Jain Journal 1968 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 48

134
JAIN JOURNAL
Pasupati, Ugra, Asina, Bhava, Mahadeva, Isana, Kumara, etc.,—the various names of Rudra, are but all adjectives of Agni. This has been corroborated by the Hymn to Rsabha There while eulogizing him by various adjectives he has been referred to as Jatavedasa.
In the Bhāgavata Purāņa it has been said that Rsabha was born from the womb of Marudevi and founded the religion of wind-girdledo (vātarašanā) ascetics. The wind-girdled ascetics are none other than the Jaina monks and this has been ably demonstrated by Muni Nathmal (Jain Bhārati, Research Volume, 2020 Vikrama Sambat). According to the Siva Mahāpurāņa, Rsabha is considered as one of the twentyeight Yoga-incarnations of Siva. From the view-point of chronology this incarnation is much older than that of Rama and Krisna. Here also it has been stated that he chose this particular incarnation for founding the religion of the wind-girdled ascetics. This reference definitely connects the line of śramana ascetics with the oldest extant book the Rgveda of the Indian literature. In the Rgveda & Kesi, the foremost amongst the wind-girdled ascetics, has been eulogized thus. :
keśyagni kesi bişam kesibivarti rodasi kesi višvam svadsse kesīdam jyotirucyate
Kesi is Agni, Kesi hath no equal, Kesi envelops the earth and the heaven. Kesi is like the universe. Kesi is stated to be the luminary.
A comparison of the practice of Kesi and the wind-girdled ascetics of the Rgveda with that of śramaņa ascetics and of their leader Rsabha brings to light the pre-historic chapter of the Indian Spiritualism and its founder. Even today the Jainas worship Rsabha as Kesin as has been referred to in the Vedic literature. Of the twentyfour Tirthankaras only Rsabha is shown with hair.
In the Taittariya Samhitā? a prayer has been offered to Siya or Rsabha where it has been stated that he should lead his followers by the mild way and not by his own way which is arduous. Not to lead them by the arduous way refers to the austerities practised by the Jainas. And hence he has been requested to lead them by the mild way. On the one hand in the Hymn to Rudra, Rudra is addressed as ominscient Rsabha and on the other in the Bājasaneyi8 and Taittariya Samhitā he has been shown as Pasupati. From this it is clear that Rudra, Rsabha and Pasupati are not three different personalities but manifestation of the same personality under different circumstances.