Risabha Deva

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

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RISABHA DEVA
object to stand before it before it can reflect its image. All ideas--the entirety of knowledje --lie buried in the being of the soul, obscured by karma, and only need the removal of the obscuring cause to become an actuality of possession. Risabha Deva became omniscient because He destroyed the veil of karma that was preventing the fullness of His soul's inherent knowledge from becoming minifest. All souls acquire omniscience prior to entering nirvana.
Such an event as the acquisition of omniscience was not likely to remain unobserved. The devas perceiv ed it from the specific signs which accompany it in their regions, and flocked to worship the World TEACHER now become really qualified to teach and preach the Truth. Under instiuctions from the Lord of the first heaven, a heavenly Pavilion (the Samxvasarana) was erected for the Lords Preaching, by celestial artisans. The WORLD TEACHER sat in this Pavilion, above a huge golden !otus: placed on a throne of heavenly gems, but so as not to touch it, sitting about a couple of inches above the lotus in the air. Here did the devas and men who learnt of the lllumination of the Lord flock together to worship the SOURCE of Life and LIGHT.
The following text from the Atharva Veda will be found to possess a great deal of real significance for the student of Comparative Religion; it un loubtedly, refers to Risabha Deva Himself :--
“ For a whole year he stood erect. The gods said unto him, Why standest thou, O Vratya? He answered and said, Let them bring my couch. They brought the couch for that Vrutya. ............. The