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Overview
In the first volume (T rthamkara kha da) of this series on history; history of Jain religion, from the beginning of present era and prehistoric times, starting with the founder of human civilization, the first T rthamkara Lord V abha Deva to the liberation of 24" T rthamkara Lord Mah v ra had been described. In the second volume, Jain history after the liberation of Lord Mah v ra to his first disciple Indrabhuti Gautama, his first pontiff rya Sudharm till 27th pontiff Devardhiga i K am rama a i.e. a span of 1000 years had been presented.
Now in this third volume we are briefly presenting history of Jain religion along with prevailing political and social environment for the period V.N. 1001 to V.N. 1475.
To enable even a casual reader interested in knowing the history of Jainism since beginning and retain the same in his mind, we have divided history of Jainism in the following six parts: history of Jainis
From the time of first T rthamkara to 24h T rthamkara. This is called as the era of T rthamkaras
1.
From the time of 1s' pontiff of the creed of Lord Mah v ra i.e.
rya Sudharm till the liberation of rya Jamb, the last omniscient i.e. the period of 63 years after the liberation of Lord Mah v ra. This is period is called the era of omniscient lords.
V.N. 63 till V.N. 170 i.e. period starting from c rya Prabhava to Bhadra B hu. This is called as the era of rutakeval s or the all prior canons knowing pontiffs.
V.N. 170 to V.N. 584 i.e. from the time of rya Sth la Bhadra till rya Vajra. This period is called as the era of ten prior canons knowing (Da ap rvadhara) pontiffs. V.N. 589 till V.N. 1000 i.e. the time from rya Rak ita. This period is known as the era of partial knower of prior canons (S dh ra a prvadharas).
The period from V.N. 1000 i.e. after rya Devardhiga i K am rama a till the last c rya of this avasarpi araka in
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