Jain History | Origin of Word Bharat-varsha

Rishabh Dev (ऋषभदेव) or Adinatha was the first of the 24 Tirthankara. Rishabh existed before civilization developed. He taught people agriculture, tending of animals, cooking, and more. His eldest son - Bharat - was a chakravarti king - the conqueror of the known world. India was named Bhārata-varsha or Bhārata after him.

Modern scholars are of opinion that Rishabha was a historical person based on many archeological and literary evidences. P. C. Roychoudary puts the date of Rishabha at the end of Stone Age and beginning of Agriculture age.

Jainism has historical facts and it is non-vedic.It prevailed before vedic influence arrived in India. The Yogi idol found in Indus Valley and certain Mantras of Rigveda prescribe the names of Rishabhdeo and Aristhnemi which are main basis of this ideaology. The story of Lord Rishabh in Bhagwat and Vishnu Puran also clearifies the antiquity of Jain religion.

"The idol carved in Kayotsarga Mudra in Harappa is fully a Sramanic, non-vedic idol. On its face the simplicity or grace appears from distance."

Dr. Kashiprasad Jayaswal has also compared the same with the one of oldest idol of Tirthankar (Lord) Mahavir found in India. There is clear resemblance in naked idol of Harappa and this Jain idol. Their superiority is Yog Mudra (The Indus valley civilisation and Rishabhdeo V.G. Nair Page-1). Yoga as claimed by vedic masters ,is originally part of proto-dravidian brahmi , non-sanskrit culture, thus it is non-vedic and considered to be part of Jain, sraminic or vratya culture.

In Jain tradition, he is more than a Tirthankar. As a king, he is credited with development of several innovations affecting the society, as transition was being made from a simple to a more complex society. According to Vrihat-svayambhuu stotra:

प्रजापतिर्यः प्रथमं जिजीविषुः शशास कृष्यादिसु कर्मसु प्रजाः

(As first Prajapati, he taught people who wanted to earn a living various trades.)

The Bhagavata Purana says: ^[2]:

अष्टमे मेरुदेव्यां तु नाभेर्जात उरूक्रमः. दर्शयन वर्म धीराणां सर्वाश्रमनमस्कृतम्

(In the womb of Merudevi, wife of Nabhi, Rishaba had his eighth avatara. He showed himself in a form that is to be worshipped by those in any stage of life (ashrama).)

Bhāgavata calls him "शरीर मात्र परिग्रह " (body his only possession), "गगन परिधानः " (wearing the sky), वातरशना (wearing the wind).

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishabha_(Jain_tirthankar)