The term Arihanta is made up of Ari, meaning enemies, and hant, meaning destroyer. Consequently, Arihanta means destroyer of enemies. In this case the term enemies refers to passions such as anger, greed, ego, and deceit which are internal enemies, because they defile the true nature of the soul. A soul can only reach the state of Arihanta by overcoming all its inner enemies.
Once a soul has shed all of its four defiling (ghati) karmas namely Jnanavarniya (Knowledge obscuring) Karma, Darshanavarniya (Perception obscuring) karma, Mohniya (Deluding) Karma and Antaraya (Obstructive) Karma, it becomes an Arihanta and attains perfect knowledge (Kevaljnana), perfect perception (Kevaldarshana), and infinite power (Ananta Virya) and it becomes a passionless (vitragi). Arihantas are divided into two categories: Tirthankar and Ordinary. Arihantas who have attained Tirthankar Näm Karma become Tirthankaras while the rest of them become Ordinary Arihants. There are twenty-four Tirthankaras during every half time cycle.
These Tirthankaras reinstate the Jain Sangh (four-fold Jain Order) consisting of Sädhus (monks), Sädhvis (nuns), Shrävaks (male householders), and Shrävikäs (female householders). The first Tirthankar (Arihanta) of this time period was Lord Rushabhdev, and the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankar was Lord Mahävira, who was lived from 599B.C. to 527B.C. Tirthankaras are also called Jinä (conqueror of inner passions) from which the term Jain, follower of a Jinä, is derived.
At the time of Arihanta’s nirvän (death), the remaining four non-defiling (aghati) karmas such as Nam (Physique determining) Karma, Gotra (Status determining) Karma, Vedniya (Feeling producing) Karma and Ayushya (Age span determining) Karma, are destroyed. Ordinary Arihants are those souls who attain salvation, but do not possess Tirthankar Nama Karma and hence, do not establish the Jain Order.
After attaining salvation they are called Siddhas. Since Siddhas have attained ultimate liberation, we do not have access to them. However, Arihantas offer us spiritual guidance during their lifetime. In order to show our special reverence for their teachings, we bow to them first, hence the first verse of the Navkar Mantra. Currently, as per scriptures except at Mahavideh kshetra, there are no Arihantas.
The last Arihant was Jambuswami. According to the Agams (Jain scriptures) there will be no more Arihantas during the remaining period of the current half-time cycle.
Arihantas
The word Arihanta is made up of two words: 1) Ari means enemies, and 2) Hant means destroyer. Therefore, Arihanta means a destroyer of enemies. The enemies referred to here are internal: inner desires and passions. The passions include anger, ego, deceit, and greed. Until we eliminate these passions, the real nature or the power of our soul will not be realized or manifested. When a person (soul) wins over these inner enemies he/she is called a Kevali (omniscient) and Jina (victor).
This state of not having passions and omniscience is manifested when that person has completely destroyed the four-Ghäti karmas (destructive) namely:
- Jnänävaraniya (knowledge obscuring) Karma
- Darshanävaraniya (perception obscuring) Karma
- Mohaniya (deluding) Karma
- Antaräya (obstructing) Karma
These karmas are called Ghäti (destructive) karmas because they directly affect the true nature of the soul. When these Karmas are destroyed, a person attains the following four infinite qualities (Anant Chatushtay) and is called a Kevali.
- Kevaljnän (Anant Jnän) – Perfect knowledge due to the destruction of all Jnänävaraniya Karmas
- Keval-Darshan (Anant Darshan) – Perfect perception due to the destruction of all Darshanävaraniya karmas
- Anant Chäritra – Passionless state due to the destruction of all Mohaniya Karmas
- Anant Virya – Infinite energy due to the destruction of all Antaräya Karmas.
A Kevali who revitalizes the Jain religion and establishes a Jain Sangh (four-fold Jain order) consisting of Sädhus, Sädhvis, Shrävaks (male householders), and Shrävikäs (female householders), is known as Tirthankar or Arihanta. During every half time cycle, only twentyfour individuals rise to the level of Tirthankar. The first Tirthankar of our time period was Lord Rushabhdev, and the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankar was Lord Mahävir. Lord Mahävir lived from 599 BC to 527 BC.
According to some, all Kevalis are called Arihanta as they have destroyed inner enemies.
At the time of Nirvän (liberation from the worldly existence), Arihanta sheds off the remaining four Aghäti (Non-destructive) karmas:
- Näm (body determining) Karma
- Gotra (status determining) Karma
- Vedaniya (feeling producing) Karma
- Äyushya (life span determining) Karma.
These four karmas do not affect the true nature of the soul; therefore, they are called Aghäti karmas. They are related to the physical body of the soul. After attaining liberation (death) the souls of Arihantas are called Siddhas.
Attributes of Arihantas
Tirthankars have in total 12 unique characteristics. Of those, four are main attributes known as Atishaya. The other eight attributes are endowed by heavenly gods and are known as Pratihärya.
Four Main Attributes (4 Atishaya)
- Omniscience
- Delivers Extraordinary sermon
- Worshipped by mundane souls of the whole universe
- No calamities or diseases exist in his vicinity.
Some Jains believe the four Anant Chatushtay (Infinite knowledge, Infinite perception, Infinite Energy, Perfect Conduct) instead of 4 Atishaya.
Eight Other Attributes (Pratihärya – endowed by heavenly gods)
- Simhäsan A divine seat from where Arihanta delivers sermons
- Bhämandal A halo around Arihanta’s head
- Chämar Angels are waving fans (Chowries) to show Arihanta’s greatness
- Chhatras A three tier divine umbrella over the head suggests that he is the king of the entire universe which consist of three regions – Hell, Earth, and Heaven.
- Ashok Vruksha A tree under-which Arihanta sits
- Pushpavrusti A continuous shower of fragrant flowers
- Dev-dundubhi A divine announcement declaring Arihanta’s sermons
- Divya-dhwani A celestial music accompanying Arihanta’s sermons
Thirty Four Atishaya
These 12 attributes, when elaborately explained are counted as 34 Atishaya. Both Shvetämbar and Digambar account for thirty-four Tirthankar Atishay. Some Atishayas are birth related, some are created by heavenly gods (Devas), and some are realized at the time of Kevaljnän.
By Birth, Arihanta has the most beautiful, powerful, and proportionally built body with 1008 auspicious birth marks. As he is full of compassion, his blood is white, like milk. His breath is fragrant, like a lotus and his body does not generate any waste. He is always disease free. He has very soothing, peaceful, and serene voice which can be heard from very long distances. His language can be easily understood by all – humans and animals alike. He can be seen and heard from all four directions. Everyone listens to the sermon keeping their animosities aside.
In his vicinity the weather is always pleasant and there are no calamities for miles. The Samavasaran can accommodate all. Dharma Chakra (symbolic wheel of religion) and Ashta Mangal (eight embellishments) are also present at the Samavasaran.
The term Arihanta is made up of Ari, meaning enemies, and hant, meaning destroyer. Consequently, Arihanta means destroyer of enemies. In this case the term enemies refers to passions such as anger, greed, ego, and deceit which are internal enemies, because they defile the true nature of the soul. A soul can only reach the state of Arihanta by overcoming all its inner enemies.