________________ All upper, western, north-central India was then - say 500 to 800 B. C. and indeed from unknown times ruled by Turanians, conveniently called Dravidas, and given to tree, ser pent and phallic worship but there also then existed throughout upper India an ancient and highly organised religion, philosophical, ethical and severely ascetical, viz., Jainism, out of which clearly developed the early ascetical features of Brahmanism and Buddhism. Long before Aryans reached the Ganges or even the Saraswati, Jainas had been taught by some 22 prominent Bodhas, saints or Tirthankaras prior to the 23rd Bodha Parsva of the 8th or 9th century B. C., and he knew of all his predecessors-pious Rsis living at long intervals of time and of several scriptures even then known as Purvas or Puranas, that is ancient, which had been handed down for ages in the memory of recognised anchorites, Vanaprasthis or forest recluses. This was more especially a Jaina order, severely enforced by all their Bodhas and particularly in the 6th century B. C. by the 24th and last, Mahavira of 598-526 B. C. This ascetic order continued in Brahmanism and Buddhism throughout distant Baktria and Daccia instead of Jainism be.ng, as was formerly supposed, an offshoot of Buddhism it is shown to extend as far back as 3000 B. C. It is found flourishing alongside the nature worship of rude tribos in northern India. -J. G. R. Forlong, F.R.S.E., F.R S., M.A.I., etc.
