ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
Rishabha– Rishabha was a preacher and a spiritual leader
Rishabha
Rishabha was a preacher and a spiritual leader. He is considered as the founder of Jainism. It was believed that he had escaped the cycle of birth and death and used to guide people to the path of salvation.Maharaja Naveli had no children. For this reason he performed a yajna with his wife Merudevi, wishing for a son. Pleased with the sacrifice, Lord Vishnu himself appeared and gave a boon to Maharaj Nabhi that I will be born here as a son. After some time, Lord Vishnu Maharaj was born as a boon in the form of a son. Seeing the son’s exceedingly well-structured body, fame, oil, strength, opulence, fame, might and valor, etc., Maharaj Nabhi named him Rishabh (superior).
RISHABH AVATAR (Incarnation as Rishabh Dev) : Lord Vishnu in his ninth incarnation as Rishabh Dev was born to king Nabhi and Marudevi. His mother Marudevi was the daughter of Indra. He attained that state of Paramhansa (an ascetic of highest order who has controlled his anger) which is an uphill task. He was given the title of ‘Jin’ which means a ‘ a knower’. His followers are known as Jains.
The Rishabha deva Incarnation
Rishabha deva is eighth avtar of Vishnu. Rishabh Dev was born to king Nabhi and Marudevi. His mother Marudevi was the daughter of Indra. His most important lesson he taught mankind was that material possessions cause envy and unhappiness.
He attained that state of Paramhansa (an ascetic of highest order who has controlled his anger) which is an uphill task. He was given the title of ‘Jin’ which means a ‘ a knower’. His followers are known as Jains.
Rishabha Avatar of Vishnu – Rishabh Dev in Hinduism
Among the 24 avatars of Vishnu mentioned in Srimad Bhagavad Purana, Rishabha Avatar is the 8th incarnation. Rishabh Dev in Hinduism was the son of king Nabhi and Marudevi. He was a great ascetic who achieved control over the senses.
Information about the Rishabha Avatar of Vishnu is found in the Srimad Bhagavad Purana 5th Canto – 3rd chapter.
Rishabha Avatar Story
King Nabhi was born in the lineage of Manu. Nabhi was the son of Agnindra who was the son of Privavrat who was the son of Manu.
King Nabhi did not have any children and therefore he along with his wife Marudevi performed intense austerities to please Vishnu to beget a child.
Pleased with the devotion of King Nabhi, Vishnu gave him the boon that he will be born as the son to the couple.
Thus Vishnu was born as Rishabha Dev.
The child was extremely handsome, intelligent and strong. His courage and adherence to Dharma made the king happy and therefore he was named Rishabh, which means unexceptionable.
Rishabha married Jayanti, the daughter of Indra.
Rishabha Jain Tirthankara
As per one account, Rishabh Dev later became the first Jain Tirthankara. He taught people the secret of Moksha or liberation.
The belief is that offering prayers to the Rishabha form of Vishnu will help couples in begetting health and intelligent children. He also worshipped for healthy body.
Lord Rishabha the first Jina
Lord Rishabha was the first Tirthankar of our time, and hence is also called Adi-nath, the First Lord. In Jain tradition, he is more than a Tirthankar. As a king, he is credited with development of several innovations affecting the society, as transition was being made from a simple to a more complex society:
prajaaptiryaH prathamaM jiiivishhu sashaasa
kR^ishsyadishhu karmasuprajaH.
(vR^ihat-svayambhuu stotra)
As first Prajapati, he taught people, who wanted to earn a living, various professions.
dhammo vi dayamuulo viNimmiyo aadi bamheNa.
(trilokasaara)
The “first Brahma” (Lord Rishabha) established the (ordinary) dharma based on compassion.
The ancient idols of lord Rishaba all show him long shoulder length hair. This is referred to by Acharaya RavisheNa in Padma-PuraNa:
vaatod-dhuutaa jaTaastAAsya rejuraakulamuurtauaH.
dhuumalva iva sad-dhyaan-vahnisaktaya karmaNaH..
Trans: Blowing in the wind, the locks of his hair looked, as if they were smoke coming out the fire buring the karmas.
The Vaishnava text Bhagavata-PuraNa also mentions the locks of hair of Lord Rishaba:
..kutila jatila kapisha-kesha-bhuumibhaaraa.
