Bhagwan Rushabhdev

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Bhagwan Rushabhdev" by Kumarpal Desai, based on the provided pages:

This book, published by Shri Jaibhikkhu Sahitya Trust, is part of the "Jain Darshan Parichay Shreni-2" (Introduction to Jain Philosophy Series-2) and focuses on Bhagwan Rushabhdev. The series aims to provide a true understanding of religion and introduce the multifaceted aspects of Jain philosophy and the luminous figures who shaped their lives through this eternal philosophy. The trust intends to publish fifty such books. The publication of this series has been supported by Shri U. N. Mehta and his wife, Sharda Bahen.

The book highlights the immense need for a true understanding of religious principles in a world where religion is sometimes reduced to mere rituals and traditions or exploited for selfish motives. It emphasizes that the lives of religious figures and the values of humanity are crucial for spiritual growth.

The narrative of Bhagwan Rushabhdev begins with a beautiful story set in Jambudweep, in the glorious Bharatkhand, on the banks of the Saryu river, in the magnificent city of Vinitanagari. It is described as the story of Mother Earth and the first, best human son.

In that era, the land was fertile with sweet fruits and sugarcane-like water. However, human life was changing. Traits like affection, gentleness, and simplicity were giving way to conflict, disputes, and hoarding.

One day, a fearsome animal, described as a walking mountain with immense strength, appeared in the forest. The people, terrified, named it "Haathi" (elephant) and began to worship it as a deity of fear.

Then, a man appeared in the forest, small in comparison to the elephant but possessing an extraordinary aura. While people feared the elephant, they felt affection for this man. When the elephant charged, frightening animals and people alike, this man fearlessly approached it, speaking with love and asserting that true courage lies in not fearing and not causing fear in others. This act of love and non-violence triumphed over the brute force of the elephant, marking a new chapter in history. The animal strength of the elephant was overcome by the spiritual strength of the man, demonstrating an unknown power within humans. The elephant bowed its head, and the man petted it. Animals began to see humans as friends. The man, named Vimalvahak, was carried by the elephant.

Vimalvahak then began to organize the people. He established families, and because he was the founder of lineages, he was called the first "Kulakar" (lineage-maker). As people began to live closer, conflicts arose over resources. The Kulakars, including Vimalvahak and his successors, guided people to share and earn through hard work. Over time, six Kulakars established a three-tiered system of discipline:

1. Hakar (Reproach): "What are you doing?"
2. Makar (Disapproval): "This should not be done!"
3. Dhikar (Condemnation): "Shame! What have you done?"

This system continued until the seventh Kulakar, Nabhidev, whose son was born as Vrishabhdhwaj, or Rushabhdev.

Rushabhdev, then a prince, showed people how to process grains by rubbing them between their palms and soaking them in water, as fruits and leaves were difficult to digest. He also taught them to cook food using fire and to use clay to make vessels. This marked the beginning of science and sculpture. He taught people to build houses, create clothing, and develop various arts.

As material possessions increased, so did disputes. People started coming to Rushabhdev to settle their disagreements. Recognizing his wisdom and impartiality, they unanimously decided to make him their king. Thus, Rushabhdev became the first king, known as the "Adi Prithvi Nath" (First Lord of the Earth).

As king, he initiated several beneficial practices. He taught the people that the Earth is like a mother and there is no need to kill animals for sustenance. He advocated friendship with all creatures, stating that this friendship would create heaven on Earth. He emphasized that the Earth would provide ample food and water, and by domesticating animals, they would receive milk, and the animals would assist in farming. He also changed the practice of incestuous marriages, encouraging people to form bonds with other communities, creating a sense of universal kinship.

Rushabhdev performed "Shat Yagya" (hundred sacrifices), which led to the prosperity of his people. He trained numerous sculptors. However, he realized that providing material comforts was not enough. People needed spiritual guidance. He understood that the world was prone to laziness, driven by selfish desires, and anger. He saw that people were engrossed in transient pleasures, forgetting the importance of renunciation.

He observed that people were entangled in the cycle of karma and suffering due to their vices like greed, anger, and attachment to senses. He felt the need to teach them the path of liberation from karma, the importance of peace, non-violence, love, and forgiveness. He taught the value of renunciation.

Rushabhdev instilled humanity in people and laid the foundation for ethical principles. He established society, its ethics, and the state with its policies. He taught the institution of marriage, bringing divinity to human relationships, and imparted various practical skills. He also introduced the four political strategies: Shama (conciliation), Daam (giving), Dand (punishment), and Bhed (differentiation).

He trained his son, Prince Bharat, in various arts and skills. His son Bahubali was made an expert in the characteristics of elephants, horses, women, and men. His daughter Brahmī was taught eighteen scripts, and Sundari received knowledge of mathematics. He also established the four castes: Ugra, Bhaga, Rajanya, and Kshatriya.

