In Jainism, there are 24 of which enlightened spiritual teachers?

In Jainism, there are 24 of which enlightened spiritual teachers? The answer is Tirthankaras.

In Jainism, a Tirthankara is an enlightened spiritual teacher who rediscovers and teaches the path from samsara, the cycle of birth and death, to liberation. The term literally refers to a founder of a tirtha, or “ford,” symbolizing a crossing to moksha.

Jain cosmology divides time into repeating ascending and descending cycles. Each half-cycle is said to have exactly 24 Tirthankaras. The 24 associated with the present descending cycle begin with Rishabhanatha, also called Adinatha, and end with Mahavira, the teacher most closely associated with the historical beginnings of Jainism.

Mahavira is traditionally regarded as the 24th Tirthankara, while Parshvanatha is recognized as the 23rd. Jain tradition holds that Tirthankaras attain kevala jnana, or perfect knowledge, and establish a fourfold community of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen. They are not gods who create the universe; they are liberated exemplars and teachers.