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Chapter-2 History of Nirgrantha tradition
The 7th-8th century BC was a period when the masses used to listen to the teachings of Śramaņas, yogis, mendicants and thinkers with great respect and used to connect life with spiritual and moral endeavour. But still they were not attached to any particular group or class or the followers of any particular individual. In other words no religious tradition or sect was born in that period. Gradually a circle of like-minded disciples of these sramaņas came into being that continued into the following generations and started establishing their own identities. And in this process the Nirgrantha tradition originated. Those who followed the tradition of Pārsvanātha called themselves Pārsvanirgranthas and the followers of Vardhamāna Mahāvīra's tradition called themselves Jñātaputriyanirgranthas. The Bhikkhu Sargha of Gautama Buddha came to be known as Sākya sargha.
The combined tradition of Pārsva and Mahāvīra came to be known as Nirgrantha. The ancient name of Jaina religion is Nirgrantha religion. The term “Jaina' came into existence about one thousand years after Mahāvīra's Nirvāna. The edicts of Asoka (3N century BC) and of Khārvela (2ml century BC) mention Jaina dharma as Nirgrantha Samgha.
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