Mahavira, 24th and last Tīrthaṅkara

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Jainism Portal v t e

In Jainism, a Tīrthaṅkara (Sanskrit: तीर्थंकर "ford-Maker", Tamil: கடவுள் Kaṭavuḷ) is a human being who in addition to achieving liberation and enlightenment as an "Arihant" by destroying all of their soul constraining (ghati) karmas, became a role-model and leader for those seeking spiritual guidance.^[1][2] Tirthankaras revitalize Jain Society by organisation of fourfold Jain Order consisting of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen.^[3] Not all Arihants can become Tīrthaṅkaras. There are 24 Tīrthaṅkaras in this time era and each of them revitalized the Jain Order.

Tirthankara is also said to mean “full moon,” a metaphorical reference to Keval Gnan, (see Kevala Jnana), the spiritual state achieved by exalted and rare beings. Keval Gnan is a state of permanent, perpetual, absolute knowledge of the Soul; it is the precursor to moksha, final liberation from samsara, the cycle of birth and death.

Overview[link]

Tīrthaṅkaras religious teaching form the basis for Jain canons. The inner knowledge of all Tīrthaṅkaras is perfect and identical in every respect and their teachings do not contradict one another. However, the degree of elaboration varies according to the spiritual advancement and purity of the society during their period of leadership. The higher the spiritual advancement and purity of mind of the society, the lower the elaboration required.

While Tirthankaras are documented and revered by those of Jain faith, their grace is said to be available to all living beings, regardless of religious orientation.

Tirthankaras dwell exclusively within the realm of their Soul, and are entirely free of kashayas, inner passions, and all personal desires. As a result of this, unlimited siddhis, spiritual powers, are readily available to them – which they use exclusively for the spiritual elevation of all living beings. Through their darshan, divine vision, and deshna, divine speech, they grant their own state of Keval Gnan, and moksha, final liberation to anyone seeking it sincerely.

At the end of his human life-span, a Tīrthaṅkara achieves siddha status, ending the cycle of infinite births and deaths.

Jainism postulates that time has no beginning or end. It moves like the wheel of a cart. Jains believe that exactly twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras are born in each half-cycle of time in this part of the universe. The first Tīrthaṅkara is Rishabha, who is credited for formulating and organising humans to live in a society harmoniously. The 24th and last Tīrthaṅkara was Mahavira (599-527 BC). Digambara Jains believe that all twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras were men, but Svetambara Jains believe that the 19th Tīrthaṅkara, Mallinath, was a woman.

Particular Tīrthaṅkaras[link]

Tīrthaṅkaras in British Museum

Tīrthaṅkara images are usually seated with their legs crossed in front, the toes of one foot resting close upon the knee of the other, and the right hand lying over the left in the lap.^[4]

All but two of the Jains are ascribed to the Ikshvaku dynasty. Munisuvrata, the twentieth, and Neminatha, the twenty-second, were of the Harivamsa. Jain canons state that Rishabha, the first Tīrthaṅkara, founded the Ikshvaku.

Twenty Tīrthaṅkaras achieved siddha status on Shikharji. Vasupujya attained nirvana at Champapuri in North Bengal; Neminatha on Girnar in Gujarat; and Mahavira, the last at Pawapuri, near modern Bihar's capital, Patna.

Twenty-one of the Tīrthaṅkaras are said to have attained moksha in the kayotsarga “standing mediation” posture and Rishabha, Nemi and Mahavira in the lotus position.

Narration Chart of 24 Tīrthaṅkaras[link]

In chronological order, the names, signs, colors etc. of the 24 Tīrthaṅkaras of this age are mentioned below^{[5][6][7][clarification needed]}

The total length of the lifespans of all 24 Tīrthaṅkaras combined equals 2.603672 Sextillion years.

