ṛṣabha

views updated

Ṛṣabha (Skt., ‘bull’). In Jainism, the first tīrthaṅkara of our present avasarpiṇī, who is also given the title Ādinātha. An extremely popular figure in Jainism, he is credited by Jains with having founded the organization of human society, establishing caste, law, monarchy, and agriculture. Ṛṣabha is mentioned in the Hindu Bhāgavata-purāṇa as a minor incarnation of Viṣṇu, which probably reflects the popularity of his cult in the medieval period.