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Rşabhadeva can be found in Vişņu Purāņa", Padmapurāņa, DeviBhāgavat“, Matsya Purana', and almost all other Purāņas.
In Buddhist literature Rşabhadeva is introduced in these words – “Son of Prajāpati was Nābhi. His son was Rşabha who was very determined and successful. His yaksa (a species of lower gods) was Manidhara. He became Siddha (liberated) on Himavāna Mountain. The name of his son was Bharata.”6
The fact is that Rşabhadeva has been an omnipresent personage. If efforts are made in the direction of establishing a fundamental harmony of all religions, I am confident that personality of Rşabhadeva will prove to be of immense help. Points of unity within the diversity of religions can be explored through Bhagavāna Rşabhadeva.
THE NIRVĀŅA OF BHAGAVĀNA
Bhagavāna spent a long time edifying people on the path of liberation and in the end came to the Astāpada Mountain (Mount Kailash). On Māgha Krsņā fourteenth he destroyed the remaining nonvitiating karmas and attained nirvana. He became Siddha Paramātmā. He reached the unveiled state of pure soul. He became eternally liberated from the cycles of reincarnation. Being the place where he attained nirvana Mount Kailash became Siddha Kśetra (area of the accomplished) and Tirtha kśetra (pilgrimage).
THE BATTLE OF BHARATA AND BĀHUBALI
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When he became king, Bharata found that the nation was divided into small kingdoms. He thought, "A strong and well organized nation will have to be built by uniting all the kingdoms. My respected father had given the nation a cultural unity. I will have to try and transform this cultural unity into political unity." Coming to this conclusion he set out for a conquest with his large army. In his armour there was a disc like weapon. It was called Cakra. It was like a nuclear powered missile. When this wheel shaped missile was launched it emitted fire in all directions. It was so designed that it could not be countered with any available weapon and nothing could stop it. After destroying its target it returned like a boomerang.
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