Teerthankaras and various ascetic saints have practiced penance, meditation, self-control etc. to get free from the worldly troubles of birth, old age & death and they show the path to world to get rid of these troubles.
In this way, those are well wishers of world without any reason or expectations. Only due to this reason they are called the headers of Moksha Marga (The path of salvation).
Source: http://www.jainvaani.com/
