Tirthankara

[tir-tuhng-ker-uh]

noun

Jainism.

1. one of 24 persons who have attained personal immortality through enlightenment.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tirthankara¹

From the Sanskrit word tīrthankara literally, passage-making

Example Sentences

Nabeel Rahman, 14, of Buffalo, New York, who placed 10th in last year's bee, was also eliminated after misspelling "tirthankara," a term used in the religion Jainism.

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He will become the twelfth tîrthankara of the next world-period and a similar position will be attained by Devakî, Rohinî, Baladeva and Javakumâra, all members of his family.

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The Jains gave preference or prominence to the titles Jina or Tîrthankara: the Buddhists to Buddha or Tathâgata.

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He has also called attention to the fact that in the long list of the recognised devices of the twenty-four Jaina Tirthankaras the sun is absent; but that while the eighth Tirthankara has the sign of the half-moon the seventh Tirthankara is marked with the Svastika, i.e., the sun.

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