Rishabhanatha (Adinatha)

Rishabhanatha — also called Adinatha (the First Lord) and Yugadi-deva (the Lord at the era's beginning) — is the first of the 24 Tirthankaras of this time-cycle. According to tradition, he lived at the dawn of the present avasarpini era, when human society was first emerging from the bhoga-bhumi (the era of immediate enjoyment without effort).

He is the son of King Nabhiraj and Queen Marudevi, born in Ayodhya. Before his renunciation, as the first king, he is traditionally credited with introducing the foundational arts of civilization — asi (defense), masi (writing/ink), kṛṣi (agriculture), vidyā (education), vāṇijya (commerce), and śilpa (craft). The very structure of organized society is traced, in Jain tradition, to his pre-monastic kingship.

After renouncing his kingdom, he undertook severe austerity for a thousand years. He attained kevala-jnana under a banyan tree at Purimatal. He is said to have given his first sermon at Mount Kailasha (also called Ashtapada), where he later attained mokṣa.

His mother Marudevi is herself a celebrated figure: she is said to have attained mokṣa shortly after seeing her son's samavasaraṇa, becoming, by some traditions, the first liberated soul of this era.

For Digambara Jains, Rishabhanatha holds a position of unique importance. The Bhaktamara Stotra, the most beloved devotional hymn in the tradition, is composed entirely in his praise. The famous opening verse — bhaktāmara-praṇata-mauli-maṇi-prabhāṇām... — bows to his feet specifically.