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FOUR AND TWENTY TIRTHAMKARAS
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bodied in the four elements (of matter), namely, the earth-bodied (represented by the lion, since he walks on the earth), the air-bodied (represented by the eagle who flies in the air), the waterbodied (represented by the calf, which is the young of the sea-mammals), and the fire-bodied (represented by the sun which is painted as the face of a man). Wings are a symbol for time, since it flies; and the number six is descriptive of the six aras of a half-cycle in which four and twenty Tirthamkaras appear and preach the Truth. Plainly put, the significance of the secret teaching is only this that Life is Divine, and its divinity is manifested most perfectly and fully in the case of four and twenty Tirthamkaras, who appear in a half-cycle of time, consisting of six aras, and preach the Noble Truth to and for the benefit of the souls embodied in material bodies : Why these higher truths were couched in the mystery language that is generally unintelligible to men, will be found explained in the books named above, and cannot be repeated here.
The Tirthamkaras, then, are only four and twenty in each half-cycle of time. But the number of Siddhas is very great. The Siddhas are exactly like the Tirthamkaras in all respects in so far as innate virtues and attainments are concerned. They are all omniscient, and endowed
