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Lord Mahåvira
frequently mentioned. Tîrthankara Rishabhadeva propounded this doctrine first of all that man can attain godliness by developing his spiritual powers. God dwells in every soul. One who reveals his divine nature through spiritual discipline becomes God. His doctrine is confirmed by the following couplet of Rigveda.
Catvâri sringa trayo asya pâdâ Dve Sîrse sapta hastâso asya. Tridha baddho urisabho roraviti Maho devo martyâmąvivesa.
The Vrishabha (Rishabhadeva) who has four horns (peaks of spiritual ascension-infinite knowledge, faith, righteousness and strength), three legs (Right Saith, knowledge and conduct), two heads (omniscience and perfection), seven hands (vows) and who has controlled the triple activities of life through mind, body and speech has pronounced it that Mahâ deva (the Great God) dwells inside the bosom of the man.
In the Atharva Veda (19/42/4) and yajurveda this doctrine is referred to.
According to the Jainas Tîrthankara Rishabhadeva was the first maker Manu or Kulakara of the human civilization. Who millions of years ago founded a society based on non-violences and delivered to it the massage of humanitrianism. Naturaly he was adored throughout the Indian nation. Even in foreign countries he was reportedly worshipped as “sun-god” or of agriculture or rain." In the eastern nations like China and Japan his name and achievements are still alive. His name occurs in the chinese Tripitaka texts. Japanese call him Rokshab. In the languages of the central Asians, Egyptians, Greeks, Phoenicians he was called “Rashepha' which is a slightly changed form of Rishabha. Literally it means "the god with horns". A study of Shiva Purâna makes the matter clearer. As a matter of fact Rishabhadeva and Shiva are supported by many proofs to be identical. The Babylonian civilization was a product of the combined development of the cultures of Alkada & Sumer. It is regarded to be a very ancient civilization. The rock-inscriptions of its king Hammuravî (21332081 B.C.) regard Bull (Vrishabha) as the God of Heaven and Earth. Sumerians worshipped many gods. They worshipped Bull (Vrishabhadeva) as the God of Agriculture and called him Abû or Thammuz. The Egyptians regarded Sun god as the creator of
