In Jainism, “only 24” does not mean there are just 24 Tirthankars in all time. It means:

• Time is cyclic. Each cycle has two halves: Avasarpini (descending) and Utsarpini (ascending).
• In every half-cycle, in our region (Bharat Kshetra), exactly 24 Tirthankars appear. This is a fixed law of Jain cosmology.
• They arise when dharma declines and people are ready to receive the pure path again. Each of the 24 establishes the fourfold sangh (monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen) and shows the way to liberation.
• Across endless cycles, the number of Tirthankars is infinite; but per half-cycle here, the count is 24. In the current Avasarpini, the first is Bhagwan Rishabhdev (Adinath) and the twenty‑fourth is Bhagwan Mahavir.

Why the number is 24:

• As human conditions (age, strength, passions, receptivity) change step‑by‑step in a half‑cycle, there are 24 distinct epochs when a Tirthankar can manifest and succeed in re‑establishing dharma. Hence the fixed count of 24 in each half‑cycle in Bharat Kshetra.

Digambar and Shwetambar:

• Both traditions agree on 24 Tirthankars per half‑cycle for our region and on their role. There are some differences in historical details (for example, about Mallinath’s life), but not in the fixed number or purpose.

This preserves the spiritual idea: Tirthankars appear according to cosmic law to reopen the ford (tirth) to liberation whenever the world is ready, exactly 24 times in each half of time’s cycle in our land.