Answer

According to Jain tradition, the first Tirthankar, Bhagwan Rishabhdev (also called Adinath), was born in the very ancient past, in the third ara of the current descending time cycle (Avasarpini kaal).

Jain tradition does not usually express his birth as a fixed number of ordinary calendar years ago, because it belongs to an extremely vast cosmic time scale.

Explanation

Bhagwan Rishabhdev is the first Tirthankar of the present Avasarpini. Jain scriptures describe time in huge cycles called:

• Utsarpini – ascending time cycle
• Avasarpini – descending time cycle

Each cycle has six periods called aras. Bhagwan Rishabhdev was born near the end of the third ara, when human life span, height, and spiritual capacity were much greater than today.

Spiritual Understanding

Bhagwan Rishabhdev is called Adinath, meaning “the first Lord,” because he was the first Tirthankar of this time cycle. Jain tradition teaches that he guided humanity in civilization, discipline, livelihood, and the path of liberation.

Takeaway

So, the safest Jain answer is: Bhagwan Rishabhdev was born in the ancient third ara of the current Avasarpini kaal, an extremely vast time ago, not normally counted by a simple modern year number.