Sramana 1995 10

SR No.: 525024
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ashok Kumar Singh
Publisher: Parshvanath Vidhyashram Varanasi
Publication Year: 1995
Total Pages: 122
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Sramana, & India
File Size: 6 MB

Page 91

STHUT
Panis and Jainas
S. P. Narang*
Here is an attempt to investigate the relationship of the Panis mentioned in the Vedas with the Jaina community which in my opinion had been an inhabitant of India particularly in the area of Indus Valley Civilization and there are clues that they later migrated to various parts of India together with their religion, economy & culture. The earlier researches have shown that there had been contacts between Indian & Sumerian culture particularly the affinity of the language as it is shown from the scholars like Brown, Ipsen & Ayyar. The relations of Syria with India has been established by Friedrich, Skold and R. G. Bhanda-rakar whereas Brunnhofer established the relationship with Armeniens. Waddell thinks that phoenicians had been visiting India. Perhaps they might have been the trade community established in India before the Aryans who might have established themselves in Indus region with agriculture as their profession particularly the cows and Ghee as their leading profession. The relationship with Babyloania has been estab-lished by Kennedy, Sen, Sayce & Kretschamer who think that they settled themselves in Iran & Varuna had been their leader, chaldean have of the Aryas has been accepted from Tilak & Keith.
Undoubtedly, the Panis might have been phoenicians who brought their scientific trade system including the art of writing the accounts with a script and slowly settled in the region of the Indus although they might have entered via Kabul in pre-Aryan ages. They had made their well-settled colonies which are at the cites of Harappa & Lothal etc.
There are some similarities of these people with the Jaina religion & Philosphy. According to T. P. Bhattacharya Brahma cult had a similarity with the Tirthankara concept. It is a very interesting clue for the relationship. The region of Brahma extended from Puskara to Gujarat including Saurashtra and Sindh. Brahma cult dominated in Vegetarianism so is this region with Jainism which continues upto date. Purity & Hygiene were their main features, which For Private & Personal Use Only