Study of Jainism

Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 38

Tirilankara Rşabhadeva
This is considered to be the first partaking of the food by Rsabhadeva after his renunciation. For the Jainas this was an auspicious day and it is called Akşaya Tritiya.
23
For a long long time Rsabha practised penance and meditation. During his wanderings he visited many places, many villages and towns. One day he sat under the Banyan tree for deep meditation. It was the eleventh day (Ekadasi) of the dark part of the Phalguna month (Phalguna Krişna Ekadasi). In the early hours of the morning he reached the highest state of transendental meditation and was absorbed in the realisation of the self. He became free from all Ghati Karmas (obscuring karmas). He was now the Arihanta (conquerer of the passions) and the enlightened one. This was the State of Kevala Jñana. He became the Jina.52
In this Kaivalya-hood he decided to lead the living beings towards spiritual path. He gave the sermon (pravacana). His sermon was heard with rapt attention and reverence. The congragation consisted not only of human beings but also of heavenly deities and lower animals This was the samavasaraṇa. He said then, "the aim of life is not Bhōga (indulgence in sense pleasures) but tyaga (self-denial and sacrifice) for the sake of others. Life is not for attachment (Raga) but it is for detachment (Vairagya) for the sake of self-realisation. Do not fall a prey to instincts and impulses. But make efforts towards the realisation of the self. 59 Tirthankara Rṣabhadeva preached the five mahavratas to the munis (monks) and the twelve lesser vows (aņuvratas and other Vratas) to the Sravakas (citizens).54 Having listened to his sermons Bharata and his brothers, including his sister Sundari, accepted the Sravaka dharma. Bhagawan Mahavira the twenty fourth tirthanakara refers, in his sermons, that he is carrying the tradition of the teachings of the first tirthankara.55 In the Brahmanda Purana we get the description of the teachings of Rşabha mentioning the ten-fold vows. 56 The Bhagavata refers to the sermons of Rṣabhadeva as leading to Mokṣa dharma (renunciation for mokṣa) ̧37 Rşabha tirthankara established the tirtha of the four-fold division of the followers of his teachings which consisted of (1) Sramana (monks), (2) Sramaņi (nuns) (3) Sravaka (lay men follower) and (4) Sravika (lay women followers).