Jaina Archaeology Outside India

SR No.: 007644
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jineshwardas Jain
Publisher: Bharat Varshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 105
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 3 MB

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Gandhara, in which Indians, Iraninas, Sacan, Parthiansand Greek elements were integraged. They were the first to make the statues of Buddha and erected in the Bamiyan valley (technically not in Gandhara but Bactria). The successnve centuries from 9th to 13th centurywas the golden golden period for building of Jaina temples no only in India but outside India e.g. in Burma, Thyland, Cmbidia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico, Soth china, Ceylone, Tibet.
Indus Valley Civilization:
Hisory of Jainism that way fully corresponds to that of the world. Archeology, however taks Jainism back to the Indius valley civilization i.e. between 2500BC and 1750 BC [: Sneh Rani Jain: History of Jainism Ancient period, Book: Glimpses of Jainism, Ed.By Surendra Kumar Jain, Pub: Moti Lal Banarsidas Pub. Pvt Ltd, Delhi 1997, 41 UA Bangalow Road Jawahar Nagar Delhi 11007). There is hardly any period of Indian History when Jainism was absent/There is every reason to believe that Indus Valley Civilization was Dravidian in origin and had been Jaina by faith. Most of the human figures found in the valley are either in standing pose or in padmasan pose in the nude which is the usual poses of Tirthankaras and these poses should not be taken to represent Siva as has been envisaged by many historians either due to their ignorance or due to religious rivalries.
Some of the figures are flanked by Bull which is the cognizance of Lord Rishabha. Jaina themes have been integral part of Rigveda ideiology and earlier in existence. The three Tirthankaras Rishabha, Ajit Nath and Arishta Nemi find repeated mention in the text of Rigveda. Even some of the Buddhist works show reverence to Rishabha.
Mohan-jo-daro A number of statues have been recovered at Mohna-jo-daro which are characterized by hilf-shut eyes, the gaze being fixed on the tip of the nose. These statuttesclearly indicate that the people of the Indus valley in the chalcolithic period not only praactised yoga but worshipped the images of the Yoga. (1. Survival of the pre-historic civilization of the Indus valley; Pioneer Nov. 10th 1929, 2. J.G.R. Fur, Major; Studies innthe sciencd of comparative religions pp. 243-44]
Harappa: Harappa was a major center of the Indus Valley civilization, whose ruins lie 35 kms south-west of Sahiwal (About 250 Kms from Lahore). It was discovered in 1920-21. The area of Harappa is bigger than Mohan-jo-daro. The excavations
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