________________
unanimity over this point. In both. Shrikrishna does not indulge in any austerites. ilowever, the reasons for this are different. Jain tradition attributes it to his mtended icquisition and the Vedic tradition simply to his being the complete (having all the 10 virtues) incarnation of Vishnu or the God himself: thus having no need of any such endeavour.
In Jain tradition. i Tirthankar is not an incarnation of God. Juis an atheiscelgon. where the supremo soul docs not incarnate, but it soul becomes Supreme through purification. A being, through increasing purity of his soul, austerities, Spiritual practices and a feeling of universal well being. In the Tirthankar Naam-potrai harnic and becomes a Tirthahar.
A Tirthankar is, however, endowed and incorned with supernatural powers and signs. That is the difference between Tirthankar and a normal omniscient.
The Period of Tirthankar Irishtanemi and Shrikrishna
Some scholars have doubt about Tirthankar Arshtaniemi and Shrikrishna heng contemporaries. They are mistaken. Evidences of the two bemg contemporary are available both in Jam as well as Vedic traditions.
Maharshi Vedavyas, the author of 18 Puranas, bas mentioned in his Turish Purana that rishianemi was il cousin of Shrikrisluna. Roy Chowdhuri, il renowned modern historian has also established the same opinion in his work The Incient History ollusuna Religion'.
The question is that--are Cousins not contemporaries? Everyone will ansu r this in allirmative. There is hardly a score for any doubt.
According to the Jain tradition Tirthankar Arishtanemi was the son of Samudrivijaya and Shrikrishna that of Vasude, who was the youngest brother of Samudraujavil. According to the Vedic tradition the name of Shrikrishna's father is same but that of Arishtanemi is Chitrak, which may be just another name of Samudravjaya. But this variation in name has hardly any importance because of the fact that both the traditions accep Shrikrishna and Arishtanemi as cousins. This automatically proves that they were contemporaries. The Historicity of Tirthankar Arishtanemi
In the past the historicity of Tirthankar Arishtanemi was in doubt Indian as well as western scholars considered him to be a mythological figure rather than historic. The same was true of Shrikrishna as weli.
But with progress in historical and archaeological research the dark veil of doubt was removed and the sun of truth dawned. It was accepted that Bhagavan Anishlanemi vas a historical person.
Antakriddasha Mahima
• 383
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
