Jain Journal 2001 04

SR No.: 520142
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 92
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 4 MB

Page 42

186
JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXV, No. 4 April 2001
"He was the first king (prathama rājā), first anchorite (prathama bhiksākara) and first saint (prathama jina) and prathama tirtharkara. His stature was 500 poles (dhanus). 4"
He was married to Sumangalā and Sunandā. He had turns by each of his wives. Sunandā gave birth to a son Bahubali (some say Gommala is another name of Bahubali) and a daughter Sundari, and Sumangalā gave birth to a son Bharata and a daughter Brāhmi. From the descendants of Bharata and Bahubali the Surya and the Candra dynasties originated respectively, and the name of the country became Bhārata. Both Bharata and Bāhubali, though sons of Rsabha, the first Tirthankara, were engaged in war for some years, and the incident is described in Vajrasena's Bharateśvara-Bāhubali-ghora (1170 A.D.) and sālibhadra's Bharateśvara-Bahubali-rāsa (1185 A.D.).6
Tradition says that Rsabha became a king at the very young age (pūrva varsa). He reigned for many years, then resigned for his sons. Having spent many years, he attained nirvāna on a mountain named Astapada which, Hemacandra says, is the same as Kailāśa. Tradition further says that he was the first who laid the foundation of Jaina religion.
Vacaspati? says in his Nyāya-vārttika-tātparya-tīkā that Buddha and Rsabha are the authors of the Buddhist and Jaina Āgama texts respectively. Hemacandra8 in his Laghvartha-niti says that Rşabha is the creator of rājanīti.
According to the Jaina tradition (also corroborated by the nonJain sources, such as, Bhagavata-skanda V, Vayupurāna, Visnupurana), it is mentioned that the doctrine of Ahimsā was first preached by Rşabha. According to them, Rşabha's period represents a complete change of world conditions. Prior to this, the country was called Bhogabhūmi (ʻland of enjoyment') where people were satisfied of all their wants by the mere wish through the help of the traditional kalpavrkşa. During the time of Rşabha these happy conditions completely disappeared and the people were in perplexity as to the way of life which they were expected to carry on with. Then they all went to Rsabha praying for help. He is said to have consoled them by showing the way of life. And through his people, he established a sort of social 4. Burges, ibid., p. 5.
Winternitz, ibid., p. 585. Majumdar, The Struggle for Empire, Vol. V, Bombay, 1957 p. 393f.
Burgess, ibid., p. 5. 8. K.K. Handique, ibid., p. 227.
ONO