In Jainism, a tirthankara (Sanskrit tīrthaṅkara) is an omniscient Teaching God who preaches the dharma (righteous path). The word tirthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha which means a fordable passage across the sea of interminable births and deaths (called saṃsāra). According to Jains, the Jain teachings are gradually forgotten. Then, a rare individual is born who at some point in his life renounces the world to conquer the saṃsāra (the cycle of death and rebirth) on his own. After understanding the true nature of the Self or soul, the Tīrthaṅkara attains Kevala Jnana (omniscience) and refounds Jainism. Tirthankara provides a bridge for others to follow them from saṃsāra to moksha (liberation).