________________
The Twenty-four Tīrtharkaras -
The twenty-four Tīrtharkaras, who propounded and preached the Jaina precepts to the people of their times in the current descendent time phase are --
1. Lord Rsabhadeva, 2. Lord Ajitanātha, 3. Lord Sambhavanātha, 4. Lord Abhinandana, 5. Lord Sumatinātha, 6. Lord Padmaprabha, 7. Lord Supārsvanātha, 8. Lord Candraprabha, 9. Lord Suvidhinātha, 10. Lord Sītalanātha, 11. Lord Sreyānisanātha, 12. Lord Väsupūjya, 13. Lord Vimalanātha, 14. Lord Anantanātha, 15. Lord Dharmanātha, 16. Lord Säntinātha, 17. Lord Kunthunātha, 18. Lord Aranātha, 19. Lord Mallinātha, 20. Lord Munisuvrata, 21. Lord Naminātha, 22. Lord Aristanemi, 23. Lord Pārsvanātha, and 24. Lord Vardhamāna Mahāvīra.
The faith preached by these Tīrtharkaras – fordmakers - was essentially the same with modifications incorporated by each to suit the needs of His time. For example, the first and the twenty-fourth Tīrtharkaras preached a five dimensional faith (Pañcayāma dharma), consisting of the five great vows of completely refraining from violence, untruth, stealing, sexual
JAINISM : AN INTRODUCTION: 29