Jin-vani
The 24 Ford-Makers

The 24 Tirthankaras

The 24 Tirthankaras of the present avasarpiṇī time-cycle, in canonical order. Each shown with their lāñchana (identifying symbol), traditional complexion, parents, birthplace, and place of mokṣa.

Tirthankaras are not gods (see Foundation 01). They are liberated souls who, in their final birth, established the four-fold saṅgha and showed the path of mokṣa.

#1Golden

Rishabhanatha (Adinatha)

ऋषभनाथ (आदिनाथ)

Lāñchana
Bull(वृषभ)
Father
राजा नाभिराय
Mother
महारानी मरुदेवी
Birthplace
Ayodhya
Mokṣa
Mt. Kailasha (Ashtapada)

The first Tirthankara of this time-cycle. Founded the spiritual order. The Bhaktamara Stotra is composed in his praise.

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#2Golden

Ajitanatha

अजितनाथ

Lāñchana
Elephant(गज)
Father
राजा जितशत्रु
Mother
महारानी विजया
Birthplace
Ayodhya
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#3Golden

Sambhavanatha

सम्भवनाथ

Lāñchana
Horse(अश्व)
Father
राजा जितारि
Mother
महारानी सेना
Birthplace
Sravasti
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#4Golden

Abhinandananatha

अभिनन्दननाथ

Lāñchana
Monkey(कपि)
Father
राजा संवर
Mother
महारानी सिद्धार्था
Birthplace
Ayodhya
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#5Golden

Sumatinatha

सुमतिनाथ

Lāñchana
Curlew (krauñca)(क्रौञ्च)
Father
राजा मेघप्रभ
Mother
महारानी मङ्गला
Birthplace
Ayodhya
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#6Red

Padmaprabha

पद्मप्रभ

Lāñchana
Red lotus(रक्त-कमल)
Father
राजा धरण
Mother
महारानी सुसीमा
Birthplace
Kausambi
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#7Golden

Suparshvanatha

सुपार्श्वनाथ

Lāñchana
Swastika(स्वस्तिक)
Father
राजा सुप्रतिष्ठ
Mother
महारानी पृथ्वी
Birthplace
Varanasi
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#8White

Chandraprabha

चन्द्रप्रभ

Lāñchana
Crescent moon(चन्द्र)
Father
राजा महासेन
Mother
महारानी लक्ष्मणा
Birthplace
Chandrapuri
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#9White

Pushpadanta (Suvidhinatha)

पुष्पदन्त (सुविधिनाथ)

Lāñchana
Crocodile (makara)(मकर)
Father
राजा सुग्रीव
Mother
महारानी रामा
Birthplace
Kakandi
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#10Golden

Shitalanatha

शीतलनाथ

Lāñchana
Śrīvatsa(श्रीवत्स)
Father
राजा दृढरथ
Mother
महारानी सुनन्दा
Birthplace
Bhaddilapura
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#11Golden

Shreyamsanatha

श्रेयांसनाथ

Lāñchana
Rhinoceros (gaṇḍa)(गण्डक)
Father
राजा विष्णु
Mother
महारानी विष्णुश्री
Birthplace
Simhapuri
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#12Red

Vasupujya

वासुपूज्य

Lāñchana
Buffalo (mahiṣa)(महिष)
Father
राजा वसुपूज्य
Mother
महारानी जयावती
Birthplace
Champapuri
Mokṣa
Champapuri
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#13Golden

Vimalanatha

विमलनाथ

Lāñchana
Boar (varāha)(वराह)
Father
राजा कृतवर्मा
Mother
महारानी सुरमा / श्यामा
Birthplace
Kampilya
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#14Golden

Anantanatha

अनन्तनाथ

Lāñchana
Falcon (śyena)(श्येन)
Father
राजा सिंहसेन
Mother
महारानी सर्वयशा
Birthplace
Ayodhya
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#15Golden

Dharmanatha

धर्मनाथ

Lāñchana
Vajra(वज्र)
Father
राजा भानु
Mother
महारानी सुव्रता
Birthplace
Ratnapuri
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#16Golden

Shantinatha

शान्तिनाथ

Lāñchana
Deer (mṛga)(मृग)
Father
राजा विश्वसेन
Mother
महारानी अचिरा
Birthplace
Hastinapur
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar

Also a Chakravartin emperor before renunciation.

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#17Golden

Kunthunatha

कुन्थुनाथ

Lāñchana
Goat (chāgala)(छागल)
Father
राजा सूर्य
Mother
महारानी श्री
Birthplace
Hastinapur
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar

Also a Chakravartin emperor.

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#18Golden

Aranatha

अरनाथ

Lāñchana
Nandyāvarta(नन्द्यावर्त)
Father
राजा सुदर्शन
Mother
महारानी मित्रसेना
Birthplace
Hastinapur
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar

Also a Chakravartin emperor.

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#19Blue (in Digambara) / Variable

Mallinatha

मल्लिनाथ

Lāñchana
Pitcher (kalaśa)(कलश)
Father
राजा कुम्भ
Mother
महारानी प्रभावती
Birthplace
Mithila
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar

In Digambara tradition: a male Tirthankara. In Shvetambara tradition: female. This is the most-cited example of doctrinal difference between the traditions.

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#20Black / Dark

Munisuvrata

मुनिसुव्रत

Lāñchana
Tortoise (kūrma)(कूर्म)
Father
राजा सुमित्र
Mother
महारानी पद्मावती
Birthplace
Rajagriha
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#21Golden

Naminatha

नमिनाथ

Lāñchana
Blue lotus (nīlotpala)(नीलोत्पल)
Father
राजा विजय
Mother
महारानी वप्रा
Birthplace
Mithila
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar
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#22Black / Dark

Neminatha (Aristanemi)

नेमिनाथ (अरिष्टनेमि)

Lāñchana
Conch (śaṅkha)(शङ्ख)
Father
राजा समुद्रविजय
Mother
महारानी शिवादेवी
Birthplace
Sauripura (Mathura region)
Mokṣa
Mt. Girnar

Cousin of Krishna in Jain tradition. Renounced the world on his wedding day after seeing animals being slaughtered for the wedding feast.

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#23Blue / Dark

Parshvanatha

पार्श्वनाथ

Lāñchana
Snake (sarpa, with hood)(सर्प)
Father
राजा अश्वसेन
Mother
महारानी वामा
Birthplace
Varanasi
Mokṣa
Mt. Sammed Shikhar

Historical Tirthankara (~9th–8th century BCE). His teaching of four vows preceded Mahavir, who added the fifth (brahmacarya).

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#24Golden

Mahavira (Vardhamana)

महावीर (वर्धमान)

Lāñchana
Lion (siṁha)(सिंह)
Father
राजा सिद्धार्थ
Mother
महारानी त्रिशला
Birthplace
Kundalapura (Vaishali region)
Mokṣa
Pavapuri

The 24th and last Tirthankara of this time-cycle. NOT the founder of Jainism.

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Note on this tableNames, lāñchanas, complexions, and parentage follow the Digambara tradition. The Glossary entry on Tirthankara covers the doctrinal definition; Foundation 01 covers the misconception that Tirthankaras are gods. Most Tirthankaras attain mokṣa at Sammed Shikhar (in present-day Jharkhand), the most sacred Jain pilgrimage site. All entries are working drafts. Help me fix what's wrong.