Rishabaha was the son of King Nabhi and Queen Marudevi. He is mentioned in all the Vaishnava/Shaiva PuraNas, as well as other texts. The Bhagavata says:
ashhTame merudevyaaM tu naabherjaata uruukramaH.
darshayan vartma dhiiraaNaaM sarvaashramanamaskR^itaM..
Trans. In the womb of Merudevi, wife of Nabhi, the lord had his eighth avatara. He showed himself in a form that is to be worshipped by all Shramanas. (Here the author of Bhagavata-PuraNa regards Lord Rishabaha as an avatara).
Bhagavata calls him “shariira maatra parigraha” (body his only possession), “gagana-paridhaanaH” (wearing the sky), vaatarashanaa (wearing the wind).
While some sectarian bias is apparent in some of the non-Jain texts, both Lord Rishabha and his son Bharata are mentioned respectfully in the Hindu Puranas.
Bhagwan Rishabh Dev was born to Emperor Nabhi Raja and Queen Marudevi at Ayodhya in the Ikshvaku clan. It is believed that Rishabh Dev existed before civilization developed. He taught masses agriculture, tending of animals, cooking, and more. He had one hundred and one sons.
Bhagwan Rishabh Dev’s eldest son Bharat was a Chakravarti Emperor – the vanquisher of the known world. It is believed that India was named Bharata-varsha or Bharata after him. This has been mentioned in various Indian Puranas such as Agni Purana, Vishnu Purana, Markandeya Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Matsya Purana, Kurma Purana, Shiva Purana and Skanda Purana. King Baharat however, later retired to become an ascetic and achieved Moksh. Marichi, Bhagwan Rishabh Dev’s grandson later became Mahavir. He achieved ‘kevalgnan’ or endless knowledge at Palitana and achieved nirvana (Moksh) at Ashtapad Mountain in Himalaya Mountains.
Bhagwan Rishabh Dev is regarded as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu according to the Hindu text of Bhagavata Purana. One can also find his reference in the Vishnu Purana and Shiva Purana. As per Bhagavata, he was born to show the masses of this world the path of redemption. It was he who advised the masses to follow the path of undying happiness. He is regarded as the founding father and promoter of Sramanic culture.
Modern scholars are of opinion that Rishabh was a historical person and that his birth period can be placed established at the end of Stone Age and beginning of Agriculture age. The modern historians on the other hand are of opinion that there exists some relation between Bhagwan Rishabh Dev and Indus Valley civilization. The terracotta seals and other excavations at Harappa and Mohenjodaro provide a link between Rishabh and Indus Valley Civilization. Even the standing deities on the seals also show Kayotsarga (a standing or sitting posture of meditation) position. The Kayotsarga posture is peculiarly Jain and according to the Adi Puran Book, the Kayotsarga posture is said to have its connection with the penance of Rishabh, also known as Vrishabh.”
Bhagwan Rishabh Dev propagated his religious faith having the five great vows as its fundamental theme. He went to the Ashtapad Mountain as he realized that all his remaining karmas are nearing their end.
Bhagwan Rishabh Dev, along with ten thousand other monks maintained a six day fasting without water. He seated himself in the meditation in the Paryanka pose. On the thirteenth day of the dark half of the month of Magh, when the moon entered the Abhijit lunar mansion he got enlightenment and thus got relieved of his entire ailments. The lord of Gods, Saudharmendra, Emperor Bharat, many Gods and men assembled and celebrated the auspicious event of Bhagwan Rishabh Dev’s Nirvana.
Rishbhdev is also known as Rishabh, Adinath, Adishwar or Kesariya Ji. He was born at Ayodhya in the Ikshwaku Kula or clan. In Hinduism he is known to be an avatara or incarnation of Vishnu. The name of Rishabh’s parents has been mentioned in the Bhagvata Purana.
His parents were King Nabhi Raja and Queen Marudevi.
Two sons of Rishabhdeva are worth mention. One was King Bharata, a Chakravarti Samrata and another is Bahubali. Bharta was the king, after whose name India is called Bharat Varsha. Please note that in Hindu Mythology Bharata is mentioned as son of Dushyanta.
However, some sources say that Bharata was eldest of a hundred sons of a saintly king by the name of Rishbhdev. The Jain theology calls Rishabh a Tirthankara and Bharat a King, whose younger brother was Bahubali.
Bahubali was Bahu Bali, one with enormous strength in his arms.
