$JES 302 Jain Philosophy Level 3 Book

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

Page 11

TIRTHANKARS
Tirthankars from where he/she delivers the first sermon. This is the most important event for the entire Jain order as the Tirthankar re-establishes Jain Sangha and preaches the Jain path of purification and liberation. Nirvän Kalyänak - (Nirvana Event) This event is when a Tirthankar's soul is liberated from this worldly physical existence forever and becomes a Siddha. On this day, the Tirthankar's soul destroys the remaining four Aghäti Karmas completely, and attains salvation, the state of eternal bliss.
Digambar tradition indicates that women cannot become Tirthankar or be liberated because they need to cover their body with cloths after the renunciation (after becoming nuns). Hence they cannot follow the fifth Mahävrata (Non-possession) fully. For liberation, it is essential that all five Mahävrata be followed fully. Swetambar tradition interprets the fifth Mahävrata as Non-possessiveness indicating that monks and nuns may need to wear the minimum cloths needed to properly function their daily activities in the society (e.g. Gochari - Going to laypeople home for food). However they should not have any attachments to their cloths.
Number of Tirthankars : It was stated earlier that Tirthankars are born only in 3rd and 4th Äräs in our region called Bharat Kshetra of Jambu Dweep. Since we are in the 5th Arä now, no Tirthankar exist in our region. In the 3rd and 4th Äräs of current Avasarpini cycle, the twenty-four Tirthankars were borne in our region. Generally, we state that there are twenty-four Tirthankars, we specifically mean that there were twenty-four Tirthankars in the 3rd and 4th Arå of the current Avasarpini time cycle.
According to Jainism, there are 15 regions in the universe where the possibility of Tirthankars exist. Out of these, 10 regions (5 Bharat and 5 Airävat) are such that the human behavior and natural conditions continuously changes and Tirthankars appear only during 3rd and 4th Aräs.
The other five regions (5 Mahä-Videha) are such that the conditions are always conducive to have Tirthankar. At present, there exist four Tirthankars in each Mahä-Videha Kshetra (regions). Thus, there are a total of 20 Tirthankars preaching Jainism in Mahä-Videha regions at present time. Shri Simandhar Swami is one of the 20 Tirthankars. In many Jain temples, an idol of Shri Simandhar Swami is installed which represents and reminds us that at present there are living Tirthankars preaching Jainism in the other part of the universe. This is also important since a soul can transmigrate to and take a human birth in one of the Mahä-Videha regions now and progress to reach liberation even though it is not possible to attain liberation in the present time in our region (Bharat Kshetra).
Past and Future Tirthankars : There were also twenty-four Tirthankars (Chovisi) in our region in the past Utsarpini half cycle of time. There will also be twenty-four Tirthankars in the next Utsarpini half cycle. The names of both are found in our scriptures. There have been infinite such chovisis in our Bharat Kshetra as well as Airavat Kshetra. Therefore when we state that there are twenty-four Tirthankars, we must remember that our statement applies only to our current Avasarpini cycle. In reality, there have been infinite number of Tirthankars existed in the past in our region and hence infinite Siddhas.
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I