Who was the first Jain Tirthankara to conquer karma
Tirthankara is a savior and spiritual teacher of the dharma (righteous path)
They have conquered the cycle of death and rebirth on their own and made a path for others to follow.
The first Tirthankara in this present time cycle was Rishabhanatha, also known as Adinatha.
He is credited for formulating and organizing humans to live in a society harmoniously.
According to the Kalpasutra, he is supposed to have been born 8,400,000 years ago.
How many Tirthankaras are there in Jainism?
According to Jain belief, each cosmic age produces its own group of 24
The word Tirthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha, which is a fordable passage across the sea of interminable births and deaths, the saṃsāra.
Who are the 24 Tirthankaras in Jainism
- Rishabhanatha (Adinatha) – Bull – Ayodhya
- Ajitanatha – Elephant – Ayodhya
- Sambhavanatha – Horse – Shravasti
- Abhinandananatha – Monkey – Ayodhya
- Sumatinatha – Goose – Ayodhya
- Padmaprabha – Lotus – Kaushambi
- Suparshvanatha – Swastika – Varanasi
- Chandraprabha – Crescent Moon – Chandrapura
- Pushpadanta – Crocodile – Kakandi
- Shitalanatha – Kalpavriksha (Wishing Tree) – Bhaddilapura
- Shreyansanatha – Rhinoceros – Simhapuri
- Vasupujya – Buffalo – Champapuri
- Vimalanatha – Boar – Kampilyapura
- Anantanatha – Falcon or Bear – Ayodhya
- Dharmanatha – Vajra (Thunderbolt) or Vajra-Musala (Thunderbolt-Sceptre) – Ratnapuri
- Shantinatha – Deer or Antelope- Hastinapur
- Kunthunatha- Goat or Ram- Hastinapur
- Aranatha- Fish or Nandavarta (Swastika with nine corners)- Hastinapur
- Mallinatha- Water Jar or Kalasha- Mithila
- Munisuvrata- Tortoise- Rajgriha
- Naminatha- Blue Lotus or Blue Water Lily- Mithila
- Neminatha- Shankha (Conch)- Sauripur (Girnar)
- Parshvanatha- Snake or Serpent Hood- Varanasi
- Mahavira (Vardhamana)- Lion- Kundagrama
What is the difference between a Tirthankara and a Guru?
On the other hand, a Guru is a spiritual teacher or guide who helps individuals on their spiritual journey.
A Guru may provide guidance and teachings to help individuals overcome obstacles and progress on their spiritual path.
While a Tirthankara is considered to be a supreme spiritual teacher who has attained enlightenment, a Guru may not necessarily have attained enlightenment but can still provide valuable guidance and teachings to help others on their spiritual journey.
In summary, the main difference between a Tirthankara and a Guru is that a Tirthankara is considered to be an enlightened being who has conquered the cycle of death and rebirth, while a Guru is a spiritual teacher or guide who may not necessarily have attained enlightenment but can still provide valuable guidance and teachings to help others on their spiritual journey.
