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The 24 Tirthankaras.
Tirthankara means ford-maker — one who builds the crossing over the ocean of worldly existence. Twenty-four arose in this cosmic cycle.
- 1Rishabhdev (Adinath)Symbol: Bull
- 2AjitnathSymbol: Elephant
- 3SambhavnathSymbol: Horse
- 4AbhinandannathSymbol: Monkey
- 5SumatinathSymbol: Curlew
- 6PadmaprabhuSymbol: Lotus
- 7SuparshvanathSymbol: Swastika
- 8ChandraprabhuSymbol: Crescent moon
- 9Pushpadanta (Suvidhinath)Symbol: Crocodile
- 10ShitalnathSymbol: Shrivatsa
- 11ShreyansnathSymbol: Rhinoceros
- 12VasupujyaSymbol: Buffalo
- 13VimalnathSymbol: Boar
- 14AnantnathSymbol: Falcon
- 15DharmanathSymbol: Vajra
- 16ShantinathSymbol: Deer
- 17KunthunathSymbol: Goat
- 18AranathSymbol: Fish
- 19MallinathSymbol: Water pot
- 20MunisuvratSymbol: Tortoise
- 21NaminathSymbol: Blue lotus
- 22NeminathSymbol: Conch
- 23ParshvanathSymbol: Serpent
- 24MahavirSymbol: Lion
Why twenty-four?
Jain cosmology describes time as a wheel turning through descending and ascending half-cycles. In each half-cycle, twenty-four Tirthankaras arise to re-establish the path when it has been forgotten.
Rishabhdev began this cycle; Mahavir, who lived in the sixth century BCE, completed it. Parshvanath, the twenty-third, preceded him by roughly 250 years, and the two are the most historically documented.