Jainism is one of the oldest religions of the world originating in India. There are 24 known Teerthankars in Jainism, starting with Lord RishabhDev, also known as Adinath Bhagwan, and culminating with Lord Mahavir also known as Mahavir Bhagwan. Teerthankars are the spiritual teachers who denounced the worldly pleasure and attained enlightenment after years of meditation. Here we list all the 24 Teerthankars with a brief history and their symbols for reference.
Lord RishabhDev (Adinath Bhagwan) Symbol-Bull Lord Adinath is the first of the 24 Teerthankars in Jainism. He was born to King Nabhi and Queen Marudevi in the Citi of Ayodhya. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) on Mount Kailash (Kailash Parvat). The text Adipurana by Jinsena is an account of events in his life. His Icons include Bull as his emblem, The Nyagrodha tree, Gomukha (the bull faced Yaksha), and Ma Chakreshwari Yakshi.
Lord Ajitnath (Symbol — Elephant)- Lord Ajitnath is the 2nd Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Jitashatru and Queen Vijaya in the town of Saketa at Ayodhya. He was part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment in Shikarji (Shikharji is situated in present-day Jharkhand- India)
Lord Sambhavnath- Symbol — Horse — Lord Sambhavnath is the 3rd Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Jutrai and Queen Susena at Sravasti. (Part of present-day Uttar Pradesh). He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He also attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji.
Lord Abhinandannath — Symbol — Monkey-Lord Sambhavnath is the 4th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Siddhartha and Queen Sanvara at Ayodhya. (Part of present-day Uttar Pradesh). He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He also attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji.
Lord Sumatinath- Symbol- Goose — Lord Sumatinath is the 5th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Meghprabha and Queen Mangala at Ayodhya. (Part of present-day Uttar Pradesh). He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He also attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji.
Lord Padmprabhu –Symbol — Red Lotus — Lord Suprashvnath is the 6th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Shridhar and Queen Susimadevi at Kaushambi. (Part of present-day Uttar Pradesh). He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He also attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji.
Lord Suparshvnath — Symbol- Swastika- Lord Suprashvnath is the 7th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Meghprabha and Queen Mangala at Ayodhya. (Part of present-day Uttar Pradesh). He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He also attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji.
Lord Chandraprabhu — Symbol- Crescent Moon- Lord Suprashvnath is the 8th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Mahasena and Queen Sulakshna Devi at Chandrapuri in Varanasi. (Part of present-day Uttar Pradesh). He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He also attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji.
Lord Pushpadanta- Symbol — Magar (Crocodile) — Lord Pushpadanta is the 9th Tirthankar in Jainism. He is also known by the name Suvidhinath. He was born to King Sugriva and Queen Ramaa at Kakandi near Deoria. (Part of present-day Uttar Pradesh). He also attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji.
Lord Sheetalnath- Symbol –KalpVriksha (The Wishing Tree)- Lord Sheetalnath is the 10th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Dradharth and Queen Nanda at Bhaddilpur. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He also attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji.
Lord Shreyansnath- Symbol- Gainda (Rhinoceros)- Lord Shreyansnath is the 11th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Vishnu and Queen Vishna at Sarnath near Varanasi. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He also attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji.
Lord Vasupujya- Symbol- Bhaisa (Buffalo)- Lord Vasupujya is the 12th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Vasupujya and Queen Jayadevi at Champapuri near Bhagalpur in Bihar. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Champapuri in Bihar.
Lord Vimalnath Symbol — Boar– Lord Vimalnath is the 13th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Kratavarma and Queen Shyamadevi at Kampilaji (in Uttar Pradesh). He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji in Bihar.
Lord Anantnath — Symbol-Sahi (Porcupine)- Lord Ananthnath is the 14th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Sinhasena and Queen Suyasha at Ayodhya. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji in Bihar.
Lord Dharmnath –Symbol — Vajra (Bolt) Lord Ananthnath is the 15th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King BhanuRaja and Queen Suvrata Rani in RatnaPuri. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji in Bihar.
Lord Shantinath: Symbol — Deer-Lord Shantinath is the 16th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Visvasen and Queen Achira in Hastinapur. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji in Bihar.
Lord Kunthunath- Symbol- Goat- Lord Kunthunath is the 17th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Sura and Queen Sridevi in Hastinapur. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji in Bihar.
Lord Arhantnath- Symbol — Fish-Lord Arhantnath is the 18th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Sudarshan and Queen Devi(Mitra) in Hastinapur. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji in Bihar
Lord Mallinath — Symbol- Kalasa (Urn) Lord Mallinath is the 19th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Kumbha and Queen Rakshita in Ayodhya per Wikipedia. Per other text, Lord Mallinath was born in Mithila to King Kumbha and Queen Prabhvati. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji in Bihar.
Lord MuniSuvratnath- Symbol- Kachup (Tortoise) — Lord Munisuvratnathji is the 20th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Sumitra and Queen Padma in Rajgir. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji in Bihar.
Lord Naminath- Symbol- Red Lotus — Lord Naminath is the 21st Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Vijaya and Queen Vipra in Mithila. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji in Bihar.
Lord Neminath- Symbol- Shankha (Conch)– Lord Neminath is the 22nd Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Samudravijaya and Queen Shivadevi in Sauripura. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Girnarjiji in Gujrat.
Lord Parshvanath- Symbol- Sarp (Snake)– Lord Parshvnath is the 23rd Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Ashvsena and Queen Vamadevi in Varanasi. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Shikharji in Bihar.
Lord Mahavir: Symbol- Lion- Lord Mahavir is the 24th Tirthankar in Jainism. He was born to King Siddharth and Queen Trishla in Kundalpur Bihar. He was also part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He attained Enlightenment (Moksh) in Pawapuriji in Bihar.
