Tulsi Prajna 1995 10

SR No.: 524585
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Parmeshwar Solanki
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1995
Total Pages: 174
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India
File Size: 7 MB

Page 152

THE JAIN STUPA AND ITS INSPIRATIONAL SOURCE
Dr. Ratanlal Mishra
In ancient times many civilization blossomed and withered leaving a trail of their grandeur and greatness. Likewise many religious systems flourished and vanished but relics of their greatness still resound in the minds of the people. In this transcient and evanescent world, nothing is permanent. The emergence is followed by disappeance and the advent by exit. As still water developes certain impurities likewise old systems, as time passes, decay and degenerate into something undesirable and are replaced by a vigorous new system which may be quite antithetic to the previous one.
The emergence of Jainism and Buddhism was necessitated by the times. The prevalent vedic dharma had become too much ritualistic and lost its hold as a spiritual guide over the masses. People were eagerly looking for a dynamic religious system which could afford then an easy way of attaining salvalion and peace.
Generally the emergence of Jainism and Buddhism is regarded as a protest against spiritual overlordship of the Brāhamans but this view is partially true. Both these religions adopted some prevalent practices and included them in their system as their own. Making of stupa was such a practice. The construction of stupa was such a practice of the prevalent faith. As raising of the funeral mound was an integral part of the funeral ceremony, it was invariably raised over the remains of the dead person. B. Rowland observes "The most probable view seems to be that this hemispherical structure (stupa) emerged out of the earthen funeral mound under which, according to Vedic retuals, the ashes of the dead were laid. The custom of rearing stupas was pre-Buddhist.”2
The Buddhists adopted this practice and raised stupas or topes in various parts of the country in large number. Mahavamsha mentions the number of such stupas as 84000 which may be an exaggeration,
The Jaina religion which was rival to the Buddhist religion also esponsed the cult of stupas and erected this form of memorial in early times. It is needless to assert that the Vedic system of erecting