Antiquity of Jainism

Author(s): Mahaveer Saran Jain
Publisher: Mahaveer Saran Jain

Page 10

5. The Vratya Tradition
In Atharva Veda 15th chapter there is a description of Vratyas who are said to be unversed in Vedic tradition and ritual and belonging to Licchavi, Natha and Malla clans.
Dr. Guseva, the Russian scholar in her ethnological monograph Jainism states:
“Ancient Indian literature contains indications of the deep antiquity of the sources of Jainism and it also indicates that the Ksatriyas and ascetics from Vratyas i.e. nonAryans played noticeable role in establishing non-Vedic teachings.
The word JAINISM is derived from JIN which means conqueror - One who has conquered his passion and desires, love and hate, pleasure and pain, attachment and aversion, and has thereby freed his "soul" from the karmas obscuring knowledge, perception, truth, and ability. In this respect Jain Dharmal Jainism is self