Previous Births of Rsabhadeva
Summary
This article examines the twelve previous births of Rsabhadeva, the first Tirthankara of the present descending cycle of time, focusing particularly on the *Trisastisalakapurusacaritra* by Acarya Hemacandra. The author argues that while the canonical texts do not mention these previous births, Hemacandra's work details twelve incarnations, a number also found in the *Cauppannamahapurisacariyam*. The main argument is that Hemacandra likely drew his account of these births from the *Cauppannamahapurisacariyam*, as it is the earliest text to refer to the twelve previous births and shares the same tradition as the *Trisastisalakapurusacaritra*. The article outlines the sequence of these twelve births. The first is the merchant Dhana, who attains righteousness (*samyaktva*) by offering food to Acarya Dharmaghosa. The second is Mahabala, who renounces his kingdom after being enlightened by his minister Svayambuddha. The third is Lalitanga, a god in Isana heaven who dies at Nandisavara Tirtha. The fourth is Vajrajangha, who marries Srimati after recognizing each other through past-life memories. The fifth is Jivananda, a physician who cures a Muni of worms. The sixth is Vajranabha, who becomes a Cakravartin before renouncing the world to become a Tirthankara. The author compares these accounts with other sources. The canonical commentaries, such as the *Avasyakaniryukti* and *Viśeṣāvaśyaka-bhāṣya*, mention fewer incarnations. The *Ādipurāṇa* by Jinasena depicts only nine incarnations, four of which are similar to those in the *Trisastisalakapurusacaritra*, while the remaining five are different. The *Cauppannamahapurisacariyam* provides accounts of all twelve incarnations, though there are slight variations in the stories of Dhana, Mahabala, Vajrajangha, and Jivananda compared to Hemacandra's work. The article concludes that the *Cauppannamahapurisacariyam* and *Trisastisalakapurusacaritra* belong to the same tradition regarding these previous births.
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Conclusion
This article examines the twelve previous births of the first Tirthankara, Rsabhadeva, as detailed in Acarya Hemacandra’s *Trisastitalakapurusacaritra*, a narrative absent from the canonical texts. The study traces these incarnations—from the merchant Dhana to the physician Jivananda—highlighting their moral and spiritual significance in Jain tradition. It notes the variations in these accounts across different texts, such as the *Cauppannamahapurisacariyam*, *Adipurana*, and *Avasyakaniryukti*, demonstrating a rich, evolving hagiographical tradition. The findings underscore the importance of non-canonical literature in expanding the biographical and ethical framework of Tirthankaras, revealing how later authors synthesized and adapted earlier narratives to emphasize virtues like compassion, detachment, and the path to liberation.