Tulsi Prajna 1994 10

SR No.: 524581
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Parmeshwar Solanki
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1994
Total Pages: 152
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India
File Size: 7 MB

Page 150

Vol. XX, No. 3
99
3. Jainism and Mahavira-Dr. Bhag chandra Bhaskar', Published by
Shekarchand Jain, Shri Digamber Jain Sahitya Sanskriti Samrakh. shan Samiti, D-302, Vevek Vihar, Delhi-110095, First Edition, 1993, Price Rs. 30/
Dr. Bhagchandra 'Bhaskar', Professor and Head of the Department of Pali and Prakrit, Nagpur University has to his credit a number of publications, both in Hindi and English. He is a disting uished scholar in the field of Jainology and had, had published Jainism & Buddhism', Jainism in Buddhist literature'; 'A survey of Prakrit Literature, Jain aur Bauddha Darshan ka Tulanatmaka Addhyayan' and Jain Darshan aur Sanskritika Itihasa etc. and now he has come forward with his newly published book i.e. 'Jainism and Mahāvira.
The book consists of two chapters, one on Jainism and the other onc on Mabāvira. Dr. Jain has dealt herewith the historical and cultural back ground of Jainism with a comparative perspective. The contents of the first chapter are History, scets & schools, scriptures, Rites & Rituals, Jain as a community, spread of Jainism and Jaina Philosophy & Psychology, Theory of Anekānt, Dravya or Tattvas, Karma theory, classification of knowledge, Jain Ethics and Spirituality and Jain Mendicant. There he made it abundantly clear that Jainism has been vigil constantly and unforgetably to the field of bistory and culture. Its philosophy, ethics, dogmas, spiritual disciplines and practices are based on truth and non-violence with the nature of humanistic approach, interreligious dialogue and understanding which can be easily perceived through its extensive and perennial litreture.
Similarlly the chapter on Manăvira also takes into consideration all the researches made so far and the author's analysis of Mahävira's teaching, religion, philosophy, Psychology, spirituality, discipline practices, is based on Pali literature and then supported by Prakrit and Sanskrit Jaina literature. As for example Radiments of Anekānta are traceable in the Buddhist approach to questions where the Buddha used the words Ekarsa, Anekamsa, Thapaniya, Vibhajj, ayyakaraniya etc. corresponding to Anekāntayåd.
Dr. Jain concluded here that Mabāvira and the Buddha never met personally each other, though their disciples discussed the matter 80 many times.
However he has accepted the orthodox Jain tradition which dated the death of Mahāvira in 527 B. C, and not accepted in toto, the date of Mabāvīra's death as 1761 B. C., propagated and establiyhed in The Mahavira Era by Dr. P. Solanki.
-PARMESHWAR SOLANKI