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As he was the first of the tirthankaras he is also known as Adinath or Adideva, foremost among the tirthankaras. Mahavir was the last tirthankara.
It is to be noted that Jainism is a shramana parampara, ie, a monastic tradition, as opposed to orthodox Hinduism, which is a Vedic parampara; this also is what the Bhagavata Purana mentions.
It was during the last part of the third 'Ara' of the current descending cycle of time that the great soul that was to become Rishabhdev descended into the womb of Marudevi. In the ancient Jain scriptures it is mentioned that during many previous births, the soul that was to be Rishabhdev had done prolonged spiritual practices. As a result of a high degree of purity of thoughts and attitude as well as penance, meditation, charity and benevolent deeds it had earned highly pious karmas.
In his incarnation as Dhanna, the caravan leader, he had offered alms and services to ascetics and others. As doctor Jivanand he had taken good care of ailing masses as well as ascetics. As King Vajranabh he had supported poor and desolate masses, renounced the world and become an ascetic. Thus, he earned Tirthankaranam-and-gotra-karma which resulted in his taking birth as Rishabhdev.
On the eighth day of the dark half of the month of Chaitra, around midnight, Marudevi gave birth to twins. Next morning King Nabhiraja organized the birth celebrations. He invited his friends and relatives to a feast and announced, "As there is a sign of a bull on the thigh of the new born, and Marudevi saw a bull in her great dreams, we name this child “Rishabh Kumar." His twin will be known as "Sumangala".
Rishabh Kumar was married to a girl named Sunanda whose twin had died in an accident. This was the beginning of the marriage system. He was also married to his twin Sumangala in a ceremony that was arranged by the gods. Prince Rishabh led a happy married life. In due
shantidoot | messenger of peace
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