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OCTOBER, 1988
this sphere. Both the religions had the same aim. Social conditions were also the same for the both. Like the Buddhistic stūpas the Jainas too had their stupas, as for example the stupa of Mathura. Both have beautiful art of murtividhāna. Both contributed much to the ancient art and architecture. Thus, the two sister religions had much that was common between the two. Both vehemently attacked the Vedic religion and their revolutionary attitudes brought about a healthy change in the outlook of the Vedic Hindu religion.
Both developed and oriented fine arts like music, painting, sculpture, architecture, temple-building, etc. Jaina authors wrote in Sanskrit, Ardhamagadhi, Apabhramsa, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, etc. while Buddhist authors wrote in Sanskrit, Pali, Apabhramsa,14 etc. In Mahayana there was murtipuja, the conception of Devas and Devis, tantra and mantra, so too in Jainism. Both contributed to Tarkasastra, metempsychosis, rebirth and the doctrine of karma. The outstanding contribution of Jainism is the five mahāvratas and that of Buddhism the pancasilas. Ahimsa, love towards all living creatures, doing good to others, tolerance, universal brotherhood, humanitarian attitude to all, morality of high order, karma etc. are contributions of these two religions. In developing and moulding Indian culture both have played an important role. These salient common features were to an extent responsible in creating an illusion that Jainism was a branch of Buddhism, a myth that is now long since exploded.
14 Cf. The Dohakosas of Saraha and Kanha.
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