Bhagwan Rishabhdev is our 1st Tirthankar.
During the last part of the third era, the great & pious soul that was to become Rishabhdev descended into the womb of Marudeva who was Nabhiraja's wife.

During many previous births the soul that was to be Rishabhdev had done prolonged spiritual practices. As a result of high degree of purity of thoughts & attitude as well as penance, meditation,charity & benevolent deeds it had earned highly pious Karmas.

Prince Rishabh was a highly endowed, farsighted and industrious individual. Looking at the needs of the times He evolved numerous arts, crafts and trades and taught them to people. He also invented the alphabets, Language and the Numbers along with the tools for writing

After few years Rishabhdev was nominated as a first king of this age. For many years Rishabhdev continued to rule his people but after a long span of time (6.3 million purva) he started losing interest in mundane things and activities and drifting toward detachment. His concept was that indulgence in mundane things does not give happiness. It gives only an illusion of happiness. True happiness is derived out of freedom from mundane indulgences. He decided to took Diksha.

After Diksha, harsh penance were done. After his penance, when he went out to beg for food.instead of giving some food people offered him respect and valuable gifts like gold, silver, diamonds etc. as they would to a king. He did not get anything to eat.

After 13months and 13 days on one day someone offered him 108 pitchers full of fresh sugarcane juice and Rishabhdev broke his fast. From that day jains specifically celebrate it as the breakfast day after the penance of "varshi tap" (one meal and fast on alternate days for one year)