Rishabhanatha
| Rishabhanatha | |
|---|---|
| First Tirthankara | |
Image of Rishabhanatha at Kundalpur pilgrimage site in Madhya Pradesh, India
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| Other names | Adinatha, Adish Jina (first conqueror), Adi Purush (first Perfect Man), Ikshvaku |
| Symbol | Bull |
| Height | 500 bows (1500 metres) |
| Age | 84 lakh purva (592.704 x 1018 years) |
| Tree | Banyan |
| Color | Golden |
| Spouse | Sunanda and Sumangala |
| Parents | |
| Children |
Bharata Bahubali Sundari Brahmi |
| Succeeded by | Ajitanatha |
| Born | Ayodhya |
| Moksha | Mount Kailash |
Rishabhanatha also Ṛṣabhadeva, Rishabhadeva, or Ṛṣabha is the first Tirthankara (Teaching God) of the present half cycle of time in Jainism. The word Tīrthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha which means a fordable passage across a sea. The Tirthankara show the 'fordable path' across the sea of interminable births and deaths (saṃsāra). Rishabhanatha is also known as Ādinātha which translates into "First (Adi) Lord (nātha)".
Jain cosmology divides the Worldly Time cycle into two halves (avasarpiṇī and utsarpiṇī) with six aras (spokes) in each half. Twenty-four Tirthankara grace this part of the universe in the fourth ara, known as duşamā-suşamā (read as dukhmā-sukhmā) ara, of both halves. The present half cycle (avasarpiṇī) being a special case, Rishabhanatha, the first tīrthaṅkara was born at the end of the third ara (known as suṣama-duṣamā) itself. This cycle will start reversing at the onset of utsarpinī kāl with the Dukhama-dukhamā ara being the first ara of utsarpinī (half-time cycle of regeneration). According to Jain texts, he was born in the age when there was happiness all around with no work for men to do. Gradually as the cycle moved, and Kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling trees) disappeared, people rushed to their King for help. Rishabhanatha is then said to have taught the men six main professions. These were: (1) Asi (swordsmanship for protection), (2) Masi (writing skills), (3) Krishi (agriculture), (4) Vidya (knowledge), (5) Vanijya (trade and commerce) and (6) Shilp (crafts). In other words, he is credited with introducing karma-bhumi (the age of action) by teaching these professions to householders to enable them to earn a livelihood. The institution of marriage is said to have come into existence after he married to set an example for other humans to follow. In total, Rishabhanatha is said to have taught seventy-two sciences which include: arithmetic, the plastic and visual arts, the art of lovemaking, singing and dancing. Jain chronology places the date of Rishabhanatha at an almost immeasurable antiquity in the past.
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