Tulsi Prajna 2005 04

SR No.: 524623
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shanta Jain, Jagatram Bhattacharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 122
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India
File Size: 6 MB

Page 89

knowledge, bearing upon the discovery of the necessary conditions under which and the time when the religious movement of the Jainas was started. (2) The first Tīrthamkaras
The sacred tradition of the Jainas all along tries to superimpose on their followers the idea that their religion is an eternal one which has been revealed from time to time to the Tirthamkaras who come to this world as ardent exponents of the faith in every age like the Pauranic Avatāras.' They believe in a long line of twenty-four Tīrthamkaras like the Buddhists, who created a long story of the past Buddhas in the postAsokan days. From the Jaina point of view neither Rsabhadeva, the first of these Tīrthamkaras, nor Mahāvīra, the last of them, can be properly accredited with the first promulgation of the Jaina religion. The fundamental truths of this religion were in existence from time immemororial and can be traced even before the Vedas. The Tīrthamkaras realise these truths when they attain enlightenment and preach them to the people.
The traditional way of the Jainas is to begin their history with the career of the first of these twenty-four Arhats. Without going into the details of the lives of these shadowy personages we shall remain satisfied in giving their names? for the present. They are (1) Rşabhadeva; (2) Ajitanātha; (3) Sambhavanātha; (4) Abhinandana; (5) Sumatinātha; (6) Padmaprabha; (7) Supārsvanātha; (8) Candraprabha; (9) Suvidhinātha; (10) Sitalanātha; (11) Sreyāṁsanātha; (12) Väsupiyya; (13) Vimalanātha; (14) Anantanātha; (15) Dharmanātha; (16) Santinātha; (17) Kumthunātha; (18) Aranātha; (19) Mallinātha; (20) Munisuvrata; (21) Naminātha; (22) Neminātha or Aristanemi; (23) Pārsvanātha; and (24) Mahāvīra.
This list is implicitly relied upon by the Jainas as genuine. But no historical evidences have as yet been forthcoming to warrant the real existence of the first twenty-two Tīrthamkaras. On the other hand they appear to be quite fictitious personages for reasons not far to seek.
The duration of the careers of these Tīrthamkaras is so very much exaggerated that the list cannot be considered as genuine. Thus Rşhabhadeva is believed to have lived for eighty-four lakhs of pūrva or great years: even Neminātha or Arishtanemi, the 22nd Tīrthamkara is said to have flourished for one thousand years. The ages of the intermediate ones vary within these two limits. Pārsvanātha's career is only unusually short in comparison to these. He is said to have lived for one hundred years.
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