Bharata Chakravartin

Bharata
1st chakravartin (universal monarch)
Statue of Bharata as a Jain monk at Chandragiri Hill, Shravanabelagola
Height	500 bows (1500 metres)
Age	84 lakh purva (592.704 × 1018 years)
Color	Golden
Spouse	Subhadra
Parents	Rishabhanatha (father) Yasaswati (also known as Nanda or Sumangala) (mother)
Children	Marichi, Arkakirti
Succeeded by	Sagara
Born	Ayodhya
Moksha	Mount Kailash

Bharata was the first chakravartin (universal monarch or world conqueror) of avasarpini (present half time cycle as per Jain cosmology). He was the eldest son of Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara. India was named "Bhāratavarsha" or "Bhārata" or "Bharata-bhumi" after him. He had two sons from his chief Queen Sunanda - Arkakirti (also known as Surya) and Marichi. He conquered all the six parts of the world and fought with Bahubali (his brother) in the end to conquer the last remaining city. He gave law to the world, established Brahmin caste (which was much different from the present day caste). In his later years, he renounced the world and became a Jain monk. He attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience) and Moksha (liberation) and became a siddha.

Bharata was first chakravartin of the present half cycle of Jain cosmology.

In one of his previous incarnations, he was one of the ahamindra—companion of a Deva (heavenly being) in the heaven known as Swartha Siddhi. That deva was born as Lord Rishabhanatha in his next reincarnation. Some of his other previous incarnations were as Mativara (minister of King Bajrajangha), Atigridha (King of Vatsakavati in East Videha of the Jambudvipa), in the fourth hell, as a lion and as a deva in second heaven.

One night Queen Yasasvati Devi, senior-most queen of Rishabhanatha, saw four auspicious dreams. She saw the sun and the moon, the Mount Meru, the lake with swans, earth and the ocean in her dreams. Lord Rishabhanatha explained her that these dreams mean that a Chakravartin ruler will be born to them who will conquer whole of the world. Then, Bharata was born to them on the ninth day of the dark half of the month of Chaitra (Hindu calendar). He was a Kshatriya born in Ikshvaku dynasty. His education included special emphasis on law and the science of polity of kings. He also had interest in dancing and art. His chief queen was Subhadra.