Rishabha (Jain Tirthankar) - Life

Life

Rishabha was born to King Nabhi Raja (Kulkar) and Queen Marudevi at Ayodhya before civilization developed. He taught people agriculture, tending of animals, cooking, and more (total 72 arts for men and 64 arts for women). Rishabha had one hundred and one sons, including Bharata and Bahubali, and two daughters, Brahmi and Sundari.

Jains believe Rishabha's eldest son, Bharata, was a Chakravartin who later attained moksha "liberation" and hence is worshipped as a siddha. India was named 'Bhāratavarsha' or Bhārata after him.

According to the Jain measurement of cosmic time, one cycle of time has two divisions. In the ascending time-cycle there is a gradual improvement in physical and mental conditions, including physical strength, health, happiness, and simplicity of beings as well as climatic and life-supporting conditions. During the descending time-cycle there is a gradual deterioration of these conditions.

• Name: Bhagwan Rishabhdeva
• Symbol: Bull
• Father: Nabhi Raja
• Mother: Matha Marudevi
• Clan Name: Ikshvaku
• Source of Descent: Sarvarthsiddha
• Date of Descent: Ashad krishna paksha 4 (as Indian calendar)
• Place of Birth: Ayodya
• Date of Birth: Chaitra Krishna
• Place of Enlightenment: Prayag the meeting point of the Ganges and Yamuna
• Date of Diksha: Chaitra Krishna Paksha 8
• Date of Enlightenment: Falgun Krishna Paksha 11
• Place of Nirvana: Mount Kailash
• Date of Nirvana: Magh Krishna Paksha 13
• Chief Disciple (Gandadhar): Pundarik
• Number of Disciples (Ganadhar): 84
• Number of Ascetics: 84 Thousand
• Head of Female Ascetics: Brahmi
• Number of Female Ascetics: 300,000
• Male Laity: 350,000
• Female Laity: 554,000
• Body Colour: Golden
• God of Organisation: Goumukh
• Goddess of Organisation: Chakreshwari Devi

• According to Trilokasara,

  Jain Prakrit: धम्मो वि दयामूलो विणिम्मियो आदिबह्मेण Dhammō vi dayāmūlō viṇimmiyō ādibahmēṇa "The 'first Brahmā' established the dharma based on compassion."

• In Jain tradition, he is more than a Tirthankara. As a king, he is credited with development of several innovations affecting society, as transition was being made from a simple to a more complex society. According to Vrihat-Svayambhuu stotra:

  Sanskrit: प्रजापतिर्यः प्रथमं जिजीविषुः शशास कृष्यादिसु कर्मसु प्रजाः Prajāpatiryaḥ prathamaṁ jijīviṣuḥ śaśāsa kr̥ṣyādisu karmasu prajāḥ "As the first Prajapati, he taught people who wanted to earn a living various trades."

• Adipurana, a 10th century Kannada language text by the poet Adikavi Pampa (fl. 941 CE), written in Champu style, a mix of prose and verse and spread over in sixteen cantos, deals with the ten lives of Rishabha and his two sons.