Towards the end of the Akarma Bhumi, father Nabhi and mother Marudevi's son Shri Rishabhdev became the first king of Aryavarta. He gave birth to social order and political system in the world by making Ayodhya his capital. He started the human civilization by teaching human beings about Asi (art of swordmanship / fighting), Masi (writing skills / education), Krishi (art of farming / agriculture), crafts and arts. Bhagwan Rishabhdev had 2 wives, 100 sons and 2 daughters. To keep the state system in order, he made 100 departments of Aryavart and made all his sons the officers, of one department each. The eldest son Bharat, was given the kingdom of Ayodhya, the younger son Bahubali, was given the kingdom of Taxila, and his third son Kuru, was given the kingdom of Kurukshetra. He himself took to the path of renunciation, by giving up his title as the “King”, family etc. for the promotion of spiritual welfare of the world.
98 of his 100 sons also took to the path of renunciation. Bharat waged war with his younger brother Bahubali, in order to attain the post of Chakravarti, but he could not defeat him. However, considering his elder brother Bharat as fatherly, Bahubali gave him his kingdom with pleasure, and took to the path of renunciation himself. Then Chakravarti Bharat appointed Somaprabh, the son of Bahubali, as the officer of that kingdom, and enthroned him.
Bhagwan Shri Rishabhdev took to renunciation and started wandering, thus sactifying the earth. During this period, the first monastery started in this world. For these reasons, he was bestowed upon various titles like, “Antim-Manu”, “Adiraja”, “Adinath”, “Adi-Manav, “Adi- Dev”, etc.
Bhagwan Sri Rishabhdev took to renunciation with the penance of “Belle” (2 day fast) and was travelling from place to place, in order to do his first “Parana”. But he did not find any alms worthy of Jain Hermit, because at that time people did not know the method of giving food to Hermit. At that time no one had ever seen any monk before. Bhagwan remained on continuous fast for 400 days after taking renunciation, which was also a waterless fast. After wandering several kingdoms and places, he came to Hastinapur on the day of “Baisakh Shukla Teej” (Tritiya).
At that time, his second son Bahubali's son Somaprabha - Somayasha ruled there. His son Shreyansh Kumar served Ikshuras (sugarcane juice) to Bhagwan, on the day of Baisakh Shukla Teej. Since then, this auspicious day came to be known as the famous Akshaya Tritiya or Akha Teej. According to Jainagams, in this “Avasarpini” period, the first “Supatradan” or holy service was started by Prince Shreyansha Kumar.
This pious land of Hastinapur has been associated with the various life stages (Kalyanak) like “Mother’s 14 dreams at conception”, “Birth”, “Renunciation” and “Enlightenment” of the 16th Jain Tirthankara Shri Shantinath Bhagwan, the 17th Jain Tirthankara Shri Kunthunath Bhagwan and the 18th Jain Tirthankara Shri Arnath Bhagwan (hence a total of 12 Kalyanaks for 3 Tirthankars). At this very land, these tirthankars created “Dwadashangi”, and thus formalized the concepts of “Sadhu-Sadhvi”, “Shravak-Shravika”, “Chaturvidhi” “Shri Sangh” and “Ganadhar”. Histroy has credited Hastinapur for the birth, renunciation, penance, enlightenment of six “Chakravartis” (universal rulers) and “Shivrajarshi” (enlightened), the famous rulers like Kauravas - Pandavas (of the Mahabharata period), sage “Parashurama”, along with many other famous and great sages etc.
Hastinapur is where “Samvasarana” or the divine preaching hall of the 19th Jain Tirthankara Shri Mallinath Bhagwan took place. The 20th Jain Tirthankar Shri Munisuvrat Swami Bhagwan, the 23rd Jain Tirthankar Shri Parshwanath Bhagwan and the 24th Tirthankar Shri Mahavir Swami Bhagwan, have also showered their divine grace by visiting this place. The soul of 22nd Jain Tirthankar Shri Arishtanemi took renunciation at Hastinapur three births prior to becoming Neminath Bhagwan. It was in this birth that he undertook “20 sthanak tup” (an intense form of penance) and was bestowed upon the prophecy of becoming a tirthankar.