The mythological stories relate that Bharat wanted to attack on the kingdom of Bahubali and both brothers nearly readied for a war. The minister negotiated and it was decided that the two brother only contest personally through Jal Yuddha,
Malla Yuddha and Drishti Yuddha. Bharata struck him first, but when it was Bahubali turn, he respected the elder brother and did not strike him and became a renunciant. Some years later, Bharta won the meru parvata and hoisted a flag there. But, when he reached the zenith, he found many flags out there. So he felt insignificance and also became a renunciant.
The Sign of Rishbhdev is a Bull and achieved nirvana on the Kailasa Mountain of the Himalayas as per digambar canons and as per shwetambar canons he achieved nirvana on Ashtapad mount.
Please note that 20 out of the 20 Jain Tirthankara attained Niravana at Summet Shikhar or Shikharji located near Giridih, in Jharkhand, one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world
Vasupujya attained nirvana at Champapuri in north Bengal; Neminatha on Mount Girnar in gujrat; and Mahavira, the last, at Pavapuri near patna in Bihar.
Bahubali is also known as Gomateshwara. There are 5 monolithic statues are present in Karnataka, out of which 57 feet at Shravanabelagola in Hassan District was created in 981 AD and his highest. The location of other statues are : Karkala in Udupi District, Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada District, Venur in Dakshina Kannada District, Gommatagiri in Mysore District.
Lord Vishnu has taken many incarnations on the Earth for the protection of religion. In the past, Lord Vishnu had incarnated as Lord Rishabdev and introduced the power of knowledge and austerity to the world.
Lord Rishbhadev is considered to be the founder of Jainism. He is worshipped as Lord Adinath in Jainism. The divine story of Lord Rishabhdev is described in the third chapter of the fifth wing of Srimedbhagwat.
Introduction to the Lineage Of Lord Rishabhdev
In ancient times, a great king Priyavrata used to reign. His kingdom was spread over all seven islands. He was the Son of Swayambhu Manu. Priyanvrat was the ultimate devotee of Lord Vishnu.
In due time, king Priyanvrat gave the throne to his deserving Son Agnidraa and departed to the forest. Agnidraa was a worthy ruler. He married nymph Purvachiti and become father of many children. He also went to the forest by giving the throne to his deserving Son Nabhi.
Birth of Lord Rishabhdev
King Nabhi was the sole devotee of Lord Vishnu. His wife, queen Meru Devi, was also an ultimate devotee of Lord Vishnu like him, but they had no child. By the command of Brahmins, King Nabhi performed the divine sacrificial fire to please Lord Vishnu. He completed that sacrificial fire with utmost reverence.
Sacrificial fire by King Nabhi
Pleased with the sacrificial fire of King Nabhi, Lord Vishnu appeared in that Yagya shala. The king Nabhi and the Brahmins praised Lord Vishnu in many manners. King Nabhi and queen Meru Devi wished Lord Vishnu to have a Son like him.
Lord Vishnu was very happy with their devotion and he said that he would take birth as their Son. In time, Lord Vishnu was born from the womb of queen Meru Devi to please King Nabhi. He was born to define the religion of the Digambar Saints and the Brahmanistic Sages. King Nabhi and queen Meru Devi were very happy to see the divine nature of the child.
Birth of Lord Rishabhdev
They named that divine lad as Rishabhdev. Lord Rishabhdev was an icon of equality, peace and quietness. He was very popular among his countrymen. Seeing his force, amenity, Valour and might, all the countrymen began to wish that now, prince Rishabhdev should rule on the Earth
Breaking Lord Indra’s Pride
The fame of Lord Rishbhadev was increasing day by day. His prestige was echoed in all the three folks. Enraged at his fame, Lord Indra stopped raining in his state. This act of Indra did not have any adverse effect on the kingdom of King Nabhi. In due times, Lord Rishbhadev dissolved the pride of Lord Indra by bringing rain with his power. Now Lord Indra had recognised the true nature of Lord Rishabhdev. He apologized to him for his blunder.
Lord Indra proposed the marriage of his daughter Jayanti and Rishabhdev to King Nabhi. King Nabhi gladly accepted the proposal. King Nabhi performed the marriage of Rishabhdev and Jayanti with utmost fanfare. In scriptures, Goddess Jayanti is also known as Goddess Sumangala.
Marriage of Lord Rishabhdev
When king Nabhi realised that his son is virtuous and capable of running the kingdom, he made the coronation of Rishabhdev and went to Badrikashram with his wife Meru Devi to worship God.
