Tirthankara

Also known as jinas, Tirthankaras are teachers and guides in Jain devotional practices who lead their followers on the path of dharma. In their iconographical depictions, the Tirthankaras may be shown seated in the padmasana posture or standing with their legs and feet joined together in the kayotsarga posture. They are also distinguished by emblems unique to each jina’s iconography. In the Jain belief system, each cosmic age has twenty-four Tirthankaras; the Tirthankaras of the present cosmic age are Rishabhanatha (also known as Adinatha), Ajita, Sambhava, Abhinandana, Sumati, Padmaprabha, Suparshva, Chandraprabha, Suvidhi (also known as Pushpadant), Shitala, Sreyamsa, Vasupujya, Vimala, Ananta, Dharma, Shanti, Kunthu, Ara, Malli, Munisuvrata, Nami, Nemi, Parsvanatha and Mahavira (also known as Vardhamana).