who is rishab dev
Answer
Rishabh Dev, also known as Rishabhanatha or Adinath Bhagwan, is the first Tirthankar of Jain Dharma.
He is called Adinath because “Adi” means first, and “Nath” means Lord — so Adinath means the First Lord.
Explanation
In Jain tradition, Rishabh Dev was the first Tirthankar of the present time cycle. A Tirthankar is a liberated soul who shows the path to moksha by re-establishing the fourfold Jain Sangh:
- Monks
- Nuns
- Laymen
- Laywomen
Rishabh Dev taught people the path of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct. Jain tradition also describes him as the one who guided humanity in basic social organization, livelihood, arts, and disciplined living.
His emblem is the bull.
Spiritual Understanding
Rishabh Dev represents the beginning of the Tirthankar tradition in this era. His life teaches renunciation, self-control, non-violence, and the ultimate goal of the soul — liberation from karma and the cycle of birth and death.
Takeaway
Rishabh Dev is the first Tirthankar of Jain Dharma and is deeply revered as Adinath Bhagwan, the first spiritual guide of the present age.