What is jainism :: Aum :: Path /Doctrine :: Legend :: Ahinsa   Shri Mahavira the last of the Jina (Tirthankar) is regarded as the founder. But he is only the reformist who brought the present day known faith into practice from age old system. Jainism is eternal & has existed since time immemorial. Mahavir was born in 599 b.c. He was 24th & the last Tirthankar. First Tirthankar Rushabh dev is mentioned in Vedas & Puranas & is said to have preached the way of Jainism to the earliest of human settlements. He was the founder of the faith & first person to speak about freedom from cycle of birth & death.

Today Jainism is divided into two sects namely: Svetamber & Digamber, since 2000 years. But, for both the ultimate goal is Salvation. Jainism is a system which gives an individual the necessary teachings & understanding to be master of his own destiny, to live a perfectly harmonious life with nature, fellow human beings, animals and the complete environment. It is a way of leading virtuous & pure blissful life.

A Tirthankara or bridge-finder is a wise seer who rediscovers the Jain a way. To the Jains, he is greater than the gods because he transcends the laws of Space and Time. Actions or karma are responsible for ensnaring the soul in the flesh and for entrapping all beings in the material world. The Tirthankara provides all creatures with the means to liberate the soul from the confines of the body and to rise towards bliss, enlightenment and release from the eternal cycle of rebirth. He advocates continence, truth, non-violence, simplicity and purity for those who seek liberation. In every cycle of existence there have been 24 Tirthankaras, each one a prince, each one represented by a symbol, served by a Yaksha and a Yakshi. The following were the Tirthankaras of the present cycle of existence:

Tirthankaras	Symbols		Picture
Rishabh Dev Ji	Bull
Ajita Nath Ji	Elephant
Sambhava Nath Ji	Horse
Abhinandana Ji	Ape
Sumati Nath Ji	Partridge
Padma Prabhu Ji	Lotus
Suparsva Nath Ji	Swastika
Chandra Prabhu Ji	Moon
Suvidhi Nath Ji	Alligator
Sitala Nath Ji	Srivatsa
Sreyamsa Nath Ji	Rhinoceros
Vasupujya Nath Ji	Capricorn
Vimala Nath Ji	Boar
Ananta Nath Ji	Hawk
Dharma Nath Ji	Vajra
Santi Nath Ji	Antelope
Kunthu Nath Ji	Goat
Ara Nath Ji	Nandavat
Malli Nath Ji	Kumbh
Suvrata Nath Ji	Tortoise
Nami Nath Ji	Blue lotus
Nemi Nath Ji	Conch-shell
Parsva Nath Ji	Serpent
Mahavira Nath Ji	Lion

What is jainism :: Aum :: Path /Doctrine :: Legend :: Ahinsa