________________
twenty-four Prophet-propounders (Tīrtharikaras)propounded and preached the faith to the people of their times. The first of these Tīrtharkaras was Lord Ķsabhadeva who lived and preached innumerable years ago and the last - twenty-fourth -- Tīrtharkara, Lord Mahāvīra, lived and preached nearly two and a half millenniums ago. The version of Jainism that we follow today was preached by Bhagvān Mahāvīra.
Historicity - The historicity of the Jaina tradition is amply borne out by both literary as well as archaeological evidence. The traditional history of the Jainas from the earliest times of the first Tīrthankara Lord Rsabhadeva (Circa third period of the present descendent time cycle) to the last Tīrtharkara Lord Mahā vīra (Circa 6th Century BC in the fourth period of the same phase of the current time cycle) can be traced from the events mentioned in the Jaina scriptures.
According to the Jaina tradition, ages ago the first Tīrthankara, Lord Rsabhadeva, was the initiator of the transition of the human civilisation from that of the culture of enjoyment (Bhoga samskrti in which one didn't have to work for one's livelihood as all one's needs were fulfilled by divine trees called Kalpavrksās) to that of the culture of action (Karma samskrti in which one had to work for one's livelihood). He also established the traditions of agriculture, education, warfare, state-craft, legal system, etc. Actually, before Him the society was led by the headmen who were called Kulakaras (Rsabha's father - Nābhirāj – was the last Kulakara) and He was the first ever king who ruled the country. After firmly establishing the systems of the society and the state and ruling for an immeasurably long period of time Rsabha relinquished His temporal powers in favour
I "Adimani Prthvināthani ca, ādimani Nisparigraham/ Adimani Tīrthanāthani ca, Śrī Ķsabhasvāminami stumaḥ //"
- Sakalārhat Stavan, 3
JAINISM : AN INTRODUCTION: 25
