________________
HISTORY AND TIRTHAMKARAS
37
history - and the benefits have been reaped by everyone on this earth, of all cultures and in all times, including our own. Rishabha led a just and stable government for a long period. Until today the professions he initiated have remained the permitted professions for Jains until today: that of the military, of writing, of the agriculturist, tradesman and artisan.
The spiritual Rishabha
But other things were waiting for him. Until then he had occupied himself with the material and moral well-being of humankind. But by nature he was spiritually inclined, and in his character he had always shown himself to be but little attached to worldly matters. His next assignment, due to his accumulated Tīrthamkara karma, was to work for the spiritual perfection of humankind. But to be able to fulfill his task, he himself had to undergo the most thorough spiritual training by withdrawing from the world and practicing ascetism, so that the unstained and omniscientạo nature of his soul could finally express itself to its full, unlimited extent.
The story goes that, as had been the case with so many in history, something had to happen in the life to wake him up. In the Buddhist tradition the eyes of Prince Siddhārtha were opened to the needs of the world by his direct encounter with old age, disease and death, and Gandhi would probably never had become the liberator of his people if the South African authorities hadn't thrown him ignominiously off a train for of not having a white skin. A similar event was to happen to King Rishabha.
One spring day many courtiers and citizens were attending court.. They were watching a performance by an excellent female dancer. Her name was Nilānjala, the “Blueeyed Beauty.” The public was completely obsessed with her. Rishabha, too, was completely absorbed in watching the performance. Suddenly, in the middle of her dance activity the dancer collapsed, and her body disappeared from the stage. But immediately she was replaced by another dancer so that
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
