Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.11

c5.11

According to the Jain tradition, Usabha or Rsabha was the first Jina and the first Tirthankara who was born in a very primitive age when people were illiterate and did not know any art. In fact, it was Usabha who is said to have taught the arts of cooking, writing, pottery, painting and sculpture for the first time. At this time came into existence the institution of marriage, the ceremony of cremating the dead, building of the mounds (thūbhas) and the festivals in honour of Indra and the Nāgas. It is said that Usabha was born in Ikkhāgabhūmi (Ayodhyā), the first capital of India, and is said to have lived for an immeasurable length of time. He attained Nuvāna on the mountain Atthāvaya (Kailāsa), where temples in his honour were built by his son, Bharata¹.