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Jain timeline of all 24 Tirthankars.
Answer
Below is the traditional Jain timeline of the 24 Tirthankars of the present Avasarpiṇī kāl.
In Jain Dharma, time is cyclical. The 24 Tirthankars appear in the descending half-cycle called Avasarpiṇī. The dates are understood in traditional Jain cosmology, not ordinary modern historical chronology.
| No. | Tirthankar | Symbol / Lanchhan | Traditional Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shri Rishabhdev / Adinath Bhagwan | Bull | End of the 3rd Ara and beginning of the 4th Ara |
| 2 | Shri Ajitnath Bhagwan | Elephant | 4th Ara |
| 3 | Shri Sambhavnath Bhagwan | Horse | 4th Ara |
| 4 | Shri Abhinandan Swami Bhagwan | Monkey | 4th Ara |
| 5 | Shri Sumatinath Bhagwan | Curlew / Krauncha bird | 4th Ara |
| 6 | Shri Padmaprabhu Bhagwan | Red lotus | 4th Ara |
| 7 | Shri Suparshvanath Bhagwan | Swastik | 4th Ara |
| 8 | Shri Chandraprabhu Bhagwan | Moon | 4th Ara |
| 9 | Shri Pushpadant / Suvidhinath Bhagwan | Crocodile / Makara | 4th Ara |
| 10 | Shri Shitalnath Bhagwan | Shrivatsa / Kalpavriksha, according to tradition | 4th Ara |
| 11 | Shri Shreyansnath Bhagwan | Rhinoceros | 4th Ara |
| 12 | Shri Vasupujya Bhagwan | Buffalo | 4th Ara |
| 13 | Shri Vimalnath Bhagwan | Boar | 4th Ara |
| 14 | Shri Anantnath Bhagwan | Falcon / Porcupine, according to tradition | 4th Ara |
| 15 | Shri Dharmanath Bhagwan | Vajra / Thunderbolt | 4th Ara |
| 16 | Shri Shantinath Bhagwan | Deer | 4th Ara |
| 17 | Shri Kunthunath Bhagwan | Goat | 4th Ara |
| 18 | Shri Aranath Bhagwan | Fish / Nandyavarta, according to tradition | 4th Ara |
| 19 | Shri Mallinath Bhagwan | Kalash / Water pot | 4th Ara |
| 20 | Shri Munisuvrat Swami Bhagwan | Tortoise | 4th Ara |
| 21 | Shri Naminath Bhagwan | Blue lotus | 4th Ara |
| 22 | Shri Neminath / Arishtanemi Bhagwan | Conch | 4th Ara |
| 23 | Shri Parshvanath Bhagwan | Snake / Serpent hood | Historical period; traditionally before Mahavir Swami |
| 24 | Shri Mahavir Swami Bhagwan | Lion | End of the 4th Ara; Nirvana marks the beginning of the 5th Ara |
Explanation
Jain time is divided into two great half-cycles:
- Utsarpiṇī – ascending time cycle
- Avasarpiṇī – descending time cycle
Each half-cycle has six Aras. The 24 Tirthankars of our current time cycle appeared mainly during the 3rd and 4th Ara of Avasarpiṇī.
According to traditional Jain belief:
- Rishabhdev Bhagwan appeared when human civilization was first being organized.
- The next Tirthankars continued to revive the path of liberation.
- Parshvanath Bhagwan is the 23rd Tirthankar.
- Mahavir Swami Bhagwan is the 24th and last Tirthankar of the present Avasarpiṇī.
Important Traditional Point
The current era is the 5th Ara, called Duḥṣamā. In this era:
- No new Tirthankar is born in Bharat Kshetra.
- Keval Jnan does not occur here.
- Moksha from Bharat Kshetra is not possible during this part of the time cycle, according to traditional Jain cosmology.
Takeaway
The 24 Tirthankars are not founders of separate religions. They are enlightened beings who rediscovered and re-established the eternal Jain path of samyak darshan, samyak jnan, and samyak charitra for the welfare of all souls.
