Who are called Tirthankars?

 

1.    Tirthankar means one who creates pilgrimage from the cycle of birth and death to salvation. Tirthankar is a savior and spiritual teacher of Dharma. The word tirthankar signifies the founder of a tirtha. Tirtha is an institution consists of monks, nuns, shravaks and sharavikas. Those who can attain the stage of Jina (victor) and Kevalin (omniscient) are called Tirthankars.

A tirthankar is not an incarnation of God. He is born as a human with ordinary soul. He attains the state of tirthankar as a result of intense practice of penance (punishment on himself), equanimity (a calm state of mind) and meditation. Images of tirthankars are not worshipped as personal gods giving blessing. Rather, Jain believers pay them homage with the faith that the tirthankars may guide them to choose the right path during their presence in this ‘sansar’. They may be filled with a sense of renunciation and the highest values. A regular practice of the virtues in everyday life will surely help us some day to overcome the cycle of birth and death to attain the stage of salvation.





                    Painting of 24 Tirthankars 
                    by Ganesh Chand Lalwani

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