earlier Chovisi are clearly available to us in accepted tradition.