Living Tīrthaṅkaras[link]

At present time and age, there are no living Tīrthaṅkaras on this Earth. The last living on Earth in this age was Mahavira, who attained omniscience some 2500 years ago. Nevertheless, Jains believe the universe is never devoid of living Tīrthaṅkaras at any point of time, even though they may at times exist only in other parts of the universe. Jains believe that currently in Mahavideh Kshetra there are 20 living tirthankars and their names are :

   Shri Simandhar Swami
   Shri Yughmandhar Swami
   Shri Bahu Swami
   Shri Subahu Swami
   Shri Sujat Swami
   Shri Swayamprabha Swami
   Shri Rhushabbhanan Swami
   Shri Anantavirya Swami
   Shri Soorprabha Swami
   Shri Vishalprabha Swami
   Shri Vajadhar Swami
   Shri Chandranan Swami
   Shri Chandrabahu Swami
   Shri Bhuyoung Swami
   Shri Ishwar Swami
   Shri Namiprabha Swami
   Shri Virsen Swami
   Shri Mahabhadra Swami
   Shri Devyash Swami
   Shri Abhivirya Swami

Shri Simandhar Swami[link]

Simandhar Swami is a living Tirthankar who is said to be arihant, currently present and accessible, in another world within our universe. Tirthankara means “full moon,” a metaphorical reference to Keval Gnan (see Kevala Jnana), the spiritual state achieved by rare beings. Keval Gnan is a state of absolute knowledge of the Soul; it is the precursor to moksha, final liberation from samsara, the cycle of birth and death. While Tirthankaras are documented and revered by those of Jain faith, their grace considered to be available to all living beings, regardless of religious orientation.

Tirthankaras dwell exclusively within the realm of their Soul, and are free of kashayas, inner passions, and personal desires. As a result of this, siddhis, spiritual powers, are available to them – which they use for the spiritual elevation of living beings. Through their darshan, spiritual vision, and deshna, spiritual speech, they grant their own state of Keval Gnan, and moksha, final liberation to anyone seeking it sincerely. Where is Simandhar Swami?

Tirthankara Simandhar Swami resides on Mahavideh Kshetra, another world within our extended universe (see Jain cosmology). Our world, also called Bharat Kshetra, is currently in Kali Yuga, a degraded time-cycle in which Tirthankaras do not incarnate. The most recent Tirthankara present on Bharat Kshetra was Mahavira, who lived from 599 BCE to 527 BCE, and was last in a cycle of 24 Tirthankaras.

On Mahavideh Kshetra, Sat Yuga, a spiritually elevated time-cycle exists continuously. There, living Tirthankaras perpetually incarnate. At present, 20 Tirthankaras reside there, Simandhar Swami being one among them.

Worship of Simandhar Swami is said to be particularly beneficial because, of the 20 living Tirthankaras on Mahavideh Kshetra, he resides in closest proximity to our world, Bharat Kshetra. Also, due to a binding-intent from a previous birth, he carries a karmic obligation to serve the spiritual liberation of Bharat Kshetra’s jiva, living beings. Simply knowing of Simandhar Swami’s existence allows anyone to receive his grace.

Details of Simandhar Swami’s Life

Simandhar Swami is currently 150,000 years old, and has a remaining life span of 125,000 years.

He lives in the city of Pundarikgiri, the capital of Pushpakalavati, one of 32 geographical divisions on Mahavideh Kshetra, a planet located millions of miles from earth’s north-eastern direction.

Pundarikgiri is ruled by King Shreyans, who is Simandhar Swami’s father. His mother is Queen Satyaki. While pregnant with Simandhar Swami, Queen Satyaki had a sequence of 14 dreams indicating that she would give birth to a Tirthankar.

Simandhar Swami was born with three complete aspects of Gnan, Self-knowledge:

• Mati Gnan (see Mati Jnana), knowledge of the 5-sense realm
• Shruta Gnan (see Sruta Jnana), knowledge of all forms of communication
• Avadhi Gnan (see Avadhi Jnana), clairvoyant knowledge (limited)

As a young adult, he married Rukamani Devi and then, later in life, took diksha, renunciation from worldly life. At the time of diksha, he attained a fourth complete aspect of Gnan, Self-knowledge:

• Manahparyaya Gnan (see Manahparyaya Jnana), knowledge of (and ability to read) all the mind’s phases.

After spending 1,000 years as a sadhu, ascetic, his ghati karmas, Soul-restricting karmas were exhausted, and he attained Keval Gnan.

Simandhar Swami’s Keval Gnan Kalyanak, anniversary of attaining Keval Gnan, is the same as Mahavira’s Janma Kalyanak, birthday.

