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Question 9 of 75 · Buddhism & Jainism
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The first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha (Adinatha), was born at:

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Answer: Option A — Ayodhya

Detailed Solution

According to Jain tradition, Rishabhanatha (Rishabhadeva or Adinatha), the first Tirthankara, was born at Ayodhya.

About Rishabhanatha:

  • He is considered the founder of Jainism in the present cosmic cycle, according to Jain belief.
  • His father was King Nabhi and his mother was Marudevi.
  • He is said to have taught people agriculture, writing, arts and crafts, and the organisation of society, before renouncing the world.
  • His sons included Bharata (the chakravartin emperor after whom, according to Jain tradition, India is named "Bharatavarsha") and Bahubali (Gommateshwara).
  • His symbol (emblem) is the bull.
  • He is mentioned in Hindu texts as well; the Bhagavata Purana describes Rishabha as an avatar of Vishnu.
  • He is said to have attained nirvana on Mount Ashtapada, identified by many with Mount Kailash.

Ayodhya in Jain tradition:

  • According to Jain belief, five Tirthankaras were born in Ayodhya: Rishabhanatha (1st), Ajitanatha (2nd), Abhinandananatha (4th), Sumatinatha (5th) and Anantanatha (14th).
  • Ayodhya is therefore an important Jain pilgrimage centre, with several Jain temples.

Ayodhya in other traditions:

  • For Hindus, Ayodhya is the birthplace of Rama, and the capital of the Ikshvaku kings.
  • It was the capital of the Kosala kingdom in the epic tradition; in the 6th century BCE, the capital of Kosala was Shravasti.
  • It is on the banks of the Saryu (Ghaghara) river.
  • The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was inaugurated (pran pratishtha) on 22 January 2024.

About the 24 Tirthankaras:

  • "Tirthankara" means "ford-maker", one who makes a crossing over the ocean of worldly life.
  • The first was Rishabhanatha and the last (24th) was Mahavira.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Varanasi is the birthplace of another Tirthankara.
  • ✗Shravasti is the birthplace of Sambhavanatha (3rd Tirthankara).
  • ✗Mathura is associated with Krishna and with a Jain stupa.

Quick tip

Remember: Rishabhanatha (1st Tirthankara) = born at Ayodhya; symbol = bull; sons Bharata and Bahubali; five Tirthankaras were born in Ayodhya.

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Buddhism & Jainism — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Buddhism & Jainism, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

Buddhism and Jainism arose in the 6th century BCE as reform movements. This topic covers the lives and teachings of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira, the Jain tirthankaras, the Buddhist councils, the sects of both religions, their sacred texts and the places linked to them. Common questions cover the four great events of the Buddha's life and their places (birth at Lumbini, enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath, death at Kushinagar), the four Buddhist councils with their kings and venues, and the Jain sects Digambara and Shvetambara. Learning the councils as a table of place, king and president is the fastest way to revise. Practise the Buddhism and Jainism questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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