$JES 101 Jain Activity Book Level 1 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 43

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TIRTHANKARS
Tirthankar Rushabhadev's mother was Märudevi Mätä and according to Shvetämbar tradition, she was the first person to attain liberation in this era.
Tirthankar Rushabhadev had 100 sons. The name of his eldest son was Bharat (first Chakravarti king) after whom our native nation Bharat (India) is named. One of Bharat's sons, Marichi, ultimately reincarnated as Tirthankar Mahävir, the last Tirthankar of this era. Tirthankar Rushabhadev's second son was Bähubali, and according to Digambar tradition, he was the first person to attain liberation in this era.
Shvetämbar tradition believes that Tirthankar Mallinath was a female while Digambar tradition believes that Mallinäth was a male.
According to Shvetämbar tradition, Tirthankars Mallinäth and Neminäth were the only two Tirthankars who did not get married. According to Digambar tradition, Väsupujya-swämi, Pärshvanath, and Mahävir-swami also did not get married.
Lord Ram (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Hindu Mythology) is believed to be a contemporary of Tirthankar Munisuvrat-swämi. Tirthankar Neminäth is believed to be a cousin of Lord Krishna, (another incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
Prince Nemi (Tirthankar Neminäth) was engaged to Princess Räjul. On the day of the wedding, upon hearing the cries of the birds and animals that were going to be slaughtered for the wedding feast, Prince Nemi renounced his worldly life and became a monk. Princess Räjul followed him and became a nun.
Tirthankar Pärshvanath was born in 877 BC. He lived for 100 years and attained Nirväna in 777 BC, 250 years before the Nirvana of Tirthankar Mahävir.
Tirthankar Mahävirswami was born in 599 BC and attained Nirväna (Moksha) in 527 BC. He was named Prince Vardhaman at birth. He attained Nirväna on the day of Diwali. He is the last of the 24 Tirthankars of this time cycle.
23 Tirthankars (except Neminäth) were born and took Dikshä in the same place.
JAIN ACTIVITY BOOK
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