Antiquity of Jainism

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

Page 18

found clearly marked in the cave of Sarata Kharavelaat Udaigiri in Orissa. It is found marked in the ancient images of Rishabha and other Tirthankaras.
The arch-form of this symbol is found in the sign of tri-horn on the Indus Valley seal images. It should not be surprising if the same mark evolved later as a phase of moon, Om, swastika and the cross of Christianity as well as the mood and the star of Islam as noted by Dr.Hiralal
Jain.
The disciples of Shiva are collectively called Gana, whose leader is called Ganapati and Ganesh. The group of munisor disciples established by Rishabha is also called Gana and its leader, the chief disciple, is called Gandharva. The tradition of Gana and Gandharvais found unbroken till the last Tirthankar, Mahavira. Such parallels and spiritual affinities since pre-historic times between Rishabha and Shiva show unmistakably that Jainism and its first profounder have been the precursor of the later Shiva doctrine.