Rishabha, also known as Adinatha, is the traditional founder of Jainism. He was the first of the twenty-four tīrthaṅkaras or "ford-makers", teachers who established the Jain teachings. According to legends, he belonged to theIkshvaku dynasty of ancient Ayodhya.[2] His son was believed to be the first chakravartin. Rishabha is also known as Rikhava and is sometimes called Rishabha of Kosala.
Historicity[edit]
Jains traditionally trace their history through a succession of twenty-four propagators of faith known as tīrthaṅkara. These tīrthaṅkara have legendary accounts of their life.[citation needed] Pārśva, is the earliest tīrthaṅkara who can be reliably dated; he lived in the 9th century BCE.[3][4] Tradition says that Mahāvīra's parents followed his teachings. However, the current knowledge about history of India is not enough to say whether Pārśva decisively founded the Jain religion or not.[5] In this regard, Herman Jacobi, a noted indologist, writes:[6]
Some contemporary historians are of the opinion that there exists some link between Rishabha and the Indus Valley Civilization.[6][7][8] However, these mentions of Rishabha in the Vedas have multiple interpretations. There is no conclusive evidence of him founding Jainism in Vedic literature. Rishabha was, however, worshiped as the first tīrthaṅkara and the founder of Jainism from the 4th or 3rd century BCE.[9]
In Literature[edit]
There is mention of Rishabha in Hindu scriptures, including the [puranas|Purana]]. The Bhagavata Purana states that
In the Skanda Purana (chapter 37) it is stated that "Rishabha was the son of Nabhi, and Rishabha had a son named Bharata, and after the name of this Bharata, this country is known as Bharata-varsha."[10]
Rishabha also finds mention in Buddhist literature. It speaks of several jaina tirthankara which includes Rishabha along with Padmaprabha, Chandraprabha, Pushpadanta, Vimalnatha, Dharmanatha and Neminatha. A Buddhist scripture named Dharmottarapradipa mentions Rishabha as an Apta (Tirthankara).[11]
The Ādi purāṇa, 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 sixteen cantos, deals with the ten lives of Rishabha and his two sons.[12][13] The life of Rishabha is also given in Mahapurana of Jinasena.[1
Legends[edit]
Rishabha was born to Nabhi Raja and Marudevi at Ayodhya before the human civilization was much developed.[15] People were primitive and illiterate and he taught them agriculture, tending of animals, cooking, poetry, painting, sculpture and similar arts.[2][16] He introduced karma-bhumi (the age of action).[17] The institution of marriage, ceremony of cremating the dead and festivals in honour of gods like Indra and Naga came into existence.[18][2] He introduced a total of seventy-two sciences which includes arithmetic, plastic and visual arts, the art of lovemaking, singing and dancing.[18] He taught people how to extract sugarcane juice. The name Ikshvaku dynasti came from the word Ikhsu (sugarcane) due to this event.[19] His kingdom was kind and gentle[18] and he is credited for transforming a tribal society into an orderly one.[20] Like any Tirthankar & other legendary figures of Indian history (who were great warriors), he too was a great warrior with great strength and body. However its was never needed by him to show his warrior aspect.[18] Rishabha is known for advocating non-violence.[18] He was one of the greatest initiators of human progress.[2]
Rishabha had two wives. One of them was Sunanda and the other is given different names, Yasaswati, Nanda and Sumangala, in different texts. He had one hundred sons and two daughters.[21] Among these, Sunanda was the mother of Bahubali and Sundari whereas Sumangala was the mother of Bharat and Brahmi.[22] Bharata, Rishabha's eldest son, was a Chakravartin who later attained moksha and hence is worshipped as a siddha by the Jains. India was named 'Bhāratavarsha' or Bhārata after him.[2][23]
Rishabha gave his kingdom to his two sons Bharata and Bahubali. Bharata received the northern half of his kingdom with Ayodhya as the capital whereas Bahubali received the southern half with the city Podanapur.[24] He then became an ascetic. His aim was to cause lesser harm to others and keep no possessions.[20] Some of the scriptures mention that a nymph named Nilanjana was sent by Indra for the purpose of awakening Rishabha to renounce the world.[25] Nilanjana was one of the favorite dancer's of Rishabha. Indra staged the dancer's sudden death in order to awaken Rishabha and make him preach Jainism.[26] The sudden fatal death of Nilanjana gave Rishabha a desire for renunciation.[27] Rishabha was the first human to attain enlightenment. He traveled far and wide and preached Jainism.[28] He had his first alms as an ascetic in the town of Hastinapur. Jains celebrate this event on the third day of bright fortnight of the month Vaishaka.[29] While traveling, he came across a mountain named Ashtapada, which is famously known as mount Kailash. Gods created a divine preaching hall known as samavasarana at this mountain for Rishabha.[28] He attained liberation on Mount Kailasa at the age of 84 lakh purva(5,927,040,000,000,000;where 1 purva equals to 84*8400000) .[17] His preachings were recorded into fourteen scriptures known as Purva.
