Jainism

Jain, is derived from the Sanskrit word jina .

It specially refers to the Tirthankara, the one who has built a passage through the ocean of births, meaning the teachers of this religion. Sometimes Tirthankara is also understood to mean the founder of the four tirthas or the orders of the monks, the nuns, the male lay-followers and the female lay-followers.

There were 24 such Tirthankaras of which Vrishabhanatha or Adinatha was the first who is supposed to have lived in the mythical past and Mahavira the last who lived 2500 years ago.

The first Jina is traditionally believed to have been a giant who lived 8.4 million years ago. The most recent and last Jina was Vardhamana . He was born in 550 BCE and was the founder of the Jain community. He attained enlightenment after 13 years of deprivation.

The 24 Tirthankaras:

1. Lord Rishabhdev
2. Lord Ajitnath
3. Lord Sambhavnath
4. Lord Abhinandan Swami
5. Lord Sumatinat
6. Lord Padmaprabh
7. Lord Suparshvanath
8. Lord Chandra Prabha Swami
9. Lord Suvidhinath
10. Lord Shitalnath
11. Lord Shreyanshnath
12. Lord Vasupujya
13. Lord Vimalnath
14. Lord Anantnath
15. Lord Dharmanath
16. Lord Shantinath
17. Lord Kunthunath
18. Lord Arnath
19. Lord Mallinath
20. Lord Munisuvrat Swami
21. Lord Naminath
22. Lord Neminath (Lord Aristhnemi)
23. Lord Parshvanath
24. Lord Mahavir SwamiLord Vardhman