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XIV
JAIN RELIGION HAS NO BEGINNING
It is now well known throughout the world that Jainism is not a branch of Buddhism. Buddhism orginated from the pupil of Shri Parshavanath the twenty-third teerthankar of the Jains.
In "Dhammapada" a Buddhist scripture we find benedictory verses in praise of twenty-four Teerthankaras of the Jainas commencing from Shri Rishabhdeva and ending with Shree Mahaveera. By this also one can understand that Jainism was in vogue even before Buddhism came into existence.
Some say that Bhagwan Mahaveera was the founder of Jainism. But this is absolutely incorrect. Twenty-three Teerthankars existed before Bhagwan Mahaveer flourished. In their times also Jainism flourished and before that also Jainism existed.
Teerthankaras who appear from time to time do not do anything new. They by their Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
