Portrait of Jain Religion

Author(s): Narendra Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 37

ones used presently (days, months, years etc.), it is difficult to ascertain the precise time period of each Tirthankar in terms of presently prevalent time measurements. However, through collation of data renowned scholars have been able to determine definitive time frame for two or three Tirthankaras, notably Arishtnemi, the 22nd Tirthankar, Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara, and ofcourse Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara. Mahavir lived from 599 BCE- 527 BCE, and achieved Nirvana at the age of 72. His predecessor Parshvanath is slated to have lived from 877 BCE-777 BCE. It was the erudite German Jain scholar Hermann Jacobi who established the historical authenticity of Lord Parshvanath, who lived 250 years prior to Lord Mahavir. The royal ancestors of both Mahavir and Gautam Buddha were followers of Parshvanath.
Jain literature vividly describes how various Tirthankars traveled far and wide on foot to spread the Jain doctrine. The proof of it is found in the many surviving ancient Jain temples all over India with ancient beautifully and delicately sculptured images of various Tirthankars together with their identifying symbols. The symbols are mostly other living beings or natural elements, and go to establish the outlook of the Tirthankars towards oneness of all life, and the divine interdependence between humans, other living beings and forces of nature.
The following table concerning the 24 Tirthankars is very illuminating in terms of their birth place, place of Nirvana, respective emblem and the number of Ganadhars (principal disciples), who carried forward their teachings to the successive generations in the well-set Shrut tradition.
S. No. Name
Birth place
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Rishabhnath
Ajitnath Sambhavanath Abhinandannath
Sumatinath
Padmaprabhu
26
Emblem
Bull
Elephant
Horse
Monkey Ruddy Goose
Red lotus
Ayodhya
Ayodhya
Shravasti
Ayodhya
Ayodhya Kaushambi
Nirvana place Gana
hars 84
90
Samet Shikhar
105
Samet Shikhar 103
116
Samet Shikhar Samet Shikhar 111
Ashtapad
Samet Shikhar
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