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Adinath tirthankar story
Here is a simple, traditional Jain story of Bhagwan Ādināth (Rishabhdev), the 1st Tirthankar of the current time-cycle.
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1. Birth and early life
- Name: Bhagwan Ādināth / Rishabhdev
- Time: First Tirthankar of the present avasarpinī (descending half of time-cycle).
- Father: King Nābhirāja
- Mother: Queen Marudevī
- Birthplace: Vinītā / Ayodhyā (also called Ikṣvāku-nagari).
Before his birth, Queen Marudevī saw 16 auspicious dreams (Shwetāmbars usually say 14 dreams). These dreams showed that a very great and pure soul was going to take birth. So, from the beginning, everyone knew this child was special.
The baby was named Rishabh (meaning: the foremost, the best), hence also called Rishabhdev and Ādināth (“first Lord”).
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2. A time when there was no civilization
At that time, people lived a very simple, almost animal-like life:
- They did not know farming.
- They did not know writing or counting.
- They did not know trades, arts, or social rules.
Bhagwan Rishabhdev, as a prince and later a king, organized human life. This is why he is also remembered as the “founder of civilization” in Jain tradition.
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3. Teaching people how to live (Asi, Masi, Krishi, Vidyā)
As a king, he taught people all the basic arts needed for living. Traditionally, we say he gave seventy-two (72) types of knowledge/skills, of which four are very famous:
- Asi (आसि) – Use of weapons / defence
- Taught people how to protect themselves and maintain order. - Gave rise to the Kṣhatriya tradition.
- Masi (मसि) – Script / writing / ink
- Introduced writing, counting, record-keeping. - Gave rise to the Vāṇik (traders), writers, scholars etc.
- Krishi (कृषि) – Agriculture
- Taught ploughing, sowing, harvesting, storing grains, etc. - People learned to settle, cultivate land, and live in cities.
- Vidyā (विद्या) – Various arts and sciences
- Taught crafts, industries, music, trade skills, etc. - Helped build a well-organized society.
He also established basic social order like:
- Different vargas / groups according to work (similar to varṇa, but in Jainism it is seen as work-based, not birth-based superiority).
- Rules of marriage, family life, and governance.
Because of all this, he is called the first king (Ādi-rājā) and first teacher (Ādi-guru) of humanity.
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4. Family and kingdom
Bhagwan Rishabhdev married and had children. Two famous sons are:
- Bharat – After whom Bhārat-varṣa (India) is named in Jain tradition.
- Bāhubalī – Known for his great strength and, later, deep meditation and victory over inner passions.
He ruled his kingdom with dharma, non-violence, and justice. The people were peaceful and prosperous under his rule.
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5. Turning towards renunciation
One day, Bhagwan Rishabhdev saw that:
- All material things are temporary.
- Body, wealth, kingdom, family – everything is perishable.
- Real happiness is not in outside objects but in inner purity and self-realization.
This deep understanding created vairāgya (detachment) in his heart.
He decided to renounce everything and start the path that leads to Keval Jñān (omniscience) and finally Moksha (liberation).
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6. Great renunciation (Dīkshā)
On a very grand occasion, he distributed his entire kingdom, wealth, and responsibilities:
- Gave the kingdom to his son Bharat.
- Gave proper positions and duties to other sons and subjects.
Then, in a great ceremony, he plucked his hair by hand (kesh-lonch), wore simple monk’s clothes (and later became sky-clad, as per Digambar tradition), and accepted muni dīkshā – the vow of a Jain monk.
From this point, he lived a life of:
- Sāmāyik, prāyashchitta, meditation
- Ahimsā, truth, non-possession, celibacy
- Constant effort to purify his soul from karmas.
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7. First year without food (Akṣaya Tr̥tīyā story)
Because people had never seen a monk before, they did not know how to offer proper alms (gochari) according to Jain rules (pure, simple, no attachment, no expectation, etc.).
So even when he went for gochari, no one could give suitable food in the right manner. As a result, for a very long time he did not get food.
Finally, one day, his great-grandson Shreyāns Kumar saw a divine dream and understood the correct method:
- He offered pure food to Bhagwan with full devotion and right method.
- Bhagwan accepted it.
This event is remembered as the first proper gochari of the first Tirthankar. The day is celebrated (especially in Shwetāmbars) as Akṣaya Tr̥tīyā – a day of great puṇya and donation.
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8. Attaining Keval Jñān (Omniscience)
After long years of:
- Deep meditation
- Severe discipline
- Absolute control over senses and passions
Bhagwan Rishabhdev finally destroyed the ghātiyā karmas (knowledge-obscuring, perception-obscuring, deluding and obstructive karmas) and attained Keval Jñān (infinite, complete knowledge).
A Samavasaraṇa (divine preaching hall) manifested, where:
- Devas, humans, animals, all could hear his teachings in their own language.
- He gave deshnā (divine sermon) that became the foundation of Jain Dharma.
He explained:
- The nature of soul (jīva) and non-soul (ajīva).
- The law of karmas.
- The path of Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct (Samyak Darshan, Jñān, Chāritra).
- Ahimsā, aparigraha, and many vows for monks and laypeople.
Because he restarted the path of Tirtha (fourfold sangh: monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen), he is called Tirthankar – “one who establishes the ford to cross the ocean of saṃsār.”
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9. Moksha (Liberation)
After preaching for many years and leading countless souls towards the right path, his:
- Āyu karma (life-span karma) came to an end,
- All remaining karmas were destroyed.
He attained Moksha (liberation), becoming a Siddha – a pure, liberated soul with infinite:
- Knowledge (Keval Jñān)
- Perception (Darshan)
- Bliss (Sukha)
- Energy (Vīrya)
According to common Jain belief:
- He attained Moksha from Mount Ashtāpād (many Shwetāmbar traditions).
- Some Digambar traditions identify this with Mount Kailāsh or describe it in their own way.
After Moksha, Bhagwan Rishabhdev is forever beyond birth and death, in Siddha-śilā at the top of the universe.
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10. Why his story is important for us
From Bhagwan Ādināth’s life, Jains learn:
- True progress is not just outer development (civilization, skills) but inner progress (purity of soul).
- Even the greatest king must one day leave everything – only karmas and inner qualities go with the soul.
- Ahimsā, aparigraha, and self-discipline are the real foundation of lasting happiness.
- The path he showed – Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct – is still open for us today.
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This is the simple, traditional Jain story of Bhagwan Ādināth / Rishabhdev, the first Tirthankar.
