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FOUR AND TWENTY TIRTHAMKARAS
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Khandagiri Hill in which there is a mention of a consecrated Statue of the first Tirthamkara, Rişabha Deva, that had been carried off by King Nanda Vardhana about 2400 years ago, and that was brought back to Kalinga (Orissa), by Kharvale, in the 2nd century B.C., from Pataliputra (modern Patna). This Statue most probably dated back prior to Mahavira's time, and possibly even to that of Parsva Nath.
As for the other Tirthamkaras, Arista Nemi is a name which is quite familiar in' the Hindu literature including the Vedas, and he would appear to be identical with the twenty-second Tirthamkara who bore that name, but was generally known as Nemi Nath. Modern opinion is now veering round to regard Nemi Nath as a real historical person (see “Lord Arishtanemi " by H. Bhattacharya, pp. 88-89). In the Rig and the Yajur Vedas, too, there is a mention of the Lord (see the Jaina Patha Pradarshak, iii. 94-107); but no historical details are given to fix the identity, which is, however, established by other references. The Hindu scripture, the Prabhāsa (Skande) Purana distinctly acknowledges Nemi Nath, as is evident from the quotation at the top of this chapter. A reference to the seventh Tirthamkara, Sri Suparsva Nath, is to be found in the Buddhist literature
