Arihant

Arihant is a term of Sanskrit origin meaning "one who conquers inner enemies." It is used in Jainism to denote a perfected, enlightened soul who has conquered inner passions and attained kevala jnana (omniscience). The 24 Tirthankaras are traditionally regarded as Arihants, and upon death they attain moksha, joining the liberated beings in siddhaloka. In Jain cosmology, an Arihant is revered as a ford-maker who establishes the path for others toward liberation.

In modern usage, Arihant is also a given name in India and appears in various cultural contexts as a masculine name rooted in its spiritual meaning. The term has been adopted beyond religious use to symbolize achievement, conquest of obstacles, or moral integrity in contemporary discourse.

The name is also associated with the Indian Navy through INS Arihant, the lead submarine of the Arihant-class, the country’s first ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). Launched in 2009 and commissioned in 2016, INS Arihant represents a key element of India's nuclear deterrence capabilities and has helped establish the country’s status in strategic undersea warfare. The Arihant-class vessels are named after this lead submarine, continuing the association between the term and themes of mastery and reach.