Introducing Jainism

SR No.: 006956
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 90
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 22

INTRODUCING JAINISM
world, by innumerable Tirthankaras. 18 In the present period, which is avasarpini according to the Jains, there are 24 Tirthankaras. The first of them was Rsabha, and the last three were Aristanemi, Pārsvanātha and Mahāvīra. All these Tirthankaras reached Nirvāņa at their death. Because of their attainment of Moksa, all these Tīrthankaras are regarded as gods (devas) by the Jains. In order to honour and worship them, the Jains have erected temples where the idols or images of these 24 Tirthankaras, the favourite being the first and the last three ones, are found. At a later time, some sects, especially a rather recent section of the Svetāmbaras, the Dhundiyā or Sthānakavāsīs, reject this kind of worship. Except the last two (Pārsvanātha and Mahāvīra), all the Tirthankaras belong to mythology rather than to history. But the 22nd one, Aristanemi, is connected with the legend of Krsna as his relative. But Krsna is regarded as a historical person, so also Aristanemi. It is said that Pārsvanātha was the real reformer of Jainism, and Mahāvīra gave it a final shape into the present order in which we get it in the canonical literature of the Jains.
(a) The date of Mahāvīra
The date of Mahāvīra, though controversial, is more or less fixed. According to the Svetāmbaras, Mahāvīra was born in 599 B.C. and he got his parinirvana in 527 B.C. This date is more or less accepted. The Digambaras believe that Mahāvira was born in 659 B.C. and attained nirvāņain 587 B.C. But Jacobi thinks that Mahāvira's date must be between 549/48 B.C. and 477/76 B.C. Jacobi wants to bring down the date of Mahāvira very near to Lord Buddha who is a contemporary of Lord Mahāvīra. The date of Buddha is also controversial. According to Ceylonese tradition the Parinirvāṇa of Buddha happened in 544 B.C. 19, whereas according to Cantonese tradition it was in 486 B.C. Geiger, however, thinks that the date should be 483 B.C.20 However, 18. In the past there were 24 Tirthańkaras and there will be 24
Tirthankaras in the future 19. For these dates, see R.C. Majumdar and other's, Advanced
History of India, 2nd edn. MacMillan & Co. Ltd., London, 1963,
p. 58. 20. Majumdar, loc. cit.