Tirthankaras

In Jainism, a Tirthankar ("Fordmaker") (also Tirthankara or Jina) is a human who achieves enlightenment (perfect knowledge), through asceticism. A Tirthankar becomes a Jina (after totally conquering anger, pride, deceit, desire, etc.). A Tirthankar is the founder of a "Tirth", which acts as a "ford" across the "river of human misery".
After achieving enlightenment, a Tirthankar shows others the path to enlightenment. The Tirthankar's religious teachings form the Jain canons. The inner knowledge of all Tirthankars is perfect and identical in every respect, for the teachings of one Tirthankar do not contradict those of another. However, the degree of elaboration varies according to the spiritual advancement and purity of humans during that period. The higher the spiritual advancement and purity of mind, the lower the elaboration required.
At the end of his human life span, a Tirthankar achieves liberation ('moksh' or 'nirvana'), ending the cycle of infinite births and deaths.
Jainism states time has no beginning or end. It moves like the wheel of a cart. There have been an infinite number of time cycles before our present era and there will be an infinite number of time cycles after this age. At the beginning of the twenty first century, we are approximately 2,530 years into the fifth era of the present half cycle.
Twenty-four Tirthankars are born in each half cycle of time (that is forty eight in each full cycle), in this part of the universe. In our current (descending) half cycle of time, the first Tirthankar Rishabh Dev, lived billions of years ago and attained liberation towards the end of the third era. The 24th and last Tirthankar was Mahavir (599-527 BC), whose existence is a historically accepted fact.
The next Tirthankar in our part of the universe will be born at the beginning of the third era of the next (ascending) half cycle of time, in approximately 81,500 years.
As Tirthankars direct us to enlightenment, their statues are worshipped in Jain temples by Jains aspiring to achieve enlightenment. Tirthankars are not God or gods. Jainism does not believe in the existence of God in the sense of a creator, and gods are beings superior to humans but, nevertheless, not fully enlightened.

Sr.#	Tirthankar	Birthplace	Consecration	Parents	Symbol	Attendant spirits	Male disciple; Female disciple
1	Rishabhanath (Adinath)	Vinittanagari	Purimatala	Nabhiraja & Marudeva	Bull or ox	Gomukha and Chakresvari	Pundarika; Brahmi
2	Ajitnath	Ayodhya	Sammet Shikharji	Jitasatru & Vijayamata	Elephant	Mahayaksha and Ajitabala; or Rohini	Shasena; Phalgu
3	Sambhavanath	Savathi	Sravasti	Jitari & Senamata	Horse	Trimukha and Duritari; or Prajnapti	Charu; Syama
4	Abhinandannath	Ayodhya	Sammet Shikharji	Sambararaja & Siddhartha	Monkey	Nayaka and Kalika; or Yakshesvara and Vajrasrinkhala	Vajranabha; Ajita
5	Sumatinath	Ayodhya	Sammet Shikharji	Megharaja & Mangala	Curlew or red goose	Tumburu and Mahakali; or Purushadatta	Charama; Kasyapi
6	Padmaprabha	Kausambi	Sammet Shikharji	Sridhara & Susima	Lotus	Kusuma and Syama; or Manovega or Manogupti	Pradyotana; Rati
7	Suparshvanath	Varanasi	Sammet Shikharji	Pratishtharaja & Prithvi	Swastika	Matanga and Santa; or Varanandi and Kali	Vidirbha; Soma
8	Chandraprabha	Chandrapura	Sammet Shikharji	Mahasenaraja & Lakshmana	Moon	Vijaya and Bhrikuti; or Syama or Vijaya and Jvalamalini	Dinna; Sumana
9	Pushpadanta	Kanandinagari	Sammet Shikharji	Sugrivaraja & Ramarani	Crocodile	Ajita and Sutaraka; or Mahakali	Varahaka; Varuni
10	Sheetalnath	Bhadrapura or Bhadilapura	Sammet Shikharji	Dridharatha-raja & Nanda	Kalpavriksha or ficus religiosa	Brahma and Asoka; or Manavi	Nanda; Sujasa
11	Shreyansanath	Simhapuri	Sammet Shikharji	Vishnuraja & Vishna	Rhinoceros	Yakshet and Manavi; or Isvara and Gauri	Kasyapa; Dharani
12	Vasupujya	Champapuri	Sammet Shikharji	Vasupujya & Jaya	Female buffalo	Kumara and Chanda; or Gandhari	Subhuma; Dharani
13	Vimalnath	Kampilyapura	Sammet Shikharji	Kritavarmaraja & Syama	Pig	Shanmukha and Vidita; or Vairoti	Mandara; Dhara
14	Anantnath	Ayodhya	Sammet Shikharji	Simhasena & Suyasah or Sujasa	Porcupine	Patala and Ankusa; or Anantamati	Jasa ; Padma
15	Dharmanath	Ratnapuri	Sammet Shikharji	Bhanuraja & Suvrita	Vajra	Kinnara and Kandarpa; or Manasi	Arishta; Arthasiva
16	Shantinath	Gajapura or Hastinapuri	Sammet Shikharji	Visvasena & Achira	Deer	Garuda and Nirvani; or Kimpurusha and Mahamanasi	Chakrayuddha; Suchi
17	Kunthunath	Gajapura	Sammet Shikharji	Suraraja & Srirani	Goat	Gandharva and Bala; or Vijaya	Samba; Damini
18	Aranath	Gajapura	Sammet Shikharji	Sudarsana & Devirani	Fish or Pisces	Yaksheta and Dhana; or Kendra and Ajita	Kumbha; Rakshita
19	Mallinath	Mathura	Sammet Shikharji	Kumbharaja & Prabhavati	Jar or Kalasa	Kubera and Dharanapriya; or Aparajita	Abhikshaka; Bandhumati
20	Munisuvrata	Rajagriha	Sammet Shikharji	Sumitraraja & Padmavati	Tortoise	Varuna and Naradatta; or Bahurupini	Malli; Pushpavati
21	Nami Natha	Mathura	Sammet Shikharji	Vijayaraja & Viprarani	Blue water-lily or blue lotus	Bhrikuti and Gandhari; or Chamundi	Subha; Anila
22	Neminatha	Sauripura and Ujjinta (Ujjain)	Mount Girnar (Girnarji)	& Senamata	Conch	Gomedha and Ambika; or Sarvahna and Kushmandini	Varadatta; Yakshadinna
23	Parshva	Varanasi	Sammet Shikharji	Asvasenaraja & Vamadevi	Snake	Parsvayaksha or Dharanendra and Padmavati	Aryadinna; Pushpachuda
24	Mahavira	Kundagrama or Chitrakuta	Rijupaluka	Siddhartharaja, Sreyansa or Yasasvin & Trisala Vidchadinna or Priyakarini	Lion	Matamga and Siddhayika	Indrabhuti; Chandrabala