Tirthankara
A Jina ["conqueror", one who has conquered dualities] is born a normal human, having progressively cleansed the soul of acquired karmas in several of his past incarnations. He/She develops immense physical strength, and wisdom (avdhi jñana) that enables him/her to foresee future events. During his life time as Jina, he/she rids the soul of the remaining karmas (except lifespan related karma), attains totally independent wisdom (kevala jñana) and gains omniscience. Each Jina establishes a certain order governing both monastics and laity and becomes a symbol for pilgrimage. For this reason he/she is called ‘Tirthankara’ [ford maker]. He/She sets up the criteria for the teaching to the laity. On the expiry of lifespan karma he is free of all bondages and the Jina’s Atma achieves moksha, liberation.

The teachings of a Tirthankara deal with understanding of the relationship between living beings and non-living matter [they are bound together by karma] and sate emphatically that all living beings or ‘Atmas’ are intrinsically equal, immortal and possessing innate qualities of pure knowledge, perception, complete bliss, and consciousness. Each Atma is responsible for its own embodiment and reincarnations and can attain freedom from all its bondages only through its own efforts though it must rely on teachings of those who have already attained that freedom. Jains treat the Tirthankaras as their main objects of worship and as Gods who have shown the way to salvation. However, Jains do not consider the Tirthankaras as creators.