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Mahavir

TIRTHANKAR

Tirthankars have been considered to be great men in Jain culture. They wipe away the ignorance of the ignorant ones. They protect religion in the world. By following the principles preached by them, a man can attain salvation.

Tirthankar means guide. In other words, the one who rescues a person sinking in the worldly ocean or guides them towards the right path; is called a Tirthankar. The literal meaning of Tirthankar is one who purifies.

There are some more words, which help in clarifying the meaning of Tirthankar. One of them is 'Jin', which means the one who wins over hindrances like attachment and malevolence. Similarly, the word 'Arihant' is also used instead of Tirthankar. It means the one who is respected by humans and Gods.

All the Tirthankars that have taken birth have come from royal and wealthy families. The 20th and the 22nd Tirthankars have come from Hari clan. The remaining 22 Tirthankars belong to the Ikshvanku clan.

All the Tirthankars had spent their childhood with a lot of adulation and love. Only those people marry who are attached to the world. The ones who don't have don't marry. Even if they marry, they remain neutral towards all the wealth, pleasures and they consider it the their aim to live like that.

The brief introduction of the twenty two Tirthankars

After the salvaation of Rushabhdevji the prospective second Tirthankar Shri Ajitnathji was born to king Jitshatru and queen Vijaya of Ayodhya. After experiencing the pleasures of royal life, he developed a disinterest in the world and subsequently, he renounced the world. After renouncing the world, he meditated for twelve years and attained the supreme knowledge (knowledge of the soul). When all the karmas were destroyed he attained salvation. It is said that when he was in the womb, his father used to play dice with his mother. His mother used to emerge victorious always. Thus, he was named Ajitnath ( the invincible).

After many years of the second Tirthankar's salvation, the third Tirthankar Sambhavnathji was born. King Jitari of Shravasti and queen Seva were his parents. After many years of worldly existence, he renounced the world in the garden of his house. After fourteen years of renunciation he attained the supreme knowledge. When he was in the womb, there was a possibility of prosperity, joy and peace all over. Seeing this, he was named sambhavnath.

After many years of the third Tirthankar's salvation the fourth Tirthankar Abhinandanji was born to king Sambar and queen Siddhartha. It is said that when he was in the womb many kings complimented him for his able administration. T

hus, he was named `Abhinandan'. After enjoying his father's wealth, he renounced the world from a garden in Ayodhya. After twenty-eight years of this, he attained supreme knowledge.

The fifth Tirthankar Sumatinathji was born to king Megh and queen Mangala of Ayodhya. He enjoyed family life for some time and renounced the world in a garden of Ayodhya. After twenty years of renunciation he attained supreme knowledge.

The sixth Tirthankar Padma Prabhu was born in Kaushambi to king Shridhar and queen Suseema. Like other Tirthankars, he renounced the world in a garden after some years of worldly life. Within just six months, he acquired the supreme knowledge. Then, he attained salvation after destroying all his karmas.

After his salvation, a charming young boy was born to king Pratishth of Bana-Rasi (Benares or Kashi). The child was Suparsch. His mother was Pruthvi. Suparsch acquired fame as the seventh Tirhtnkar. He renounced the world in a garden of Banarasi. After nine months he realized his soul and subdued his karmas. Then he attained salvation.

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