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[hide]Life As A King[edit]
Bharata was born in the Solar Dynasty, in the line of Manu Svayambhuva, the eldest of a hundred sons of a saintly king by the name of Rishabha Deva (Jain First Tirthankara), who ruled over the earth. When Rishabha Deva became old he entrusted the rule of his kingdom to Bharata and retired to the forest to perform tapas.
In the Jain tradition, Rishabha Deva is a Tirthankara, and Bharata, the older brother of Bahubali is a Chakravati king, who eventually attained nirvana.
According to Bhagavata purana, Bharata on assuming rule married a girl named Panchajani and five sons were born to them. Bharata ruled the earth for a long time in a just manner. He performed a number of yagas, worshipped God in the prescribed manner and did many dharmic acts. Thus, he earned much merit. At the forest he stayed in the hermitage of the Rishi Pulaha on the banks of Gandaki river and by means of his austerities became a great sage. When Bharata in turn became old, he divided his kingdom among his five sons and, following his father, went to the forest to perform tapas.
In Jain tradition, Bharata is referred to as a Chakravatin King, who eventually became a monk and attained Nirvana. Some Jain temples contain idols of Bharata as a Jain monk, including one at Shravanabelagola. The Irinjalakuda (Koodalmanickam) Bharata temple is Kerala was originally dedicated to Bharata as a Jain deity.[3]
Bharata smitten by love for a deer[edit]
One day while offering prayers to the Sun God on the river bank, he saw a lone and heavily pregnant doe coming to quench its thirst in the river. Hardly had it touched the water when the forest echoed with the roar of a lion. The doe became terror-stricken and it just leaped into the water without even quenching its thirst and tried to ford it in a bid to escape to the other side of the river. Shocked by fear and overcome by the effort to negotiate the current, the doe gave birth to a young deer midstream. Without even being aware of it, the doe reached the other bank where it died of exhaustion. The royal sage who saw it all, was moved by compassion at the sight of the motherless infant deer being carried away by the river. He picked the young deer, took it to his ashrama and fed it with tender grass and protected it from wild beasts. Soon he grew very fond of it. In course of time the sage became so attached to it that he could not part from it even for a short while. He feared all sorts of harms to his pet and prayed for their removal. He forgot that he was a sage and behaved like a foolish householder doting over his child. In the end he died with thoughts of the deer in his mind.
Bharata's next birth[edit]
That sage was born as a deer in his next birth. The Vedic scriptures say that a man will be born in his next birth as that thing about which he was thinking most at the time of his death. Therefore wise men advise people to think of Supreme Personality of Godhead (Krishna, or any other Vishnu avatara) so that it will become a habit and thus after death achieve God's abode. As a result of his tapas and merits and having almost reached perfection the deer that was Bharata, could remember its past by the Lord's grace.
It regretted: "How foolish of me to have forgotten my tapas and become attached to an animal? And now I suffer for it, being born an animal. I shall not repeat the mistake." Saying this the deer left its mother and began living in the vicinity of a Rishi's ashrama spending all its time thinking of God. When death approached, the deer entered the water of a river and standing there, gave up its body.
Bharata, reborn as a Jada[edit]
In the next birth the deer was born as the son of a pious Brahmana. The past tapas and mistakes lingered in the child's mind and so he did not want to commit the same mistake. As a child Bharata in his third birth did not show any attachment to his family. He did not even speak. People therefore called him Jada or a dunce. Hence the name Jada Bharata.
His father however gave him the sacred thread and tried to teach him the Vedas. Bharata did not make much headway in it. The old father died and his brothers gave him up as an idiot. Bharata was now a ripe jnani. He ate whatever food was offered to him, good or bad. He dressed scantily and roamed as an avadhuta. He, however, had a well-built body. So people made him do all sorts of work which he did, like a bull, without caring for reward or appreciation.
