In Hinduism, Rishabha is the eighth Avatar of Vishnu of the twenty-two incarnations listed in the Bhagavata Purana.[1] He appeared in the womb of Marudevi, the wife of King Nabhi. The King underwent many severe austerities and penance to please Vishnu to get a son like Vishnu. Vishnu accepted his plea and thus appeared as Rishabha, son of King Nabhi and Marudevi.
Jains accept Rishabha as Rishabha, as the first Tirthankara.
Rishabha Rishi is also mentioned in the Markandeya, Vayu, Brahmanda, Skanda, and Vishnu Puranas.
He followed the orders of his guru and accepted a wife named Jayanti, who had been given to him by the king of heaven, Indra. He begot a hundred sons by Jayanti. Of these hundred sons, the eldest was known as Jadabharata, who became a Chakravartin. Since his reign, the Indian subcontinent has been called Bharatavarsa. Rsabha's other sons were headed by Kusavarta, Ilavarta, Brahmavarta, Malaya, Ketu, Bhadrasena, Indrasprk, Vidarbha and Kikata. There were also other sons named Kavi, Havi, Antariksa, Prabuddha, Pippalayana, Avirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhajana. Instead of ruling the kingdom, these nine became mendicant preachers, following the religious precepts of the Bhagavata Purana. Their characteristics and activities are described in the Eleventh Canto of the Bhagavata Purana during the talks between Vasudeva and Narada at Kuruksetra. To teach the general populace, Rishabha performed many sacrifices and taught his sons how to rule the citizens.[2] Thus Rishabha was an ideal father, who gave apt instructions to his sons. The instructions of Rishabha to his sons are present in Canto 5, Chapter 5 of the Bhagavata Purana.
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