Answer

In Jain Dharma, Tirthankars are the supreme spiritual teachers who rediscover and re-establish the path to liberation in every time cycle.

The word Tirthankar means “one who creates a tirth” — a spiritual crossing-place that helps souls cross the ocean of birth and death and move toward moksha.

There are 24 Tirthankars in the present time cycle according to Jain tradition. The first is Rishabhdev Bhagwan, also known as Adinath, and the 24th is Mahavir Swami Bhagwan.

Explanation

A Tirthankar is not a creator god. In Jain Dharma, the universe is eternal and is not created by anyone. A Tirthankar is a perfected soul who has destroyed all karmas and attained keval jnan, infinite knowledge.

After attaining keval jnan, a Tirthankar teaches the true path of liberation:

• Samyak Darshan — Right Faith
• Samyak Jnan — Right Knowledge
• Samyak Charitra — Right Conduct

Together, these are called the Ratnatraya, the Three Jewels of Jain Dharma.

The Tirthankars show the path of:

• Ahimsa — non-violence
• Satya — truthfulness
• Achaurya — non-stealing
• Brahmacharya — celibacy or purity
• Aparigraha — non-attachment

These principles help the soul become free from karma.

The 24 Tirthankars

• 1. Rishabhdev Bhagwan / Adinath
• 2. Ajitnath Bhagwan
• 3. Sambhavnath Bhagwan
• 4. Abhinandan Swami Bhagwan
• 5. Sumatinath Bhagwan
• 6. Padmaprabhu Bhagwan
• 7. Suparshvanath Bhagwan
• 8. Chandraprabhu Bhagwan
• 9. Suvidhinath Bhagwan / Pushpadant Bhagwan
• 10. Sheetalnath Bhagwan
• 11. Shreyansnath Bhagwan
• 12. Vasupujya Swami Bhagwan
• 13. Vimalnath Bhagwan
• 14. Anantnath Bhagwan
• 15. Dharmanath Bhagwan
• 16. Shantinath Bhagwan
• 17. Kunthunath Bhagwan
• 18. Aranath Bhagwan
• 19. Mallinath Bhagwan
• 20. Munisuvrat Swami Bhagwan
• 21. Naminath Bhagwan
• 22. Neminath Bhagwan / Arishtanemi
• 23. Parshvanath Bhagwan
• 24. Mahavir Swami Bhagwan

Spiritual Understanding

Tirthankars are worshipped not because they grant worldly favors, but because they represent the highest state a soul can achieve.

They teach that every soul has the potential to become pure, free, and perfect. Their lives inspire us to reduce anger, pride, deceit, greed, violence, and attachment.

By following their teachings, one moves closer to inner peace and liberation.

Takeaway

Tirthankars are the enlightened guides of Jain Dharma. They do not create the universe, but they reveal the eternal path to moksha through right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, non-violence, and detachment.