People

The 24 Jinas left teachings and their personal examples to inspire their followers to grow spiritually. The parts of the fourfold community follow in their own ways. Lay men and lay women support the wandering monks and nuns, who vow to live like the Jinas. The growing popularity of Jain studies demonstrates the continuing appeal of this ancient faith.

Mayṇāsundarī

Mayṇāsundarī is the paramount model of a Śvetāmbara Mūrti-pūjāk woman

Rājacandra

Mystical poet and reformer Rājacandra is considered a saint by his followers

Dharma

The most famous temple to the 15th Jina is, unusually, named for its sponsor

Marudevī

Mother of the first Jina, she is also worshiped in her own right

Hermann Jacobi

A pioneering scholar, he proved Jainism an independent religion

Muni Puṇya-vijaya

Known as ‘Āgama Prabhākara’ – ‘Light of the Tradition’ – for his outstanding scholarship

Malli

Śvetāmbaras hold the 19th Jina is female but Digambaras say all Jinas are male

Śreyāṃsa

The 11th Jina was born, initiated and became omniscient in Hirāmanpur in Sarnath

Padmaprabha

The name of the sixth Jina means ‘bright as a red lotus’ in Sanskrit

Soḷ satī

The virtuous soḷ satī or 16 satīs are role models for Jain women

Puṣpadanta or Suvidhi

The ninth Jina is known as both Puṣpadanta and Suvidhi

HT Colebrooke and the Jain tradition

Eminent 18th-century British Indologist and polymath