| The
Tirthankars are also called Arihantas. Arihanta
means destroyer of enemies. Here the enemy means the
enemies of the soul. These are internal enemies and
are defined as the passion of anger ,ego, greed, and
deceit ( Krodh, maan, maya,
lobh). A soul can only reach the state of Arihanta by
overcoming all its inner enemies .
A
person When destroys all the four ghati karmas means
they are totally detached from all worldly aspects and
then he becomes an Arihant and attains the perfect knowledge,
vision, power, and bliss. He is omniscient of the past,
present and future forms of all entities. They preach
the religion principles, philosophy of life and the
path of liberation. At the end of human life after shedding
the remain four aghati karmas they attain complete liberation
and become Arhihants also called
Tirthankaras.
Arihantas have two categories:
Tirthankara
kevali
(ordinary)
Arihantas
are those who have attained Tirthankar Näm Karma while
the rest of them are called Ordinary kevali Arihants.
The ordinary kevalies after attaining salvation, they
are called Siddhas.
In the life of a Tirthankar the five Kalyanaks are celebrated.
These are as
follows :
Garbh Kalyanak
Janam
Kalyanak
Tap
Kalyana
Keval
Gyaan Kalyanak
Nirvaan Kalyanak
Twenty-four
Tirthankaras are born during this descending part of the
time cycle (Avasarpini
Kaal) of this region (Bharat Kshetra) which are listed
below along
with their symbol: -
| Number |
Name |
Symbol |
| 01 |
Rishab
Nath ji |
Bull |
| 02 |
Ajit
Nath ji
|
Elephant |
| 03 |
Sambhava
Nath ji |
Horse |
| 04 |
Abhinandan
Nath ji |
Monkey |
| 05 |
Sumiti
Nath ji |
Curlew-CHAKVA |
| 06 |
Padam
Prabhu ji |
Lotus |
| 07 |
Suparshva
Nath ji |
Swastik |
| 08 |
Chandra
Prabhu ji |
Moon |
| 09 |
Pushp
Danta ji |
Crocodile |
| 10 |
Shital
Nath ji |
Kalp
Vraksh |
| 11 |
Shreyansh
Nathji |
Rhino |
| 12 |
Vashu
Pujya ji |
Buffalo |
| 13 |
Vimal
Nath ji |
Bear |
| 14 |
Anant
Nath ji |
SEHI |
| 15 |
Dharm
Nath ji |
Vajra-dand |
| 16 |
Shanti
Nath ji |
Deer |
| 17 |
Kunthu
Nath ji |
He
goat |
| 18 |
Arah
Nath j |
Fish |
| 19 |
Malli
Nath ji |
Kumbh |
| 20 |
Muni
Suvarta |
Tortoise |
| 21 |
Nami
Nath ji |
Blue
Lotus |
| 22 |
Nemi
Nath ji |
Conch-shank |
| 23 |
Parshva
Nath ji |
Snake |
| 24 |
Mahavir
Ji
|
lion |
Jains do not ask for any favor or material
benefits from their Gods,
the Tirthankars or even from monks and nuns. It is considered
auspicious
to
remember the names of all the Tirthankars and worship
them.
|
