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JAINA DHARMA A GLANCE :
One who renounce the world and achieve nirvan, salvation is Jina'. Worshippers of Jina are called as “Jains” and Dharma the path preached by Jina is known as “Jain Dharma”. The 24 Thirthankaras starting from Bhagawan Rishabha Deva renounced the world, achieved salvation and have shown the path of salvation to mankind. The 23rd Thirthankar Parshwanath & 24th Thirthankar Mahaveer are historical persons. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan states that “Jainism prevailed even before Vardhamana or Parshwanatha. The Yajurveda mentions the names of three Thirthankaras : Rishabha, Ajithanatha and Aristanemi. The Bhagavata purana endorses the view that the Rishabha was the founder of Jainism”. The old inscriptions confirms that the statue of Rishabha was worshipped by the people during the period of Mahaveera. Samrat Kharawela's inscription at · Hathi Gufa' of Khandagiri - Udayagiri dates back to before christ reinstates this.
Bhagawan Rishabhadeva was followed by 23 Thirthankaras the last being Bhagawan Mahavira. Most of them took their birth in and around Magadha. Twenty out of Twenty four Thirthankaras attained nirvana at the sacred hill Sammeda Shikarji. Kailasa, Champapuri, Girnar and Pavapuri are the other places of nirvana. Gautama Ganadhara, Sudharma Swamy and Jambhu Swamy are the three “Kevalis' who followed Bhagawan Mahavir were responsible for the spread of Jainism. Vishnu, Nandimitra, Aparajitha, Govardhana and Bhadrabahu are the five 'Shrutha Kevalis” who followed them. The terrible famine which lasted for twenty years in the Magadha Kingdom resulted in the division of Jainism into two sects ; Digambara and Swethambara. Acharya Bhadrabahu migrated to south settling at Shravanabelagola along with Chandragupta Maurya and
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