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(xix ) finally other secular, events of historical importance to a considerable extent, will make if pretty clear that Jainism is a religion that is not only born of the depths of ages but also that its Tirthankars were real historical persons who lived, moved and had their beings amongst our forefathers.
Besides, these pages contain historical statements and allusions of no mean value. What we want to point out is that apart from the question of religious merit as is manifest in the literary works of the Jains, they go to a great extent to clear up many a historical anomaly and settle dates of important historical events. For instance, it is from the perusual of these pages that we could settle the date of Mahavira's Nirvan or the accession of Chandragupta. And it is from these pages we find that during the time of Rishava Deva, the systems of Jaina, Shaiva and Sankhya philosophies were exant. The Mimånså and the Nyåyaflourished during the period of Sitalnath whereas the Bouddha and the Vaisheshiku came to prominence during the time of Parshwanath and Mahavir. This account of the chronological developments of the different Schools of Philosophy may read
