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they not only paved the way for comfortable living but also enlightened mankind on the basic rules of morality and goodness.
Rishabha
The last Manu Nabhi had a wife by name Marudevi who gave birth to a son by name Risabha. Jaina tradition is unanimous in recognizing Risabha as the first Trithankara. Samantabhadra says:
;su iz.khr izFkq /keZrhFkZe-A
T;s "Be tuk% izkl; t;fUr nq%[ke-AA
Yena pranitam prathu dharma - tirtham,
Jyestham Janah prapya jayanti duhkham.
"A Tirthankara is one who has laid down the principles of the highest religion with whose assistance people can conquer their sorrows." He is also called Arihanta or one who has conquered all enemies like lust, greed, etc. and has destroyed all the destructive Karmas; his other name is Arhat or one who is worthy of respect. European scholars have interpreted the term Tirthankara as meaning "a holy teacher", or "a ford-maker" or "remover of all obstacles on the way to salvation", or "boatman across the current of existence". The royal emblem of Risabha was the bull. Since he taught people how to grow sugarcane, his lineage came to be known as Iksvaku-vamsa. He taught people the art of domesticating animals and the use of bulls for cultivation of lands. He laid down and followed the path for Ahimsa and Truth. He organized the society into three occupational groups: agriculturists, traders and soldiers. The last group consisted of only able bodied men who could defend the country and maintain order in society. He ruled over his kingdom for several years. He had many sons, but of them, Bharata and Bahubali are quite well-known. He led a life of great piety and purity.
As a matter of fact, Lord Risabha laid the foundation of civic life and taught men how to co-operate with one another for mutual benefit. He taught 72 arts to men and 64 fine arts to women which included writing, painting, music etc. But the most important of his worldly teaching was the cultivation of grains and manufacturing of pots. As such Prof. Lothar Wendel is right to call him "the Father of agriculture and culture the greatest achievement of which was the recognition of soul, the basic fundamental for the sanctity of all life and for the manifestation of Ahimsa."
The details of his life as given in the Mahapurana and Padmapurana of the Jainas are corroborated by the Hindu Puranas like the Bhagavat and Shivapurana. When Risabha was ruling his kingdom making the lives of his subjects happy and purposeful, an event of great significance occurred. While he was sitting one day in his Darbar, a dancer by name Nilamjana was brought there to dance. She began her dance to the accompaniment of music and when she had reached
