________________
FOREWORD
1. Jainism is a pre-Aryan religion. It belongs to the Sramanic current of thought. Jainism prevailed even before Päráva and Vardhamana, the last two Tirthankaras. Jacobi has traced Jainism to early primitive currents of metaphysical speculation. Jainism reflects the cosmology and anthropology of a much older pre-Aryan upper class of North-eastern India. Jaina tradition presents the fundamental concepts of the cycle of time and of eternity. The Jaina principles which have been preached to the people for ages by their Tirthankaras who have conquered the wheel of life. Somehow the teachings of these pro upto the time of Parśva, the twentythird Tirthankara are not available now for the benefit of mankind And we are quite aware that when we go back from history to pre-history, the shadow of the past lengthens, and as the shadow lengthens we have to fall back upon tradition and secondary sources. It is with Vardhamana Mahävira, the last Tirthankara that we can find ourselves on surer ground. Tirthankara Mahāvira preached the doctrine to his Ganadharas. His teachings were oral and fundamental. That is the Arthagama. Gañadharas and their disciples downwards formulated the teachings of the master in a systematic way and presented in the form of codified expression. The formulated expression of the teachings of Tirthankara is the Sabdagrantha. And it forms the beginning of the canonical literature."
1 Radhakrishnan (S): Indian Philosophy, Vol. I. (Allen Unwin,
1922), p. 287. 2 Jacobi (H): S. B. E. Vol. XXII. p. xv. 3 Zimmer (H): Philosophies of India. (Kegan Paul) 1953. p. 183. 4 Avašyaka niryukti, Gatha. 89-90-as quoted by Sri Devendra
Muni Shastri, in his Jaina Agama aur Sahitya, p. 6.
