Bharata (Jainism)

In Jainism, Bharata was the first chakravartin (lit. 'holder of a chakra', i.e., emperor) of Avasarpini (present half-time cycle). He was the eldest son of Rishabhanatha, the first tirthankara. He had two sons from his chief-empress Subhadra, Arkakirti and Marichi. He is said to have conquered all six parts of the world and to have engaged in a fight with Bahubali, his brother, to conquer the last remaining city of the world.

According to the Digambara sub-tradition of Jainism, in his later years, he renounced the world, led an ascetic life, and attained kevalajnana (omniscience). According to the Svetambara Jains, he attained kevalgyana (omniscience) after which he renounce the world. He gained kevalgyana when he realised there is no beauty in our bodies and hence renounced the world being kevalgyani (omniscient) and then attained moksha.