Present on the day of Simandhar Swami’s Keval Gnan were:

• 84 Ganadhar, prime disciples
• 1 million Keval Gnani Maharajas, rulers who have attained Keval Gnan
• 10 million Sadhu, male ascetics
• 10 million Sadhvi, female ascetics
• 10 million Mumukshu, spiritual seekers
• 200 million Shravak, male devotees
• 200 million Shravika, female devotees

Chandrayan Yakshadev is Simandhar Swami’s shashan dev, protector god, and Panchanguli Yakshinidevi is his shashan devi, protector goddess. Together they serve Simandhar Swami’s spiritual mission, assisting beings on the path to moksha.

Simandhar Swami’s height is 500 dhanushya, approximately 1,500 feet, which is considered an average height for the people of Mahavideh Kshetra.

Simandhar Swami and the other 19 Tirthankaras living on Mahavideh Kshetra will attain moksha, final liberation after completing their ayushya karma, life-span karma.

There are numerous references to Simandhar Swami in Jain scriptures.

Reported contact with Simandhar Swami

The following Gnanis, representatives of Self-knowledge, ascetic-teachers, and saints have reported personal contact with Simandhar Swami; each has credited him for informing their spiritual teaching and writing:

• Kundkund Acharya
• Srimad Rajchandra
• Kanji Swami
• Dada Bhagwan

“From my left shoulder springs forth a light form…this goes to where Simandhar Swami is, and returns with solutions to all questions. Otherwise Mahavideh Kshetra is such that I cannot physically go back and forth…. Wherever any clarification is needed, the light goes there and returns with the answers….To date, hundreds of thousands of questions have been asked and the answers have been given to the world by me. I do not answer them independently…. I have a direct connection with Simandhar Swami.” –Dada Bhagwan

Worship of Simandhar Swami – Why and How

Gnanis explain that, after locating a living Tirthankar, if one cultivates devotion for him through worship, one will eventually experience pratyaksh darshan, live spiritual vision, and thereafter attain Keval Gnan and moksha.

How to worship

* 4-6AM is ideal, as this is a time in nature when the influence of Sat Yuga predominates, even in the midst of Kali Yuga.
* Invoke Simandhar Swami along with the name of any Gnani, teacher-ascetic, or saint who has had contact with him.
* Pray from your heart, with simplicity and sincerity.
* Request his grace for spiritual progress and not for worldly gain.

Simandhar Swami Temples

* Adalaj, Gujarat, India.
* Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
* Bhuj, Gujarat, India.
* Godhara, Gujarat, India.
* Surat, Gujarat, India.
* Mehsana, Gujarat, India.
* Simandhar Swami murtis, statues or divine representations, are present in Jain temples around the world.

Books and videos on Simandhar Swami

• http://www.dadabhagwan.org/trimandir/lord-simadhar-swami/
• http://www.dadabhagwan.org/spiritual-media/books/5/
• http://www.dadabhagwan.org/spiritual-media/videos/
• http://www.dadabhagwan.tv/default.aspx?vid=2258
• http://www.dadabhagwan.tv/default.aspx?vid=2260
• http://www.trimandir.org/shri-simandhar-swami.html

Bibliography

Bhagwan, Dada (2005). The Living God Shree Simandhar Swami. Ahmedabad: Mahavideh Foundation.

See also[link]

Jainism portal

• Ahimsa in Jainism
• Arihant (Jainism)
• Deshna
• Dharma (Jainism)
• Jain cosmology
• Karma in Jainism
• Moksa (Jainism)
• Samsara (Jainism)
• Tattva (Jainism)
• Types of Karma
• Kevala Jnana
• Kanji Swami
• Kundakunda

References[link]

External links[link]

• AtmaDharma.com Library of Jain Literature in English, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Prakrit & Sanskrit) - all freely downloadable.
• www.jaina.org
• www.jainsamaj.org
• JainReligion.in Jain Dharma, Jain Tīrthaṅkara, Jainism, Jain Songs.
• www.dadabhagwan.org Shri Simandhar Swami.
• www.dadashri.org Shri Simandhar Swami.
• www.trimandir.org Shri Simandhar Swami.

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