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CHAPTER - 4
THE ROLE OF TIRTHANKARS
Unique to Jain religion is the shramana tradition with its legendary glory of 24 Tirthankaras as 'Path-finders". Beginning with Rishabhdev or Adinath, who was the founder of Jainism, and ending with Vardhamana Mahavir, there have been in the present cycle of eternal time twenty-four Tirthankars. They were born like any other human being, but it is through their intense effort, penetrating spirit of enquiry, introspection, meditation, arduous penance and total detachment from worldly life that they gained omniscient knowledge and unraveled the mystery of the universe and the existence of life. Their teachings have constituted the living doctrine of Jainism comprehensively elucidated, refined and consolidated by Mahavir.
Tirthankars are also called ARIHANT or JIN. ARI means enemies and HANT means destroyer. The enemies are the four Ghati (destructive) karmas namely
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