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JAINISM : : THE OLDEST LIVING RELIGION
Since the beginning of human civilization, India has ever played her role of being the spiritual mother of nations. But “if India stands unique in the world for her spiritual and philosophical developments, no one will deny that the credit belongs to the Jainas no less than to the Brāhmins and the Buddhists”, says M.M. Dr. S. C. Vidyabhusban. Among others, he is also of opinion that “Jainism is one of the most ancient and noble religions".2 Sir Sanmukham Chetty said, “It is beyond my capacity to say anything about the greatness of the Jaina religion. I have read sufficiently to warrant my saying that the contribution which the Jainas have made to Indian culture is something unique. I personally believe that if only Jainism had kept its hold firmly in India, we would perhaps have had a more united India and certainly a greater India than today's.3 Viewed as a religion, the keynote of Jainism has been the realisation of the highest ideals that man's physical and moral nature points out as bis final goal, and which, incidentally, is the cardinal canon of universalism.
Yet, in the words of Barrister C. R. Jain, "The origin of this creed of the I Irthankaras, that is Jainism, has been a faithful source of speculation and error for the orienta
1. Ja in Gazette, 1914, p. 35. 2. Ibid. 3. Jain Gazette, 1943, pp. 83-85.
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