Shraman Bhagvana Mahavira Part 1

Author(s): Ratnaprabhvijay, D P Thaker
Publisher: Parimal Publication

Page 42

1. Naindram tad-Vardhamānam svasti na Iodro vriddhasra vām svastinab puruşā visva-devāḥ svasti nastākasyoristha nėmim svasti nah.
Just prior to his appearance in the world, the people were living in a golden age where they had everything necessary for life provided for them by Kalpa Võiksas. The earth itself was surrounded by a sort of lumiuous atmosphere shedding light over the surface of the earth and preventing a viw of the heavenly bodies-Sun, Moon and Stars. About the time of Risabha all these things disappeared. Heavenly bodies were seen by the people giving rise to succession of night and day. Kalpa Vriksas (trees) disappeared, throwing the people into a consternation, not knowing how to live. Under these circumstances, Risabha is said to have instructed the people to get on with different professions such as agriculture and trade, and taught them how to live at place. He also explained to them the significance of the appear ance of the Sun, the Moon, and other heavenly bodies so that their novelty need not be a source of fear to the people. Because of this work of social organisation leading to the settled life of people occupied in different vocations, Lord Risabha is very often described as a Creator of the World in the sense of Socio-economio foundation. After ruling over the land for several years he renounced the kingdom in favour of his son Bharata after whom the land is called Bharata-khanda (Bhārata - varsa ) and went to perform Tapas. After obtaining Sarvajña-hood or Omniscience, he spent several years in preaching the Dharma to the people, and finally obtained Nirvāṇa on Mount Kailāsa which is a sacred place according to the Jainas. For this achievement Lord Rişabba is designated at Adi Jina, Adi Bhagavāna, Adi Isvara, Yogisvara, Mahā yogi and such other names of adoration. For this cycle of time, therefore, Lord Rişabha is considered to be the first to preach Ahimsă Dharma, and to lay the found. ation of Jainism. We need not repeat the fact that this would take us to a far distant pre-historio period whose date cannot be acourately determined.