One day some robbers caught him in a field. They took him to a Kali temple to offer him as a human sacrifice to Kali. Bharata did not resist. The robber chief lifted the sword to cut the sage's head. At that time Goddess Kali, enraged, burst out of her image and snatching the sword from the robber, killed the robber himself and danced wildly.
Encounter with Rahugana[edit]
On another occasion, the servants of the king Rahugana of Sauvira Kingdom were looking for a man to help them carry the king's palanquin. They took Jada Bharata and made him one of the four to carry the palanquin. The king was going to Sage Kapila's hermitage on the banks of the river Ikshumati to gain spiritual knowledge. Bharata being a jnani or realised soul, did not want to hurt even worms and insects while carrying the palanquin. He walked slowly while the other bearers walked fast. The result was that the palanquin did not move smoothly. When scolded, the other bearers naturally blamed Bharata for this difficulty.
Whenever he saw insects on the ground he jumped above them and that made the palanquin jerk violently. The king who was riding bumped his head as a result.
"What is wrong?" Asked the king angrily, "Haven’t you borne the palanquin only for a little while? How is it that you are tired? Can’t you bear a little burden? You look quite strong to me."
Bharata’s answer was this. "Who am I and who are you? What you have seen is only my body and your body. I am not my body and nor are you your body. Our atmans or souls are what we really are. My atman is not strong or tired, nor is it carrying your palanquin upon its shoulders."
The king was struck by the reply. He stepped down from the palanquin and falling at the feet of Jada Bharata asked him to forgive him for his ignorance and teach him the sacred knowledge. Then Jada Bharata revealing himself taught him the nature of self. He told him the truth about the atman, which is never destroyed and takes up different bodies from one life to another. This is the jivatman. In addition, there is the paramatman, which is the same as God and is everywhere. To understand that the jivatman is the servant of the paramatman is what is called mukti. He also narrated the story of Ribhu to explain this philosophy. The sage ended: "A man becomes liberated when he severs all attachment through wisdom, keeps the company of great souls and sings and listens to the praise of God!"
Bharata (Sanskrit: भरत, Bharata, means "The Cherished"). Bharata[1][2] was an emperor of India, and is referred to in Hindu and Jain theology. He was son of King Dushyanta of Hastinapura and Queen Śakuntalā and thus a descendant of the Lunar Dynasty of the Kshatriya Varna. Bharata had conquered all of Greater India, uniting it into a single political entity which was named after him as "Bhāratavarṣa".
There are many references to "Bharata Chakravarti" in the sacred Jain texts.[citation needed] He conquered all of the earth and the worlds above and reached the top of "Meru" or "Sumeru" mountain (the center of the world and tallest mountain) and placed a flag. But upon reaching the top he saw numerous such flags of world conquerors before him. This made him feel very insignificant and he took the diksha and attained nirvana. His successor was his youngest son bhumanyu
Bhārat (along with India) is the official English name of Republic of India and Bhārata Gaṇarājyam is the official Sanskrit name of the country, while Bhārat Ganarājya is the official Hindi name.
The Ikshvaku dynasty, in Puranic literature, was a mythical dynasty[1] founded by Ikshvaku, grandson of Vivasvan or Surya and son of Vaivasvata Manu. They ruled from the Kosala Kingdom with Ayodhya as their capital. The two Indian epics, Ramayana andMahabharata, have numerous mentions of this dynasty.
This dynasty is also known as Sūryavaṁśa (the Solar dynasty). The important personalities belonging to this royal house are Harishchandra, Dilīpa, Sagara,[2] Raghu, Rama and Prasenajit. Although, both the Hindu Puranas and the Buddhist texts include Shuddodhana,Gautama Buddha and Rahula in their accounts of the Ikshvaku dynasty, but according to the Buddhist texts, Mahasammata, an ancestor of Ikshvaku was the founder of this dynasty,[3] who was elected by the people as the first king of the present era. The Ikshvaku dynasty of Jaina literature includes 22 Jaina Tirthankaras. According to the Puranas, supreme preceptor of the Ikshvaku dynasty was sage Vashishta.
