तीर्थंकर

The 24 Tirthankaras

A Tirthankara is a “ford-maker” — a soul who crosses the river of existence and leaves a crossing behind for all others. Twenty-four arise in every great cycle of time.

Jainism does not begin with Mahaveer. He is the last of twenty-four Tirthankaras of the present descending half-cycle of time, each of whom rediscovered the same eternal dharma and re-established the fourfold order of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. The first, Rishabhanatha, belongs to remote prehistory; the 23rd, Parshvanatha, lived some 250 years before Mahaveer and is firmly historical. Each Tirthankara is identified by an emblem (lanchhana) carved beneath his image — Mahaveer's is the lion.

Bronze altarpiece of 1089 CE with the first Tirthankara Rishabhanatha enthroned, surrounded by smaller figures of the other Jinas

चौबीसी

One Lineage, Cast in Bronze

Jain art loves to show the whole lineage at once — the chaubisi, all twenty-four together. In this altarpiece, cast in 1089 CE, the first Tirthankara Rishabhanatha sits enthroned while the other Jinas rise around him in a flame-shaped arch.

Whoever the central figure, the message is the same: the ford has been made again and again, and will be made again.

Rishabhanatha (Adinatha)

Emblem: Bull

The first Tirthankara, who taught humanity agriculture, crafts and writing before renouncing all of it. Attained moksha on Mount Kailash (Ashtapada).

Ajitanatha

Emblem: Elephant

“The Unconquered” — born in Ayodhya, he is invoked when fear and obstacles crowd the path.

Sambhavanatha

Emblem: Horse

Born at Shravasti; his teaching emphasised the rarity and preciousness of human birth.

Abhinandananatha

Emblem: Monkey

“The One Who Gladdens” — his very presence, the texts say, made beings rejoice.

Sumatinatha

Emblem: Krauncha bird

Lord of right wisdom, famed for resolving disputes with discernment even as a child.

Padmaprabha

Emblem: Red lotus

“Radiance of the Lotus” — his body is described as glowing like a red lotus at dawn.

Suparshvanatha

Emblem: Swastika

Born at Varanasi; the ancient symbol of well-being beneath his image marks the four destinies of the soul.

Chandraprabha

Emblem: Crescent moon

“Moonlight” — cool, luminous serenity; his temple at Sonagiri remains a great Digambara tirtha.

Pushpadanta (Suvidhinatha)

Emblem: Crocodile

Lord of right procedure — the careful, methodical practice that keeps the path from becoming theory.

Shitalanatha

Emblem: Shrivatsa / wishing tree

“The Cooling One” — his name itself a balm; remembered for stilling the fevers of body and mind.

Shreyansanatha

Emblem: Rhinoceros

“The Beneficial” — born at Simhapuri near Varanasi; his age saw the dharma flower again after long decline.

Vasupujya

Emblem: Buffalo

Attained moksha at Champapuri — the only Tirthankara whose all five kalyanakas occurred in one city.

Vimalanatha

Emblem: Boar

“The Stainless” — purity of perception, the mirror wiped clean of every distortion.

Anantanatha

Emblem: Falcon

“The Infinite” — pointing to the soul's endless knowledge, perception, bliss and energy.

Dharmanatha

Emblem: Vajra

Lord of dharma itself; the thunderbolt beneath his image is the unbreakable law.

Shantinatha

Emblem: Deer

Lord of peace — a chakravartin emperor who renounced the world's largest empire. Invoked wherever conflict needs cooling.

Kunthunatha

Emblem: Goat

Also an emperor before renunciation; his name is linked to compassion for the smallest creatures (kunthu).

Aranatha

Emblem: Nandyavarta

The third of the emperor-Tirthankaras; the auspicious nandyavarta diagram marks his seat.

Mallinatha

Emblem: Water pot (kalasha)

In the Shvetambara tradition, a woman — Princess Malli — whose beauty taught six kings the vanity of the body and the gloriousness of the soul.

Munisuvrata

Emblem: Tortoise

Tirthankara of the age of Rama; the tortoise — steady, withdrawn into itself — is his perfect sign.

Naminatha

Emblem: Blue lotus

Born at Mithila; kings besieging the city bowed instead, the texts say, the moment he was conceived.

Neminatha (Arishtanemi)

Emblem: Conch

Cousin of Lord Krishna. Hearing the cries of animals penned for his wedding feast, he turned his chariot around and renounced the world on the spot — attaining moksha on Mount Girnar.

Parshvanatha

Emblem: Serpent

The beloved historical Tirthankara of Varanasi (c. 9th–8th century BCE), sheltered by the serpent king Dharanendra. His fourfold restraint preceded Mahaveer's five vows.

Mahaveer (Vardhamana)

Emblem: Lion

The Great Hero of Kshatriyakund — who reorganised the eternal dharma for our age and attained nirvana at Pawapuri. Read his full story →

The forested ridge of Shikharji — Parasnath hill in Jharkhand — rising above the plains

The Hill of Liberation

Shikharji — Where Twenty Crossed Over

Of the twenty-four Tirthankaras, twenty attained moksha on Shikharji — Parasnath hill in Jharkhand, named for Parshvanatha, the highest mountain of the region. Pilgrims walk its 27-kilometre parikrama barefoot, bowing at the tonk of each Tirthankara along the ridge.

The other great crossings: Rishabhanatha on Kailash, Vasupujya at Champapuri, Neminatha on Girnar — and Mahaveer at Pawapuri, where the lotus lake now holds the Jal Mandir.

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The Festivals That Remember Them

Every kalyanaka — birth, renunciation, omniscience, liberation — is still celebrated, from Mahavir Jayanti to the lamps of Diwali.

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