Adinatha Bhagwana

This document, titled "Adinatha Bhagwana" by the JAINA Education Committee, provides a comprehensive overview of the first Tirthankar in Jainism, Lord Rishabhdev, also known as Adinath.

The text begins by explaining the Jain concept of time, which is cyclical and divided into ascending (Utsarpini) and descending (Avasarpini) eras. Each era has six stages (aras). The current era is identified as the fifth stage of the Avasarpini Kal, equivalent to Kaliyuga in Hindu tradition.

In the earlier stages of the Avasarpini Kal, humans lived simple lives, with minimal needs met by nature. They had long lifespans, lived in communities, and were led by "Kulkars" or kings. The narrative focuses on King Nabhi, whose son was Rishabh. As the population grew, nature's abundance decreased, leading to hardship and conflict. King Nabhi entrusted the kingdom to his capable son, Rishabh.

Rishabh, a far-sighted and problem-solver, recognized the need for organized living. He taught people agriculture, textile production, pottery, cooking, construction, animal husbandry, and craftsmanship using stone, metal, and wood. This led to the establishment of the city of Vinitanagari, later known as Ayodhya. Rishabh also established the institution of marriage and family, introducing social norms and rules. It was during this period that he became known as Rishabhdev.

Rishabhdev had two queens, Sumangala and Sunanda, and ten sons and two daughters, Brahmi and Sundari. His most famous sons were Bharat and Bahubali. Bharat was a brave warrior and a capable king, with some believing India was named after him. Bahubali was known for his immense strength. Brahmi was a scholar and the progenitor of the Brahmi script, while Sundari was proficient in mathematics.

The turning point in Rishabhdev's life came when he witnessed a dancer's death during a performance. This event prompted him to contemplate the transient nature of life and the impermanence of all worldly things. He renounced his worldly possessions and kingdom, distributing it among his sons and 98 other princes. He then became an ascetic, along with 4,000 followers.

As an ascetic, Rishabhdev sought alms by going from house to house. However, people, accustomed to his royal status, offered him valuables like jewelry and property rather than food, believing simple food was not fitting for a king. This resulted in him observing prolonged fasts, approximately 40 days. On the occasion of Vaishakh Sud 3 (Akshaya Tritiya), his great-grandson Shreyans offered him sugarcane juice, breaking his fast. This event is celebrated as Akshaya Tritiya and is the basis for the Jain practice of Varshitap, a forty-day austerity, for laypeople.

Rishabhdev's followers struggled to adapt to ascetic life, being unable to forage for food as per Jain monastic rules. Rishabhdev then guided them on how to live as monks, emphasizing the need to accept alms from householders. After years of intense meditation and austerities, Rishabhdev attained Kevalgyan (omniscience) under a Vad tree on Phalguna Vad 11.

To guide humanity, he established the Chaturvidh Sangha, comprising monks (Sadhu), nuns (Sadhvi), laymen (Shravak), and laywomen (Shravika). His grandson Rishabhsen became the chief monk, and Brahmi and Sundari became the chief nuns. As the founder of the religious order in this descending era, Rishabhdev is revered as the first Tirthankar, Adinath (meaning the first Lord).

The text highlights that Lord Rishabhdev taught a moral and liberal way of living in worldly life. It also reiterates that offering pure alms to monks is a noble duty for laypeople. The act of offering food to ascetics is a way to express respect for them, and Shreyans' act of offering sugarcane juice is highly praised in Jain scriptures.