Tirthankar Mukti Path Ka Prastota - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Tirthankar Mukti Path Ka Prastota" by Amarmuni, in English:

This book, "Tirthankar Mukti Path Ka Prastota" (The Proclaimer of the Path to Liberation), by Amarmuni, delves into the profound concept of Tirthankaras within Jainism.

The Significance of the Term "Tirthankar":

The text emphasizes that "Tirthankar" is a fundamental and ancient term in Jain literature, predating even the most advanced historical research. Its connection to Jainism is so intrinsic that separating them would distort their true nature. While the term has been used in other traditions to some extent, it never attained the exclusive and rooted significance it holds within Jainism.

Definition and Role of a Tirthankar:

Literal Meaning: "Tirthankar" literally means "maker of a tirtha."
Meaning of Tirtha: In Jain definition, tirtha primarily means Dharma (religion). Dharma, characterized by non-violence, truth, etc., is the sole means for the soul to cross the ocean of worldly existence. Therefore, calling Dharma a tirtha is linguistically appropriate.
Tirthankar as the Maker of Tirtha: Tirthankaras establish the Dharma-tirtha that allows souls to cross the ocean of samsara. They are also considered the founders of the Chaturvidh Sangha (the four-fold Jain community: monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen), which is also referred to as a tirtha in a secondary sense.
Timely Appearance: Tirthankaras appear in the world when irreligion and injustice prevail, people are oppressed by unrighteousness, and the inclination towards sin overpowers religious sentiment.
Path to Liberation: They renounce worldly attachments, engage in rigorous spiritual practice, endure immense hardships, attain Keval Gyan (omniscience) – the complete realization of truth – and then preach Dharma to humanity, liberating them from the clutches of falsehood, guiding them onto the path of truth, and establishing a spiritual kingdom of perfect happiness and peace.
Guiding Principles: During a Tirthankar's reign, spiritually mature individuals recognize their true nature and embrace the principle of "living happily, letting others live happily, and helping others live happily without regard for one's own comforts."
Saving Humanity: Tirthankaras preach true Dharma, protect humanity from immoral practices leading to spiritual and moral decline, and redirect people from the allure of material pleasures to the pursuit of spiritual bliss. They transform a "hellish" and chaotic world into a "heaven" of truth, auspiciousness, and beauty.

The Tirtha as a Bridge:

The text further explains the metaphor of a tirtha as a bridge. Just as a bridge allows even the weak and the sick to cross a formidable river, Tirthankaras create bridges of Dharma through their teachings and the establishment of the four-fold Sangha. Devout individuals can ascend any of these "bridges" and achieve liberation.

Why Each Tirthankar is a "Tirthankar":

The author addresses the potential question of why all 24 Tirthankaras are called "Tirthankaras" and not just the first one. The answer is that each Tirthankar modifies the prevailing religious traditions of their era according to the needs of the time, thereby creating a "new tirtha." When old practices become corrupted, new Tirthankaras introduce fresh religious frameworks. While the core essence of Dharma remains the same, the rituals and forms change. The text cites the differing rules under Lord Parshvanath and Lord Mahavir as evidence of this evolution.

The Eighteen Defects (Prashthadash Dosh):

The text lists eighteen specific defects that indicate human weakness and imperfection, and from which Tirthankaras are entirely free. These are:

False belief (mithyatva)
Ignorance (agyana)
Anger (krodha)
Pride (mana)
Deceit (maya)
Greed (lobha)
Attachment to pleasure (rati)
Displeasure with unpleasantness (arati)
Sleep (nidra)
Grief (shoka)
Falsehood (aleeka)
Theft (chaurya)
Envy (matsarya)
Fear (bhay)
Violence (himsa)
Attachment (raga)
Play/Amusement (krida)
Laughter/Joking (hasya)

Freedom from these eighteen defects leads to spiritual purity, self-purification, and the attainment of omniscience and omniscient vision.

