In Indian religious tradition, which religion recognises exactly 24 Tirthankaras, that is, enlightened spiritual teachers who guide souls to liberation?

Introduction / Context:
Tirthankaras are central to Jain philosophy and spiritual practice. The term means ford makers, spiritual teachers who show the path across the ocean of birth and death toward liberation. This question tests awareness of basic Indian religious traditions and specifically the link between the idea of 24 Tirthankaras and the religion that formally recognises them as a lineage of perfect teachers. Knowing this connection is important for examinations on Indian culture, religion, and philosophy.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to Indian religions only.
• There are exactly 24 Tirthankaras in the tradition being asked about.
• Tirthankaras are spiritual teachers who attain perfect knowledge and teach the path of liberation.
• We compare the core doctrines of Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism.

Concept / Approach:
The main idea is to match the concept of Tirthankaras with the religion that formally lists exactly 24 such enlightened beings. Jainism describes a cosmic time cycle in which 24 Tirthankaras appear in each half cycle. These teachers include Rishabhanatha, Parshvanatha, and Mahavira. Other Indian religions also revere enlightened beings or spiritual leaders, but they use different terminology and numbers. Buddhism primarily speaks about Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Hinduism about avatars, rishis, and devas, and Sikhism about the ten Gurus. The number 24 in connection with Tirthankaras is therefore a distinctive feature of Jainism.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Jainism explains time as a series of cycles, each with many spiritual epochs. Step 2: In every half cycle of time, Jain texts state that 24 Tirthankaras appear to re establish the path of non violence, truth, and detachment. Step 3: These 24 Tirthankaras are central to Jain worship. Their images are found in Jain temples and they are recited in daily prayers. Step 4: Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism do not formally list 24 Tirthankaras. They have their own lineages of teachers and enlightened beings but with other names and counts. Step 5: Because the number 24 and the title Tirthankara together are unique identifiers of Jain doctrine, the correct answer is Jainism.

Verification / Alternative check:
An additional way to verify the answer is to recall the name of Mahavira, widely known as the 24th Tirthankara. Mahavira is always described as a Jain spiritual teacher, never as a founder of another religion. In standard reference books on Indian religions, the list of 24 Tirthankaras is always presented under Jainism. Therefore, cross checking the name Mahavira with the concept of Tirthankara once again confirms that the religion in question must be Jainism and not any other Indian tradition.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Buddhism focuses on the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, many past Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas, but it does not speak of 24 Tirthankaras as a fixed list.
Hinduism has many avatars, sages, and deities, including the concept of Dashavatara, but it does not have a canon of 24 Tirthankaras guiding souls to liberation.
Sikhism honours ten human Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib as eternal Guru; the tradition does not use the term Tirthankara at all.
Zoroastrianism is an ancient Iranian faith centred on the teachings of Zarathustra and has its own set of divine and spiritual beings, without any connection to the Jain idea of 24 Tirthankaras.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to assume that any concept involving enlightenment or liberation belongs equally to all Indian religions. Another error is to confuse Jainism and Buddhism because both emphasise non violence, meditation, and release from the cycle of birth. However, terminology and counts matter a lot in competitive examinations. The specific number 24 attached to the title Tirthankara is a signature of Jainism and not of Buddhism or Hinduism. Remembering a few famous Tirthankaras, such as Rishabhanatha, Neminatha, Parshvanatha, and Mahavira, can help students avoid confusion in similar questions.

Final Answer:
The religion that recognises exactly 24 Tirthankaras as enlightened spiritual teachers is Jainism.