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Tirthankaras are special arihantas because they revitalize the Jain Sangh (four-fold Jain Order) consisting of sadhus, sadhvis, shravaks (male householders), and shravikas (female householders)
During every half time cycle, twenty-four persons like us rise to the level of tirthankara. The first tirthankara of our time period was Lord Rishabhdev, and the twenty-fourth and last tirthankara was Lord Mahavira, who lived from 599 BCE to 527 BCE. A tirthankara is also called a jina. Jina means conqueror of passions.
At the time of nirvana (liberation) when an arihanta becomes a siddha, the arihanta sheds off the remaining four aghati karmas namely 1) Nam (physical structure forming) karma, 2) Gotra (status forming) karma, 3) Vedniya (pain and pleasure causing) karma and 4) Ayushya (life span determining) karma.
These four karmas are called aghati karmas because they do not affect the true nature of the soul; Thus when the Arihanta sheds even the karmas which give rise to a physical form they become Siddhasperfected bodiless beings.
Siddhas:
Siddhas are the liberated souls. They are no longer among us because they have completely ended the cycle of birth and death. They have reached the ultimate highest state, salvation. They do not have any karmas, and they do not collect any new karmas. This state of true freedom is called moksha. Siddhas are experiencing unobstructed bliss (eternal happiness). They have complete knowledge and perception.
They are formless and have no passions and therefore are free from all temptations.
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amrender muni ji maharaj
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