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26
History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
the twenty-four tirthařkaras ran almost on identical lines.78 All tirtharkaras were born in ksatriya royal families. All were averse to worldly life. All of them had very long lives, except Mahāvīra. Most of them ruled for long, and subsequently renounced the world as a result of illuminations. They practised asceticism and attained moksa after founding a community of disciples. Jainism believes in two kalpas or cycles each of which has two eras named avasarpiņi and utsarpinī; these two eras are divided into six ages or kālas.79 According to the Jaina works the Samvāya, the Kalpasūtra and the Ayasyaka Niryukti, Rsabha, the first tīrthamkara, was born in the third age, i.e., the period of happiness and sorrow, and the remaining twenty-three tīrthamkaras were born in the fourth age, i.e., the period of sorrow and happiness. 80
Rsabha - the first tirthamkara
According to the Jaina tradition, Rsabha, called Rsabhanātha, $1 Rsabhadeva, 82 Usabha,83 Vrsabha,84 Vrsabhanātha,85 Adinātha, 86 Adiśvara Bhagvān,87 was the first jina and the first tirthařkara.88 He was born in the third age (susmādusmā) or the period of happiness and sorrow89 at Vinītanagar,90 i.e., Ayodhya.91 His father Nābhi and mother Marudevī were the king and the
78. See the volumes of Hemacandra's Trişastiśalākāpuruşacarita, tr. into English by H.M.
Johnson and published from Baroda. 79. LDJC, p. 371. 80. Ibid., fn 2. 81. JI, p. 50; JAA, I, p. 14. 82. OISJ, p. 66. 83. LDJC, p. 371. 84. ERE, VII, p. 466; OISJ, p. 66. 85. JI, p.50. 86. OIS), p. 66; GD, p. 14; GEAMI, I, p. 43; JAA, I, p. 14. 87. Ibid., p. 66. 88. LDJC, p. 19. 89. Ibid., p. 371 fn 2. 90. OISJ, p. 66; JAA, I, p. 14; HGAI, p. 67. 91. LDJC, p. 19; GEAMI, I, p. 43; HGAI, p. 67; GD, p. 14.