The people became skilled in all the cultural practices introduced by Rushabhdev. Farmers worked justly, and Kshatriyas conducted sugarcane farming ethically. Cattle keepers treated their animals with kindness, and people refrained from stealing from each other. Parents fulfilled their duties, and couples lived with affection. The entire world began to function with a structured order.

Now, the time had come for Rushabhdev to establish the "Dharmateerth" (religious pilgrimage or order), the most essential thing for the world. Two million years before his birth, his son Prince Padma ascended to the throne, and 6.3 million years before that, he took on the responsibility of the kingdom. Now, he had to renounce his kingdom to establish Dharma. He saw the need to guide people away from worldly attachments and to show them the path of Dharma. He understood that if Dharma was not established, people would mistake the transient kingdom for the true kingdom, and humans would remain lost in the illusion of the temporary body. Without Dharma, kings would not remain kings, and subjects would not remain subjects; the world would become a den of thieves and robbers.

He believed that without demonstrating the greatness of giving, people would only take. Without showing the path to a good death, life would be filled with misery. Without demonstrating innocent conduct, the law of the strong would prevail, leading to unimaginable suffering for all. Therefore, he felt compelled to introduce Dharma based on renunciation, penance, self-control, and kindness. He believed that any religious philosophy should first be embodied by the proponent himself. He had to live the Dharma not just through his words but through his actions and conduct.

While immersed in these thoughts, the Lokantik Devas (celestial beings) from the fifth heaven arrived, admiring the beauty of the Vatsavutsav festival. They found the Earth to be like heaven and prayed to Rushabhdev, "O Lord! Please establish Dharma and bring welfare to the world!" Rushabhdev smiled and responded. The Lokantik Devas departed. With the intention of establishing Dharma, Rushabhdev returned to the royal palace.

The people celebrated the festival joyfully. However, upon returning to the palace, Rushabhdev announced his decision to renounce the kingdom and embrace asceticism. This news caused great distress to his sons, including Bharat, his loyal ministers, and his subjects, who considered him like their own children.

The people had no knowledge of Dharma and were distraught at the thought of separation from their beloved Lord. Shri Rushabhdev meticulously divided his kingdom, instructing Crown Prince Bharat to take the throne and making other political arrangements. He also initiated the practice of "Samvatsarik Dan" (annual charity) for a year, announcing through town criers that anyone in need should come and receive whatever they wished. After a year of such generous giving, the time for renunciation arrived.

On a beautiful morning, as the Chaitra month brought new life to the trees, the Lord of the Earth, having renounced everything, prepared for his great departure. He let his long hair fall on his back, removed his footwear and crown, and clad in a single loincloth, stepped out of the Ashoka grove. The wind carried the news of his departure, and people rushed to see him. Their question was: "What new attainment does the Lord seek by abandoning the wealth for which the world strives?"

His mother, Marudeva, pleaded with him not to leave, feeling darkness descend. His wife, Sumangala, held his feet and begged him to take her with him, in life or death. His sons, Bahubali, Sundari, and Brahmī, stood by, shedding tears.

Rushabhdev comforted them, explaining that everyone must eventually depart and that hope of light follows darkness, and happiness follows sorrow. He urged them to embrace sorrow and seek the happiness within it, asking them not to feel attachment to him like a bird attached to its nest.

He then addressed his relatives and subjects, explaining his departure for a great quest, to provide a new order to the world. He stated that silence, solitude, and introspection would be his companions. He was renouncing worldly possessions, affection, honor, and dishonor. He was embarking on this journey to realize his grand dream and to bestow a new governance upon the world, where people would remain good and pure not out of fear but from their own conscience. He aspired for a world where human beings were united, equal, and free, like links in a chain, contributing to the welfare of all creation.

He advised Bharat to make "Namo Arihantanam" his life mantra, urging him to conquer inner enemies. He cautioned Bharat against pride and advised him to uplift both Aryavarta and his soul. He told Bahubali to be invincible, not just in victory but in accepting defeat with grace, and to focus on inner invincibility. He advised Sundari that true beauty lies in the soul, and external beauty without inner harmony is dangerous. He instructed Brahmī to create a language that would carry the best of humanity's heritage to the future. He advised Vrishabhshri that men and women are two halves of a complete soul, and though they may be separate, they should unite in marriage. He guided Devayash to be compassionate and understand the roots of crime, and to see the world with a good perspective. He advised Suryadev to balance love and duty, and to win people's hearts rather than crush them.

To the anxious citizens, he reiterated his quest for understanding life, death, and suffering. He declared that he had established their settlements and provided them with governance in agriculture, trade, and craftsmanship, and that he was now moving towards universal love. He wished for a world where people acted righteously by their own nature, not by fear.

