Tirthankaras are famous noble personalities. They are great preachers of the religious order. They take birth from their parents like any other person and they follow the Right Path to achieve salvation.

      Tirthankaras, in their previous lives continuously think and muse all the time for the welfare of all. As a result of this, they attain this status. They have five celebrations in their lives. Thses are: Garbha-Kalyanaka (Celebration of Conception), Janma-Kalyanaka (Celebration of birth), Diksa-Kalyanaka (Celebration of attaining monk-hood), Jnana -Kalyanaka (Celebration of attaining perfect knowledge) and Moksa-Kalyanaka (Celebration of attaining salvation). 

Such Celebrations are known as  PANCA-KALYANAKA.

 After attaining Perfect Knowledge, Tirthankaras deliver sermons for the well being of all. They preach universal love, compassion and harmony; that is the nature of all souls. Their sermon is phonetic like sweet music. This is known as DIVYA-DHVANI which gives clear and correct understanding to all.

      The pavilion for delivering the sermon is known as SAMAVASARANA. In this pavilion,  all living beings get equal opportunity to listen the preachings. All celestials, animals and human beings assemble at the same time and enjoy the preachings with perfect harmony. They forget their natural inherent hostile instincts. This is the influence of Tirthankara.

       In the Jaina temples (Jinalayas), idols of Tirthankaras are worshipped daily by all Jainas. By reciting their virtues, we get peace, purity of thoughts and happiness.

      According to jainism, there are infinite souls who have attained the status of salvation. But in every fourth era of time, only twenty four pure souls attain the status of Tirthankaras in India (Bharata-Ksetra).

      Each Tirthankara's idol (Jina-Bimba) has an emblem (Cinha). The emblem is given on the basis of the mark noticed on the thumb of the right foot of the Tirthankara at the time of birth. Here, we give the names and emblems of the present twenty four Tirthankaras.