History of Jainism

SR No.: 006741
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: U K Sharma
Publisher: D K Print World
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 304
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 10 MB

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History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
Harmsworth,14 B.C. Law15 and others 16 consider him the founder of Jainism. The historicity of Parsvanatha is not difficult to prove. Much literature has clustered around his name. The well-known Jaina text, the Kalpasūtra, stated to have been written by the pontiff Bhadrabahu (perhaps somewhat before 300 BC), contains an account of the life of Pārśvanatha in the chapter entitled The life of the Jinas'. We learn from the Jaina work AcārāngaSūtra 18 that Mahāvīra's parents followed the faith of Pārśvanatha.19 The Jaina text Avasyaka Cūrṇi mentions the names of many ascetics belonging to the sect of Parśvanatha, who were present at the time of Mahāvīra's wanderings as an ascetic.20 The Jaina text Bhagavati21 contains the discussion which took place between Mahāvīra and a follower of Pārśvanatha named Gängeya.22
The followers of Parsvanatha were known as Nirgranthas. Hermann Jacobi proved on the strength of references in Pali literature that the Nirgranthas or the followers of Parsva existed before the time of Mahāvīra.23 One of the arguments advanced by Jacobi to prove the historical existence of Pārsvanatha deserves special notice. He has made a reference to a Buddhist sūtra which mistakenly attributes to Mahāvīra the religion of the four vows.24 We know it that it was Pārśva who propounded the religion of the four vows
14. JOLR, p. 15 fn. 2.
15.
Ibid., p. 16 fn. 2.
16. CHI, I, p. 153.
17. Ibid., p. 154.
18. Acäränga-Sutra, II.3.401, p. 389, cited in LDJC, p. 20 fn.10.
19.
LDJC, p. 20; SIJA, p. 40; JAA, I, p. 16; AOIU, p. 412.
20. Ibid.
21. Bhagavati, 9.32 cited in LDJC, p. 20 fn. 15.
22. LDJC, p. 20.
23.
SBE, Introductions, vols. XXII and XLV; LDJC, P. 21; RI, p. 283 fn. 2.
24.
AOIU, p. 412.