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BHARAT CHAKRAVARTI
Bharat, the eldest son of the first Tirthankar, Bhagavan Rishabh Dev, was the first chakravarti emperor of this Avasarpini or the current regressive cycle of time. In spite of being the sovereign of a vast empire, chakravarti Bharat was detached and spiritually conscious. To annex the kingdoms of his ninety eight brothers and to fight with Bahubali was his Helplessness. He lead a life of a saintly king who moved from pleasures to abstention, violence to ahimsa, and euphoria of sovereignty to self discipline.
The Vedic tradition depicts Bharat as an accomplished yogi and devotee of God, and a great saint. But the Jain tradition believes him to be a saintly king who attained omniscience in his glass palace after enjoying the lofty mundane status of chakravarti. In Indian culture, besides chakravarti Bharat, the son of Rishabh, there are two other famous persons with the same name—Bharat, the son of Dushyant and Shakuntala, and Bharat the son of king Dasharath. According to the Jain narrative literature and Bhagavat Purana this subcontinent was named Bharat-kshetra (Bharat-varsh) after Rishabh's son Bharat.
This inspiring adaptation of the story of Bharat chakravarti has been penned by Acharya Shrimad Vijaya Jinottam Surishvar ji M. Sa, the successor of Pratishtha Shiromani revered Acharya Shrimad Vijaya Sushil Surishvar ji M. Sa. We express our gratitude for him.
Author: Acharya Shrimad Vijaya Jinottam Surishvar ji M.
Editor: Shrichand Surana 'Saras'
Managing Editors : Dr. Mansukhbhai Jain, Sanjay Surana
English Translation : Surendra Bothara
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