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Osho on Who were the Tirthankaras before Mahavira?

Who were the Tirthankaras before Mahavira?

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The Tirthankaras were not separate from the Aryan tradition; they were its sages, guiding seekers through the path of effort and resolve toward liberation. Only with Mahavira did the essence of their teachings crystallize into a distinct identity.

— Osho
Synthesized from Source definition
Core Insight:
According to Osho, the Tirthankaras before Mahavira—the first twenty-three, beginning with Adinath (Rishabha)—were Aryan sages within the broader Shramana stream, not members of a separate 'Jain' sect. They taught liberation through shram (effort, resolve, tapas) while still moving within the Aryan tradition. Only with Mahavira did this current crystallize into a distinct Jain identity and doctrine.
Before Mahavira, the Tirthankaras were Aryan Shramana teachers like Adinath who emphasized effort, and they weren’t yet called Jains.
Why this matters practically
- Clarifies that Jain identity formed with Mahavira, avoiding historical anachronism.
- Highlights the Shramana focus on personal effort versus devotional prayer.
- Connects Jain roots to the wider Aryan spiritual landscape and shared scriptures.
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