Coronation of Lord Rishabhdev
Married Life Of Lord Rishabhdev
Lord Rishbhadev become the father of 99 Sons and a daughter by following the married life with his wife, Goddess Sumangala. His eldest Son was named Bharat, who had the same unique qualities as he had.
His another wife was Sunanda. Goddess Sunanda gave birth to a Son named Bhahubali and a daughter named Sundari. Bhahubali was extremely elegant and literate. All their Sons and daughters were very serviceable and followed the path of religion.
Teachings Of Lord Rishabhdev
Once Lord Rishabhdev went to Brahmavart country with his Sons. He gave many sermons to his Sons in the discussion of Sages. Rishbhadev preached to his Sons and said, “The goal of man’s life is only to attain the imperishable Soul. So a person should stay away from physical pleasures and lead a restrained life by following the principles of religion (Dharm), finance (Arth), Desires (kaam) and salvation (Moksha).
Sermons of Lord Rishabhdev
The supreme holy Soul is achieved only through austerity by purifying the consciousness of a person. So man must do divine austerity to purify his consciousness.” Lord Rishbhadev gave many sermons related to the Soul, the Supreme Soul and the World to his Sons. The teachings of Lord Rishabhdev are called “Jinvani”. In Jainism, “Jinwani” is described in detail.
In Rishabhdev’s kingdom, his countrymen were extremely satisfied and behaved like him. He was an independent thinker opposing the traditions. He performed many sacrificial fires for the benefit of his people and completed many religious rituals.
Renunciation Of Lord Rishabhdev
To make the world aware of new traditions he renunciated the kingdom and gave the throne to his eldest son Bharat and went for austerity in the forest. He took a complete digamber form and took a samadhi under a banyan tree to do austerity. Though he was fully enlightened, he did harsh austerity to teach the World. With the influence of his harsh austerity, the seven principles and navnidhiya stood before him hands folded.
Lord Rishabhdev absorbed in austerity
He concentrated only in God, not caring for these materialistic pleasures. He started an extremely harsh fast along with austerity. He kept on fasting for six months in that forest and after that, he departed to Hastinapur. He ended his vow by taking sugarcane juice from king Shreyansh in Hastinapur.
Lord Rishabhdev breaking his fast
Thereafter, he again came to the forest and sat under the lay tree to do penance. He attained enlightenment under the same lay tree. Enlightenment is known as “KEWALGYAN” in Jainism.
Divine aura of Lord Rishabhdev
Attaining The Salvation
While moving into the entire Aryavrat, Lord Rishabhdev preached the knowledge to the people. When he saw the people were interrupting his yoga and penance, he came back to the forest and began living in solitude. His body produced a divine fragrance that could be smelled from miles away. Through that divine aroma, People wishing to see him, used to come to meet him in the forest.
After teaching the power of penance and fasting to the entire world, he departed towards the Supreme divine Land of Lord Shiva, Mount Kailash. In Mount Kailash, Lord Rishabhdev left his physical body and attained salvation by sitting in Padmaasan Mudra at the time of Sun Rise in Uttaradhadha Nakshatra on the fourteenth day of the month of Magha (January).
Sage Shukdev says to the king Prikshit that the incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born in the world to show the path of salvation to people full of rage and malice. Therefore I bow down to him.
Supreme power of Lord Rishabhdev
The story of Lord Rishabhdev overthrows all sins and takes a man to the path of salvation. People who listen to, and narrate his stories with devotion easily get salvation.
Rishabdev
।। OM NAMO NARAYANA।।
Name of Avatar: Rishabhadeva Avatar
When: Rishabhadeva Avatar appeared in the Satya Yuga, the first of the four ages in Hindu cosmology.
Why this Avatar: Rishabhadeva, also known as Lord Rishabha, incarnated to establish the principles of dharma (righteousness) and guide beings towards spiritual liberation. He exemplified the path of renunciation and self-realization.
How it looks: Rishabhadeva is often depicted as a divine being with a serene countenance, adorned with celestial garlands and ornaments. He is shown with matted hair, wearing minimal clothing or deer skin.
Story: Rishabhadeva was a great sage and an exemplar of detachment and self-discipline. He taught his disciples through silence and performed extraordinary acts to showcase the path of self-realization. His teachings emphasize the importance of self-control, humility, and devotion to attaining spiritual enlightenment.