Trishashti Shalaka Purush

By Pravin K Shaha

63 Shalaka Purush (Heroes or Great persons)

The tradition states that time is infinite and follows repetitive cycles of ascents and descents. During the phase of ascent there is a gradual increase of truth and goodness, and during the period of descent there is a decrease of happiness and righteousness.

It is held that at each ascent and descent cycle, sixty‑three shalaka purush (great heroes) are borned of whom there are twenty‑four Tirthankaras.

Sixty three Great Persons (Shalaka Purushas)

24 Tirthankaras

12 Chakra‑varties

9 Vasudevas (Narayans)

9 Prati‑Vasudevas (Prati‑Narayans)

9 Baladevas (Balabhadras)

63 Total

24 Tirthakaras: Name and Symbols

No. Name Symbol Color

1 Shri Rushabhadev ox gold

2 Shri Ajitnatha elephant gold

3 Shri Sambhavanatha horse gold

4 Shri Abhinandana swami monkey gold

5 Shri Sumatinatha crane gold

6 Shri Padmaprabhu lotus red

7 Shri Suparshvanatha swastika gold

8 Shri Chandraprabhu moon silver

9 Shri Suvidhinatha crocodile silver

10 Shri Shitalanatha shrivasta gold

11 Shri Shreyansanatha rhinoceros gold

12 Shri Vasupujya swami he buffalo red

13 Shri Vimalanatha boar gold

14 Shri Anantanatha falcon gold

15 Shri Dharmanatha thunderbolt gold

16 Shri Shantinatha deer gold

17 Shri Kunthunatha hegoat gold

18 Shri Aranatha Nandyavrata gold

19 Shri Mallinatha pot blue

20 Shri Munisuvrata swami tortoise black

21 Shri Naminatha lily gold

22 Shri Neminatha conch black

23 Shri Parshvanatha snake blue

24 Shri Mahavir swami lion gold

The Twelve Chakravarties are:

1. Bharata

2. Sagara

3. Meghavan

4. Sanatkumara

5. Shanti‑natha

6. Kunthu‑natha

7. Ara(ha)‑natha

8. Subhauma

9. Padmaprabha

10. Harisena

11. Jayasena

12. Brahmadatt

The nine Vasudevas (Narayans) are:

1. Tripushta

2. Dvipushta

3. Svayambhu

4. Purushottama

5. Nara(Purusha)Simba

6. Pundarika

7. Dattadeva

8. Lakshmana

9. Krishna

The nine Prati Vasudevas (Prati Narayans) are:

1. Asvagriva

2. Taraka

3. Naraka

4. Nisumbha

5. Madhukaitabh

6. Prahlada

7. Bali

8. Ravana

9. Jarasandha

The nine Baladevas (Balabhadras) are:

1. Vijaya

2. Achala

3. Dharmaprabha

4. Suprabha

5. Sudarsana

6. Nandi (Ananda)

7. Nandimitra

8. Ramachandra

9. Padma

The above are the total sixty three Shalaka purushas.