Jainism in North India

SR No.: 011067
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Chimanlal J Shah
Publisher: Longmans Green and Compny London
Publication Year: 1932
Total Pages: 66
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 3 MB

Page 25

JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA Arhat is one entitled to the homage of gods and men; and Jina is the victor of all human passions and infirmities 1
The religion propounded by such a Jina is called Jainism, and it is known by some such designations as Jaina-darsana, Jainasāsana, Syāduāda-drshti, Jaina-dharma, etc. His followers arc called Jainas, generally known as Srāyakas.
It is really difficult, nay impossible, to fix a particular date for the origin of Jainism Nevertheless, modern research has brought us at least to that stage wherein we can boldly proclaim all those worn-out theories about Jainism being a later offshoot of Buddhism or Brahmanism as gross ignorance or, to repeat, as erroneous misstatements On the other hand we liave progressed a step further, and it would be now considered an historical fallacy to say that Jainism originated with Mahāvīra without putting forth any new grounds for justifying this statement. Thus is because it is now a recognised fact that Pārsva, the twenty-third Tirthankara of the Jainas, is an historical person, and Mahāvīra, like any other Jina, enjoyed no better position than that of a reformer in the galaxy of the Tīrthankaras of the Jainas 3
The question whether religion is as old as the human race, or whether it is the growth of a later stage, is as little open to solution by historical research as that of its origin and essence, it can be answered only by psychology and is a purely pbilosophical inquuy. No tribe or nation has yet been met with destitute of belief in some higher beings, which indication is most essential to what is known
as religion in the abstract ! Coming to religion in concrete--that is, to a particular belief or faith-We find that there also arises the same question whether it is
Hemocandra, Abhıdhanaantamani, chap 1, vv. 24-25
पस्य च जैनदर्शनस्य प्रकाशयिता परमात्मा रागद्वेपायान्तररिपुजेतृत्वादन्वर्यकजिननामधेयः । जिनार्हन स्माद्वादी तीर्थकर इति पानपोनरम् । मत ख तामकाशितं दर्शनमपि जैनदर्शनमहतावचने जैनशासन स्याहाददृष्टिरनेकानयाद इत्याभिधानपदिव्यते - Vijayadharmasuri, Bhandarkar Commemoration Polume, P 180
For a better understanding of the later part of the chapter we shall give below list of the 21 Tirtharlaras of this age 1 Rshabha, 2 Ayta, 8 Sambhava, 4 Abhinandani, 5 Sumatı, 8 Padmaprabha, 7 Supārsva, 8 Candraprabha, 9 Pushpadanta or Susdh. 10 Sitala, 11 Sreyāmsa, 12 Väsupūyya, 18 Vuela, 14 Ananta, 15 Dharma, 70 Sinti, Kunthu, 18 Ari, 19 Mall, 20 Munisuvrata, 21 Nimi, 22 Nemi or Azishtamemt. Parv (Parsvanatha), 24 Vardhamūna, also named Vira, Alohavira, eto Lycry one of them has a discriminative symbol or Lanchana for hunsell, and this is always found on Jana Idols representing them-eg the symbol of Pārsvs is a booded snahe, and that of Vardiinting is a hon CJ TREATHROWYCHYTIT -Ilomacandra, op al, T 20, 27, 28
, oto