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Jainism
misleading to call Indian culture by the name of Hindu. culture".
It would, therefore, seem quite strange that there stilt are people, and amongst them some scholars of repute, who are still sceptical about the antiquity and independent character of Jainism. As Prof. S. Srikantha Sastri. says, “It has become customary to take granted the statements of certain historians that Jainism like Buddhism represents a reaction to the sacrificial cult of Vedic Aryans, and in the case of Jainism many scholars are reluctant to take back the history of the faith before Pärśva in about the 9th century B.C.”.2
But as Dr. Jacobi observes, “There is nothing to prove that Pārsva was the founder of Jainism. Jaina tradition is unanimous in making Rsabha, the first TI.thankara, as its founder. There may be something historical in the tradition which makes him the first Tirth ankara”. 3
Dr. A. N. Upadhye, M.A., D.Litt. says, “To take a practical view the Jaina Tirtharkaras like Rşabhadeva Neminātha, Pārsvanātha, Mabăvira etc, have been some of the greatest mystics of the world...... It would be interesting to note that the details about Rsabhadeva given in Ehāgavata practically and fundamentally agree with those recorded by Jaina tradition”. 4
1 Discovery of India, Pt. Nehru, however, is quito mistaken in holding the long rejected view about the origin of Jainism and io asserting that it was founded by Mahā. vira in the 6th century B. C.
2 The Original Home of Jainism - J.A., XV, 2, p. 58. 3. Ind. Aot. IX, p. 163. 4 Paramātma-Prakāśa (R.J.S., Bombay, 1937)- Intro.
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