Ikshvaku dynasty in Buddhist tradition[edit]
The Buddhist text, Mahavamsa (II, 1-24) traces the origin of the Shakyas to king Okkaka (Pali equivalent to Sanskrit Ikshvaku) and gives their genealogy from Mahasammata, an ancestor of Okkaka. This list comprises the names of a number of prominent kings of the Ikshvaku dynasty, namely, Mandhata and Sagara.[9] The genealogy according to the Mahavamsa is as follows:[10][11]
- Okkaka
- Okkamukha
- Sivisamjaya
- Sihassara
- Jayasena
- Sihahanu
- Suddhodana
- Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha)
- Rahula
Ikshvaku dynasty in Jaina tradition[edit]
The Ikshvaku dynasty has a significant place in Jaina tradition, as all Tirthankaras except Munisuvrata and Neminatha were born in this royal house.[12] The first Tirthankara Rishavadeva was son of Ikshvaku King Nabhi. The second Tirthankara, Ajitanatha, son of Ikshvaku King Jitashatru was cousin of Sagara.
King Sagara is one of the greatest kings of the Suryavansha in the Satya Yuga, also known as the Ikshvaku dynasty, he has two wives, one a princess of the Vidarbha, and the other from royal lineage of Sivi [1] He was an ancestor to King Dasharatha and Lord Rama (Incarnation of Sree Vishnu).
Birth of Ganga[edit]
King Sagara performed a horse sacrifice (Ashwamedha yajna) to prove his supremacy. Lord Indra, the leader of the demigods, became fearful over the results of the yajna, so he decided to steal the horse. He left the horse at the ashram of Kapila, who was in deep meditation. King Sagar’s 60,000 sons, (born of Queen Sumati), and his son Asamanja (born of Queen Keshini) were then sent to find the horse. When the 60,000 sons found the horse at Kapiladeva’s ashram, they thought he had stolen it. When they prepared to attack the meditating rishi (sage), Kapila opened his eyes. Because the sons of King Sagara had disrespected such a great personality, consequently, fire emanated from their own bodies, and they were immediately burned to ashes.[2]
Later, King Sagara sent his grandson Amshuman to retrieve the horse. Kapiladeva returned the horse and told Anshuman that the sons of King Sagar could be delivered if the Ganges descended to earth and bathed them in her waters. King Sagar’s great-great-grandson, Bhagiratha, eventually pleased Mother Ganga, and asked her to come to earth. Mother Ganga told Bhagiratha that the force of the Ganges falling from heaven would be too great for the earth to sustain, and that she needed someone to break the fall. Bhagiratha then worshiped Lord Siva, who then agreed to accept the descending river upon his head. After the Ganga fell down on the ashes of the 60,000 sons of King Sagara they came alive and got their eternal position.
Pārśva or Pārśvanātha (c. 877–777 BCE) was the twenty-third Tirthankara of Jainism.[1] He is the earliest Jain leader for whom there is reasonable evidence of having been a historical figure.[2][3][4]
Life[edit]
Pārśva was the son of King Aśvasena and Queen Vāmā of Varanasi. He belonged to the Ikśvaku dynasty.[5] He lived as formal prince of Varanasi and at the age of thirty, he renounced the world to become a monk.[6] He meditated for eighty-four days before attaining Kevala Jnana.[7] He achieved mokṣa at the age of one hundred atop Shikharji, which is known today as "the Parasnath Hills" after him. Pārśva was called purisādāṇīya "beloved of men", a name which shows that he must have been a genial personality.[8] He remains beloved among Jains.[9]
When he was a prince he saved a serpent that had been trapped in a log in an ascetic’s fire. The snake, later reborn as Dharana, the lord of the underworld kingdom of the nāgas, sheltered Pārśva from a storm sent by a demon.[10]
According to the Kalpasutra, Pārśva had 164,000 male and 327,000 female lay followers and 16,000 men and 38,000 female monks. He had eight chief disciples known as ganadharas. They were Śubhadatta, Āryaghoṣa, Vasiṣṭha, Brahmacāri, Soma, Śrīdhara, Vīrabhadra and Yaśas. After his death, the gandhara Śubhadatta became the head of the monastic order. He was then succeeded by Haridatta, Āryasamudra and Keśī.[11]
Keśī is believed to have been born about 166 to 250 years after the death of Pārśva. He met the ganadhara of Mahavira, Indrabhuti Gautama. Their discussion about the apparent differences between the teachings of the two tirthankaras is recorded in Jain texts.
Pārśva is the most popular object of Jain devotion. He is closely associated with compassion, although he is free from the world of rebirth like all tirthankaras and therefore unable to aid his devotees personally.