Rushabhdev

Avatars

Rushabhdev is one of the 24 avatārs of Vishnu. In terms of entities, he is of the jiva entity. When Parabrahma Purushottam Narayan enters the jiva entity, it is capable of incarnating as an avatār. Rushabhdev was born to Rājarshi and Merudevi, who are descendants of Swāyambhu. He was a great yogi and possessed knowledge of the tattvas. He married Indra’s daughter Jayanti and had 100 sons. Bharat was the eldest of his sons. He cared for the subjects of his kingdom. He gave his sons brahmavidyā. Becoming deeply engrossed in his ātmā, he lost all consciousness of his body.

Rushabhdev became a sannyasi after handing over his kingdom to his sons. He wandered through the forest in the form of Digambar (a naked ascetic), and acted ignorant, deaf, mute, and insanely. In this state, the Siddhis (powers: ability to see far, enter others body, fly in the air, etc.) came to him; however, he did not welcome them or accept them. He traveled to the southern state of Karnatak where he put a stone in his mouth. With unkempt hair, he wandered through the forest, which caught fire. Rushabhdev cast his body in the forest fire.

Gunatitanand Swami has mentioned how Rushabhdev ended his life in Swamini Vato 1/134.

[Bhagwat: 5/5-6]