Tirthankaras are Not Avatars of God:

The book strongly refutes the misconception that Jains consider Tirthankaras as incarnations of God. Jainism is not an theistic religion; it does not believe in a creator, sustainer, or destroyer God with thousands of hands who intervenes in human affairs. Instead, Jainism posits that humans are the greatest beings, possessing infinite potential. They are essentially self-realized gods, veiled by karmic impurities, akin to the sun hidden by clouds. When a soul awakens to its true nature, sheds vices, and cultivates virtues, it gradually purifies itself, attains infinite powers, and becomes an omniscient, enlightened being (Arhant, Paramatma). After liberation from the cycle of birth and death (Nirvana), they become Siddhas.

The Nature of Tirthankaras:

Tirthankaras are human beings who, through immense effort and spiritual practice over many lifetimes, achieve perfect self-realization. They do not come from divine realms but are individuals who, by shedding worldly desires and vices, attain the highest spiritual state. Even in their birth year as Tirthankaras, they renounce royalty, practice rigorous vows of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession, meditate intensely, and patiently endure all afflictions to attain Keval Gyan.

No Re-incarnation of Tirthankaras:

The text clarifies that Jainism does not subscribe to the concept of an avatar who repeatedly incarnates. The term "avatar" itself is not of Jain origin, belonging more to Vaishnavism. The 24 Tirthankaras are distinct souls, each appearing in different periods. Liberation (Moksha) means the cessation of all karmas, which are the cause of rebirth. Once a soul is freed from karmic seeds, it cannot return to the cycle of birth and death, just as a roasted seed cannot sprout.

Difference Between Tirthankaras and Other Liberated Souls:

The book addresses another common misconception: that only Tirthankaras are liberated in Jainism. This is incorrect. Jainism's path to liberation is open to all, regardless of their background. While Tirthankaras and other liberated souls (Arhats) possess the same spiritual powers like omniscience and omniscient vision, Tirthankaras have unique qualities:

Great Preachers: They are exceptional preachers who dispel ignorance and superstition with their radiance.
Profound Yogic Powers: They possess extraordinary yogic abilities. Their physical bodies are perfectly healthy and pure, their breath is fragrant, and even naturally adversarial creatures become calm in their presence. Their appearance averts famines and natural disasters. Their language is so miraculous that all beings, including animals and birds, understand its essence.
Impact on the World: While other liberated souls attain their ultimate goal, they do not exert the same lasting spiritual influence on the world as Tirthankaras do.

The distinction between Tirthankaras and other liberated souls exists only in their embodied state (Jivanmukta). After liberation (Siddha state), there is no difference.

The Twenty-Four Tirthankaras of the Present Era:

The book then provides brief introductions to the 24 Tirthankaras of the current time cycle, detailing their names, birthplaces, parents, birth and liberation dates, and places of liberation (mostly Sammeta Shikhar). Notable figures include:

Rishabhdev: The first Tirthankar, credited with establishing civilization, teaching arts, agriculture, trade, and industry.
Ajitnath: The second.
Sambhavnath: The third.
Abhinandannath: The fourth.
Sumatinath: The fifth, whose mother's intelligence improved significantly during his gestation.
Padmaprabha: The sixth.
Suparshvanath: The seventh.
Chandraprabha: The eighth.
Suvidhinath (Pushpadanta): The ninth.
Sheetalnath: The tenth.
Shreyansnath: The eleventh, who Lord Mahavir encountered in a past life.
Vasupujya: The twelfth, who remained a lifelong celibate.
Vimalnath: The thirteenth.
Anantnath: The fourteenth.
Dharmanath: The fifteenth.
Shantinath: The sixteenth, also a Chakravarti king, whose birth calmed a plague.
Kunthunath: The seventeenth, also a Chakravarti king.
Aranath: The eighteenth, also a Chakravarti king.
Mallinath: The nineteenth, a female Tirthankar, who did not marry and was a powerful preacher.
Munisuvratnath: The twentieth.
Naminath: The twenty-first.
Neminath (Arishtanemi): The twenty-second, a cousin of Lord Krishna, who renounced his wedding upon witnessing the slaughter of animals for the feast.
Parshvanath: The twenty-third, known for saving snakes from a fire.
Mahavir: The twenty-fourth and last Tirthankar of this era, contemporary of Lord Buddha, who preached non-violence and love, and prohibited animal sacrifice in religious rituals.

