Answer

Rishabh Dev, also known as Adinath Bhagwan, is the first Tirthankar of the present time cycle in Jain Dharma. He is deeply revered as the one who re-established the path of liberation and guided human society toward a disciplined, civilized, and spiritual way of life.

Explanation

In Jain tradition, Rishabh Dev is called Adinath, meaning “the first Lord,” because he was the first Tirthankar of this avasarpini kāl, the descending half of the time cycle.

He was born to:

• Father: King Nabhi Raja
• Mother: Queen Marudevi Mata

His emblem or lāñchhan is the bull.

According to Jain tradition, Rishabh Dev taught people many essential skills needed for organized human life, such as agriculture, writing, crafts, trade, and social order. Before his time, people lived in a more simple and dependent way, but he guided them toward responsibility, livelihood, and discipline.

He later renounced worldly life, performed deep spiritual practice, attained Keval Jnan — perfect knowledge — and preached the path of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.

Rishabh Dev’s son Bharat Chakravarti became a great universal emperor. Jain tradition also associates the name Bhārat with Bharat Chakravarti.

Spiritual Understanding

Rishabh Dev represents the beginning of the Tirthankar tradition in the present time cycle. His life teaches:

• Worldly success is not the final goal.
• True greatness lies in renunciation and self-realization.
• Discipline, non-violence, and self-control lead the soul toward liberation.
• A Tirthankar does not merely teach religion; he shows the complete path to moksha.

Takeaway

Rishabh Dev, the first Tirthankar, is honored as the great spiritual guide who showed humanity both a civilized way of living and the higher path of liberation through Jain Dharma.