Rishabhadeva
|
|
Rishabhdev (Lord Rishab) was the first of the Jain Tirthankaras , the founder of Jainism in the present half cycle of time, in this part of the universe. He is mentioned in the Hindu Bhagavatha-Purana.
He lived billions of years ago and attained liberation ('moksh' or 'nirvan') towards the end of the third era of the present half cycle of time. At the beginning of the twenty first century, we are approximately 2,530 years into the fifth era.
According to Jainism, time has no beginning and no end. It moves in the same way as the wheel of a moving cart or bicycle. There have been an infinite number of time cycles before the present one and there will be an infinite number of time cycles after the present one. Twenty four Tirthankaras are born in each half cycle of time, that is forty eight in each full cycle.
The next Tirthankaras in this part of the universe will be born at the beginning of the third era in the next half cycle of time, that is in approximately 81,500 years.
There are several jain temples -- derasar dedicated to Lord Rishabhdev who is also known as Bhagwan Adinath.