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is being canalized for producing literary works under the auspices of the cultural institution the, Universal Welfare' union which was organized at the Adeeswara Bhavana with the blessings and cooperation on the late Yog Baffna Swami and some other ardent Sadhakas of the Ashram in order to reveal the universal truths proclaimed by tie first and foremost Omniscient Teacher Lord Rishabha rooted on the foundations of fraternity, Austerity and Non-sensuality.
I need not reiterate here that the sanctified soil of the Adeswara Rishabha shrine has a natural and miraculous charm to inspire the aspirant to lead the life of a seeker of self-realisation. I may invite truth seekers or read my brochure entitled the Adesswara Temple of Polal in which I have presented the ancient history, the sancity and serenity of this holy shrine celebrated in Tamilnadu as a great centre of worship, devotion and medication during the early centuries of the Christian era.
It is earnest desire that this monograph will be helpful to all truth seekers in understanding the reality of Religion, Rule and Reform originated by Bhagawan Rishabha in the dawn of world culture and civilization.
BHAGAWAN RISHABHA
Bhagawan Rishabha who is worshipped as the First Omniscient Teacher and the First Tirthankara by the followers of Jainism was born in the current cycle of Avasarpini, the descending era of time according to the holy scriptures, Ayodhya was his birth place Rishabha was born in Vasant Ashtami in the first month of autumn. His mother was Marudevi and father Nabhi Manu. According to literary and archeological evidence, it is claimed that Rishabha was the Father of Human Culture and Civilization. He is, therefor, called Adi Bhagawan Adinath,
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Adeshwara, Adidova and Adisjina The Hindus regard him as an incarnation of Mahavishnu.
This fact is authenticated by Bhagawat Purana. Rishabha is also extolled in the Vedas as the Almighty God. There are devotional hyms in the Vedas as well as in some Puranas in adoration of Rishabha. In the Buddhist Scriptures also could be found references about Rishabha as the early Buddha. The author of TIRUKURAL, the Tamil Veda extols Rishabha as Adi Bhagawan, the first Lord and the first Omniscient Teacher of mankind in the Appendix the given authentic data to substantials these facts.
When Rishabha was young, the people of 'Ayodhya requested Nabhi Manu to make him the rule of the country Accordingly, he was crowned as the first king of Ayodhya. The people became happy and obeyed him.
In the days of Rishabha, there prevailed great ignorance among the people. They did not know how to till the land and grow food crops. In the earlier periods, their ancestors lived prosperousiy and happily.
Most of the people lived in jungles and caves. They were simple, polite and modest. There was no social order among them. In the scriptures, these peope are called Yugliks. The life of these people in the early centuries of the AVASARPINI era was not so as compared to the life and social conditions prevalent in the centuries after the bitch of Rishabha. The advent of Rishabha ushered a new era of social progress,... intellectual awakening, learning and civilized ways of life in India.
The reform of Rishabha for the amelioration of the people to raise them from innocent life to the cultured and civilized ways of living were vast and varied. They were related to civics, economics, polity and religion. Rishabha was the first
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