Question

Last of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras was _______.
A) Parsva Nath
B) Mahavira
C) Rishabha
D) Arishtanemi

Answer 1

Hint: A Tirthankara is a dharma saviour and spiritual teacher in Jainism. The word Tirthankara refers to the founder of a tirtha, which is a navigable channel through an endless sea of births and deaths known as the sasra.

Complete answer:
Adinatha, Ajita, Sambhava, Abhinandana, Sumati, Padmaprabha, Suparshva, Chandraprabha, Suvidhi, Shital, Shreyansa, Vasupujya, Vimala, Ananta, Dharma, Shanti, Kunthu, Ara, Malli, Muni Suvrata, Nami, Nemi, Parshva, Mahavira are the 24 tirthankar.

Let us look at the given options:
A) Parsva Nath: This option is incorrect because Parshvanatha, also known as Parshva and Paras, was the 23rd of Jainism's 24 Tirthankaras (ford-builders or dharma propagators). He is the only Tirthankara who has been given the title Kalīkālkalpataru (Kalpavriksha in this Kali Yuga).
B) Mahavira: This is the correct option. Mahavira was the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of Jainism. Tirthankaras is a Sanskrit word that means "ford builder." The practice of the following vows was taught by Mahavira. Spiritual emancipation requires Ahima - nonviolence, Satya - truth, Asteya - non-stealing, Brahmacharya - chastity, and Aparigraha - non-attachment.
C) Rishabha: This option is incorrect because Rishabhanatha, also known as abhadeva, Rishabhadeva, abha, or Ikshvaku, is the founder of the Ikshvaku dynasty and the first Tirthankara of Jainism.
D) Arishtanemi: This option is incorrect because The twenty-second Tirthankara in Jainism is Neminatha, also known as Nemi and Arishtanemi. Neminatha lived 2356 years before Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B) Mahavira.

Note: Mahavira was born into a noble Jain family in Bihar, India, in the early sixth century BCE. They were Parshvanatha's lay devotees. At the age of around 30, Mahavira gave up all of his worldly belongings and left home in search of spiritual enlightenment, becoming an ascetic. He preached for 30 years and was saved in the 6th century BCE, however, the year varies per sect.