When asked about sustenance, he advised trusting in nature's bounty and working with love, emphasizing that sharing from one's harvest brings joy. He warned against hoarding, as it breeds theft and violence. He described the body as a tool for good deeds and advised maintaining unity and radiating fragrance in development and destruction. He spoke of love purifying the mind and faith as a guiding light. He urged them to speak from the heart and to be discerning, like finding pearls in the ocean. He explained that a king is not a mad elephant but a controlling force for the people, who are like elephants; when they walk straight, they need no control. He described happiness and sorrow as inseparable, like sweetness and sourness in a mango. He advised receiving and giving with love, but preferring to give. He stressed the importance of considering others' needs and that acting for others' well-being ultimately benefits oneself. He emphasized living with discretion in all actions, as excess can spoil even the best of things.

He advised against pride and to recognize true worth. He spoke of the importance of effort and perseverance, comparing deep waters to sweeter waters. He explained Yagya (sacrifice) as an offering of oneself and one's inner impurities. He described youth as a gentle breeze, not a storm, and advised them to color others with their spirit. He stressed the importance of righteousness, fulfilling duties, honoring parents, being loyal to friends, and respecting women.

Finally, standing under an Ashok tree in a grove outside the city, Rushabhdev declared that his silence and actions would now guide them. He explained the need for a rigorous spiritual practice to prepare himself, drawing his bowstring to aim his arrow effectively at his goal. He then plucked his own hair, marking the beginning of his asceticism. His mother and wife fainted upon seeing this.

After his initiation, it is mentioned that he attained "Manahparyav Gnan" (mind-reading knowledge) at the insistence of Indra. His mother Marudeva and Sumangala fainted, while others wept. The atmosphere was filled with sorrow, but the Lord remained calm and moved forward with steady steps.

The book then describes the arduous journey of Rushabhdev, enduring hunger and thirst, and the refusal of people to understand his need for pure, blameless food. It highlights the spiritual suffering he underwent and the fact that even great ascetics face hardships. It contrasts his solitary journey with the groups of kings who eventually gave up following him, finding the penance too difficult.

The narrative then shifts to the city of Hastinapur, where the citizens are astonished to see their Lord, the King of the Three Worlds, walking alone and barefoot, without any royal insignia. They are heartbroken and question what he could possibly need. People offer him gifts of wealth, jewels, animals, and even their daughters, but he accepts nothing, remaining silent and moving forward.

The citizens, realizing their king's profound detachment, seek the wisdom of King Somayash. However, Somayash, along with Prince Shreyans and merchant Subuddhi, is contemplating significant dreams they have all had. Their dreams involve the prince rescuing the king, purifying a darkened mountain with nectar, and the sun regaining its lost rays. These dreams are interpreted as a sign of auspicious events to come, likely involving Prince Shreyans.

The arrival of Bhagwan Rushabhdev at their gates is seen as a divine opportunity. Prince Shreyans, deeply moved by his presence, rushes to meet him, offering his own hair to clean the Lord's feet. He then recalls his past lives with Rushabhdev and realizes that he is destined to be the one to break the Lord's vow of silence and hunger.

Shreyans understands that Rushabhdev's year-long fast was not a rejection of their offerings but a quest for pure, blameless food. He brings sugarcane juice, which is considered pure and acceptable. The Lord extends his hand to accept it, and Shreyans joyfully pours the juice, which fills the Lord's alms bowl and overflows. This act of offering pure sustenance to the ascetical Lord is celebrated as a great merit, fulfilling Shreyans' destiny and granting him spiritual liberation. The day of Vaisakha Shukla Tritiya is thus marked by the offering of sugarcane juice.

The book elaborates on the concept of "Dana" (giving), emphasizing that the sincerity of the giver's heart is more important than the object itself. Shreyans explains the principles of monasticism and his past lives, including his role as a charioteer to Vajranabh, a Chakravarti, and his previous encounters with Rushabhdev in different life forms. He clarifies the significance of their dreams and how his offering of sugarcane juice to Rushabhdev, who was weakened by his fast, symbolized the purification and restoration of the Lord's spiritual radiance.

The people learn about the ephemeral nature of wealth, power, and worldly pleasures, and the importance of Dharma and spiritual pursuit. They understand the concept of karma and how past actions can affect even the most virtuous. The story of the hungry bullocks and the farmer illustrates the consequences of cruelty to animals and the importance of compassion.

Finally, the book mentions that after initiating his disciples and establishing a sangha (community) of monks and nuns, Bhagwan Rushabhdev attained Keval Gyana (omniscience) after a thousand years. He preached the principles of non-violence, truthfulness, honesty, chastity, and contentment. He established the first Jain sangha, making him the first Tirthankara. The book lists the vast number of his disciples and followers and concludes with his liberation on Mount Ashtapad. The practice of remembering Bhagwan Adinath upon waking is mentioned as a tradition.

The book also includes lists of Bhagwan Rushabhdev's previous lives, the dreams of his mother Marudevi, the composition of his sangha, the categories of his disciples based on their spiritual attainments, and the names of his eighty-four sons and two daughters, Brahmī and Sundari.