Rishabhanatha
Rishabhanatha (Devanagari: ऋषभनाथ), also Rishabhadeva (Devanagari: ऋषभदेव, Ṛṣabhadeva), Rishabha (Devanagari: ऋषभ, Ṛṣabha) or Ikshvaku (Devanagari: इक्ष्वाकु), is the first tirthankara (Supreme preacher) of Jainism. He was the first of twenty-four teachers in the present half-cycle of time in Jain cosmology, and called a "ford maker" because his teachings helped one cross the sea of interminable rebirths and deaths. The legends depict him as having lived millions of years ago. He was the spiritual successor of Sampratti Bhagwan, the last Tirthankar of previous time cycle. He is also known as Ādinātha (lit. "first Lord"), as well as Adishvara (first Jina), Yugadideva (first deva of the yuga), Prathamarajeshwara (first God-king) and Nabheya (son of Nabhi). He is also known as Ikshvaku, establisher of Ikshvaku dynasty. Along with Mahavira, Parshvanath, Neminath, and Shantinath, Rishabhanatha is one of the five Tirthankaras that attract the most devotional worship among the Jains.
| Tirthankara Rishabhanatha | |
|---|---|
1st Tirthankara | |
| Member of Tirthankara, Shalakapurusha, Arihant and Siddha | |
The idol of Tirthankara Rishabhanatha at Palitana-Shatrunjaya temples | |
| Other names | • Ādinātha and Ādeśvara (the first conqueror)
• Ādarśa Puruṣa (perfect man) • Ikśvaku |
| Venerated in | Jainism |
| Predecessor | Sampratti (last Tirthankara of the previous time-cycle) |
| Successor | Ajitanatha |
| Mantra | Oṃ Ṛṣabhadeva Namaḥ Oṃ Śrī Ādināthāya Namaḥ |
| Symbol | Bull |
| Height | 500 bows |
| Age | 8.4 million purvas (592.704×1018 years) |
| Tree | Banyan |
| Color | Golden |
| Texts | Ādi purāṇa, Mahāpurāṇa, Bhaktamara Stotra |
| Gender | Male |
| Festivals | Akshaya Tritiya |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Ṛṣabha |
| Died | |
| Parents | |
| Spouse | Sumangalā Sunandā |
| Children | • 100 sons (including: Chakravarti Bharata, Prince Nami, and Kamadeva Bahubali)
• 2 daughters: Satī Brāhmī and Satī Sundarī Reference: |
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According to traditional accounts, he was born to king Nabhi and queen Marudevi in the north Indian city of Ayodhya, also called Vinita. He had two wives, Nanda and Sunanda. Nanda is described as the mother of his ninety-nine sons (including Bharata) and one daughter, Brahmi. Sunanda is depicted as the mother of Bahubali and Sundari. The sudden death of Nilanjana, one of the dancers sent by Indra in his courtroom, reminded him of the world's transitory nature, and he developed a desire for renunciation.
After his renunciation, the legends state Rishabhanatha travelled without food for 6 months. The day on which he got his first ahara (food) is celebrated by Jains as Akshaya Tritiya. He attained Moksha on Mount Asthapada (Kailash). The text Adi Purana by Jinasena is an account of the events of his life and teachings. His iconography includes colossal statues such as Statue of Ahimsa, Bawangaja and those erected in Gopachal hill. His icons include the eponymous bull as his emblem, the Nyagrodha tree, Gomukha (bull-faced) Yaksha, and Chakreshvari Yakshi.