Symbolic Epithets of Tirthankaras:

The book elaborates on several epithets used for Tirthankaras, highlighting their unique qualities:

Swayam-Sambuddha (Self-Enlightened): They are self-awakened, not needing to be roused by others, and in turn, they awaken the world. They forge their own paths and create new traditions for the welfare of humanity.
Purushottam (Supreme Among Men): They possess extraordinary internal and external qualities, radiating immense charm and power. They are endowed with infinite knowledge, perception, bliss, and power.
Purushsingh (Lion Among Men): This metaphor signifies their courage and fearlessness, not cruelty. Like a lion, they are brave and stand their ground, confronting vices and their roots rather than individuals. They quell the inner enemies (vices) within people, turning enemies into friends.
Purushvar Pundareek (Supreme Lotus Among Men): Like a white lotus, they are pure, fragrant, and selfless. Their spiritual fragrance spreads far and wide, inspiring countless beings. They live in the world but remain untouched by its worldly desires, just as water does not cling to a lotus leaf.
Gandha-Hasti (Fragrant Elephant): This signifies both fragrance (spiritual influence) and prowess. Their presence dispels negativity and brings auspiciousness, preventing natural calamities and promoting prosperity. Their power crushes falsehoods and establishes truth.
Lok-Pradeep (Lamp of the World): They are lamps that illuminate the world with the light of their Keval Gyan, dispelling the darkness of ignorance. Unlike a household lamp, their light is boundless and eternal, and they have the unique ability to make others shine like themselves by guiding them to enlightenment.
Abhayday (Giver of Fearlessness): The greatest gift is the gift of fearlessness. Tirthankaras possess boundless compassion, even for their adversaries, and guide all beings, regardless of their status, towards the path of truth and fearlessness.
Chakshuday (Giver of Eyes): They provide the "eyes of knowledge" to those blinded by ignorance, clearing the cobwebs of misinformation and illuminating the path of truth.
Dharmachakravarti (Emperor of Dharma): They establish a kingdom of non-violence and truth across the four realms of existence, conquering the internal enemies of desire and anger. Their spiritual authority transcends even earthly emperors.
Vyavritt-Chhadma (Devoid of Concealment/Deceit): They are free from the obscuring karmas (Chhadma) and from all forms of deceit and delusion. Their lives are characterized by simplicity, sincerity, and perfect equanimity.
Tirthankar's Speech: Beneficial for Humanity: Their epithets like Jina (conqueror), Taraka (one who ferries across), Buddha (enlightened), Bodhak (one who enlightens), Mukta (liberated), and Mochaka (one who liberates) define their role. They conquer their own vices and help others conquer theirs. They liberate themselves and guide others to liberation. Their missionary zeal stems from boundless compassion, not personal gain, fame, or disciple accumulation.
Tirthankara: Omniscient and All-Perceptive: The epithet "Sarvajna-Sarvadarshi" (Omniscient and All-Perceptive) is a result of complete detachment from passions (anger, pride, deceit, greed). Such a state makes one a perfect being, worthy of worship and deserving of the Tirthankarship. The term "Jina" implies that only those souls who have vanquished internal enemies like attachment and aversion are truly divine. Omniscience is the ultimate realization of unity with all souls, seeing all beings with equanimity and compassion.

In essence, "Tirthankar Mukti Path Ka Prastota" serves as an illuminating guide to understanding the profound spiritual significance of Tirthankaras in Jainism, presenting them as the ultimate exemplars of spiritual attainment and the benevolent guides who illuminate the path to liberation for all of humanity.