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natha that had been widespread within a vast area in the Indian subcontinent in past epochs dates back to centuries before the opening of the Christian era. In his early life a heroic prince of Varanasi, as it is known Parsva lived in 8th century B.C. The miracles associated with the images of the Tirthankara which claim the transformation of a 'heart of stone' to that of a 'heart of gold' will add a further weight to our argument with regard to the history of the legend of parašmaņi. The inconography of the Jina as distinguished by the presence of a hooded serpent, who may be classed with those Nagas of Indian folk-lore, at times the guardians of the spectreal gem or maņi, may also appear significant in this connection. If even the myth of the parasmani has an earlier origin there is a possibility that in certain period of history it merged into the idylls of Parasnath. In the West the na me Philosopher's stone has no doubt a matching enigma that can be explained by a migration of an idea from the East or a synonymous appreciation of an age-old legend.
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