Aspect of Jainology Part 1 Lala Harjas Rai

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Shodhpith Varanasi

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Dr. Vilas A. Sangave
which was in prevalence in India, especially in Eastern India, from the ancient past. This view is clearly stated by P. C. Roy Chaudhury in his book Jainism in Bihar' in the folloving terms: "A common mistakc has been made by some of the recent writers in holding that Jainism was born because of discontent against Brahmanism. This wrong theory originates because these writers have taken Vardhamana Mahavira as the founder of Jainism. This is not a fact....... The creed had already originated and spread and Mahavira propagated it within historic times".
Thus it is now an accepted fact that Mahavira is the Tirthankara or prophet of Jaina religion and that he preached the religion which was promulgated in the 8th Century B. C by his predecessor Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara. The historicity of Parshvanatha (877-777 B. C.) has been clearly established. Parshvanatha, the son of King Vishvasena and Queen Vamadevi of Kingdom of Kashi, led the life of an ascetic, practised severe penance, obtained omniscience, became a Tirthankara propagated Jaina religion and attained Nirvana or salvation when he was 100 years of age at Sammet Shikhara, i.e. Parasnatha hill in Hazaribag District of Bihar State. Eminent historians like Vincent Smith, R. C. Majumdar, and R. K. Mookarji regard Parshvanath as a historical personage and a great preacher of Jaina religion.
The predecessor of Parshavnatha was Nemi-natha or Arishtanemi, the 22nd Tirthankara and the historicity of Nemi-natha like that of Parshvanatha, could be easily established. Nemi-natha was the real cousin of the famous Lord Krishna of Mahabharata as Samudravijaya, the father of Nemi-natha, and Vasudeva, the father of Krishna, were brothers. Nemi-natha possessed a unique personality due to his great compassion towards animals. This is clearly revealed by a significant incident in his life. While Nemi-natha was proceeding at the head of his wedding procession to the house of his bride, Princess Rajimati ihe daughter of King Ugrasena, he heard the moans and groans of animals placed in an enclosure for some meat eaters and instantly decided not to marry at all as his marriage would involve such a slaughter of so many innocent animals. Immediately Nemi-natha renounced his royal title and became an ascetic. Learning this renunciation of Nemi-natha, the betrothed princess Rajimati also became a nun and entered the ascetic