Risabha Deva

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 10

INTRODUCTION
calls Rishabha Deva the ANCESTOR OF THE KsitaTRIYA CLAN:The English translation of the text is as follows:
“I shall relate the family of Nabhi, know that he flourished in the country called Hima; he begot on Maru Devi, Rishabha Deva of bright radiance who was the best of kings, and the ancestor of the kshatriya clan. To Rishabha was born Bharat,... Prompted by the spirit of world flight, Rishabha Deva gave Hima, which is in the south, to his son Bharat. In the Kurma Purana guia of the Hindus it is said:
"In the land called Hima, Rishabha of great brilliance was born to the great Nabhi from Maru Devi. To Rishabha was born Bharat, who was a great Hero."
From an account in the Markandey Purana ANAT.a gera ( of the Hindus ) we learn some further particulars of Rishabha Deva's history.
'Rishabha's son was Bharat and Rishabha performed the installation ceremony of Bharat and entered sannyasa (sainthood); and, abiding in vanaprastha stage, the fortunate one, performed austerities. The country of Hima, which is to the south, was given to Bharat by his father, and came therefore to be known as Bharatavarsha, after his name. Bharat had a virtuous son by name Sumati."
According to the Kurma Purana the body of Rishabha Deva had become very feeble from austerities. He 'was naked, and reduced to a skeleton, according to the Vishnu Puran. Further confirmta ion of the story is to be found in the Agneya plan and the Bhagwat Purana.