Rishabha

Rishabha, also spelled Rishabh or Rishabha, is a Sanskrit term that broadly means "bull" and is used as a given name in Indian culture. In religious literature it appears in several contexts, most prominently as a reference to Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara in Jainism, and as a title or epithet in other texts. In Indian classical music, Rishabha denotes the second swara of the octave, commonly rendered as Re or Ri in different traditions.

In Jainism, Rishabhanatha (also known as Adinath) is regarded as the first Tirthankara, a spiritual teacher who revitalized society and is traditionally credited with founding aspects of agriculture, cattle rearing, crafts, and social organization. He is typically depicted with a bull as his emblem and is honored for laying the ethical and philosophical foundations later elaborated by subsequent Tirthankaras. His life and teachings occupy a central place in Jain temples, scriptures, and rituals.

In Hinduism and related literary contexts, the name Rishabha appears as a proper name for legendary or semi-historical figures in various lists, and the term’s bull-related symbolism continues to appear in cultural and devotional language. The word also has a technical use in Indian classical music, where Rishabha signifies the second scale degree; its pitch varies across traditions, with designations such as Shuddha Rishabha and Chatusruti Rishabham used in Carnatic notation and corresponding concepts in Hindustani practice.

Overall, Rishabha is a polyvalent term rooted in Sanskrit that spans religious, literary, and musical domains, with its most prominent contemporary associations being the Jain figure Rishabhanatha, the symbolic bull, and the musical note identifying the second degree of the scale.