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RIŞABHA DEVA
as a Jaina Saint. Many kings and other great men followed his example, and entered the order along with him.
Tirtham karapada (the status of a Tirthamkara) is the most difficult thing to obtain in the world. It is attained only by four and twenty souls in the course of half a cycle of time comprising innumerable millions of years. The causes that lead to Tirthamkarahood are, among others, a burning desire to remove the misery of the world, to carry enlightenment and joy to the hearts of all living beings, perfect faith, profound veneration for the true objects of veneration, namely, the Teacher, the Scripture of Truth and the Saint, Love, Service, and Study investigation of Truth). These are collectively known as the solat-kārama Bhāpadās (the sixteen special impulses that lead to the glory of Tirthamkarahood). The seed of the Supreme Status is, generally, sown in the presence of a living Tirthamkara Himself. It is His example presumably that fires the mind and stirs up the imagination!
Bajranābhi, too, was fired with the inspiration of the Tirthamkara's example (who was his own Father). He longed. to become a Tirthamkara himself, to save all who were involved in suffering and misery in the samsāra (transmigration). Henceforth to carry enlightenment and
