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Tirthankara

The one who establishes Tirth (dharma/moksh-marg) are called Tirthankars. They establish and preach the real path of salvation i.e. Mokshmarg to the world.

Because our purpose is true happiness (that is attained by salvation), Tirthankaras are our true ideals to follow.

Tirthankaras have 5 Kalyanaks (Auspicious events). The heavenly beings come on earth to celebrate these auspicious events!

  1. Garbh Kalyanak (celebrated when the soul of Tirthankar comes in his mother's womb)
  2. Janma Kalyanak (celebrated when the Tirthankar takes birth as a child)
  3. Tap Kalyanak (celebrated when the Tirthankar takes Digamber Jain Diksha and renounces all the worldly possessions)
  4. Gyaan Kalyanak (celebrated when the Tirthankar attains Kevalgyaan i.e. Infinite/Complete Knowledge)
  5. Moksh Kalyanak (celebrated when the Tirthankar attains Salvation/Nirvaan)
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When Tirthankar attains Kevalgyaan (infinite knowledge), Samavsaran (sermon) when thousands of souls get opportunity to listen to Tirthankar bhagwaan's Divyadhwani/deshna (teaching).

This knowledge from Samavsaran is today available to us! How? It is by below steps:

  • Gandhardev listens to the Divyadhwani (preachings) of Tirthankar.
  • Out of that Gandhardev processes/gains only infinite part of what he could listen.
  • This knowledge of mokshmarg is passed to Acharyas in the Samavsaran.
  • After this, Shrutkevalis, numerous Acharyas, etc. pass on this invaluable knowledge further.
  • This knowledge is written on Taadpatras (taad leaves). The first ever excerpt of Jainism concepts and moksh-marg in written form is 'Shatkhandagam' granth written by Acharya Bhutbali and Pushpadanta.
  • With time, that knowledge has flowed like a river from hundreds of Acharyas, Vidvaans etc. to us today in the form of Jinvaani (shastras/scriptures/granths) today!

In this way, whatever Jainism literature is available to us today is actually what Tirthankar Mahavir said in his Samavsaran.

Some interesting facts about Tirthankars​

  • From birth only, they possess 3 Gyaans (Knowledge) i.e Matigyaan, Shrutgyaan and Avadhi-gyaan (Normal 5-sensed humans like us possess Matigyaan and Shrutgyaan, while Avadhigyaan is the power of soul to know the past and future)

  • They possess completely symmetrical body structure.

  • The color of their blood is white.

  • All their clothes, ornaments, etc. materialistic belongings come from Heaven.

  • They are free from any excretions, sweat etc. impurities in the body.

  • All Tirthankars have a sign(chinha) on their right toe. Like, Mahavira had a sign of LION.

  • Before 9 months of birth of Tirthankar, Devas from Heaven do Ratna-varsha (Rain of gems) in the kingdom to celebrate.

  • Most of the Tirthankars are born in Ayodhya (the capital of Aryakhand) and attain salvation from Sammed Shikhar.