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Tīrthankaravāda of Jainas:
(85)
Sixty-three Torch Bearers
Besides the above twenty-four Tīrtharkaras, Jainas have some more great men who have rendered valuable services to the humankind by their deeds. They may by called Torch Bearers (Salāka-puruṣas). Though, the total number is 63 in all, which includes 24 Tīrtharkaras. Nevertheless, excluding them, their number becomes 39 with three duplications among Tīrtharkaras and Cakravartis or world emperors or wheel-turning monarchs. The number of Torch Bearers was later increased to 140, but it is recognized as a prominent number. The status of these Torch Bearers is not as high as that of the Tirtharikaras as most of them have no teaching or preaching mission. Secondly, a large number of them have not been able to attain self-realisation and, therefore, salvation. But their knowledge, might and other qualities have had profound influence on human history of their ages. It seems that the these Torch bearers are classified in four categories as below: (i) Cakravartis or world 12 Bharata, Sagara, Sanatkumāra, Emperors
Brahmadutta (ii) Baladevas
Lord Rāma (iii) Nārāyaņas
Lakşmaņa, Lord Krsna (iv) Pratinārāyaṇas
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Bali, Jarāsandha, Rāvana One can see that many names appearing here are those, which are either incarnations or have similar status in other systems. Their inclusion shows liberal attitude of earlier seers of different religious traditions. These have also been mythologised. For example, the first Caktravarti has the following details: Body height 80 metres Age 6 x 10-0 Years No. of queens 96,000 Army
84 Horses: 18 Elephants: 84 lacs
Crores, Crores Kingdom Kings: 88,000 Chariots:
3 Crores Towns: 75,000 Villages: 96 Crores; Districts: 16,000. Evaluation of Mythology
All the above mythology associated with Tīrtharkaras or Torchbearers has been developed per chance in competition and,
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