Answer

In Jain tradition, there are 24 Tirthankars in the present time-cycle, called Avasarpini. Their lives are primarily known through Jain scriptures and tradition.

From a modern historical-evidence perspective, the strongest historical discussion is usually around the later Tirthankars, especially:

• 23rd Tirthankar Bhagwan Parshvanath — generally regarded by many historians as a historical personality.
• 24th Tirthankar Bhagwan Mahavir — historically well-attested and accepted as a historical figure.

For the earlier Tirthankars, Jain tradition gives detailed accounts, but modern archaeological or independent historical evidence is limited.

Traditional Timeline of the 24 Tirthankars

Approximate Historical Timeline

• Bhagwan Rishabhdev to Bhagwan Naminath: Their dates belong to vast traditional Jain cosmological time periods. These are accepted in Jain Dharma but cannot be confirmed by modern historical methods.
• Bhagwan Neminath: Traditionally associated with the time of Shri Krishna and Dwarka. His historical dating remains debated.
• Bhagwan Parshvanath: Often placed around the 8th–9th century BCE by modern scholarly estimates. Jain tradition says he lived 250 years before Bhagwan Mahavir.
• Bhagwan Mahavir: Commonly placed around the 6th century BCE. Traditional Jain dates place his nirvana in 527 BCE, while some modern historians use slightly different dating.

Types of Evidence

• Scriptural evidence: Jain Agams, later Jain texts, Kalpa Sutra tradition, and Tirthankar charitras preserve the religious biographies and teachings.
• Traditional lineage evidence: Jain tradition preserves guru-parampara, sangha history, and accounts of earlier ascetic orders.
• Historical evidence: Bhagwan Mahavir is supported by ancient Indian historical context, references to contemporary rulers, and the continuity of the Jain sangha.
• Archaeological evidence: Jain images, inscriptions, caves, temples, and manuscripts provide strong evidence for the antiquity of Jain worship and community, especially from later historical periods. However, they do not prove the full traditional chronology of all 24 Tirthankars.

Important Jain Understanding

In Jain Dharma, the Tirthankars are not merely historical teachers. They are Kevalis, liberated beings who rediscover and teach the eternal path of:

• Ahimsa — non-violence
• Satya — truth
• Achaurya — non-stealing
• Brahmacharya — celibacy or purity
• Aparigraha — non-possession

Bhagwan Parshvanath’s tradition is especially associated with four vows, while Bhagwan Mahavir taught the five great vows in their complete form for monks and nuns.

Takeaway

The traditional Jain timeline accepts all 24 Tirthankars as real and spiritually perfected beings of this Avasarpini.

From the viewpoint of modern historical evidence:

• Bhagwan Mahavir has the strongest historical evidence.
• Bhagwan Parshvanath is also widely regarded as historical or historically plausible.
• Earlier Tirthankars are known mainly through Jain scripture and sacred tradition rather than modern archaeological proof.