Atmatatva Vichar Or Philosophy Of Soul

Author(s): Vijaylakshmansuri, Ghanshyam Joshi, Kirtivijay Gani
Publisher: Mohanlal D Mehta

Page 16

PREFACE
xiii
It is now seen for the last many years by Jain and non Jain Scholars that Jainism is older than the Vedas for the simple reason that there are references found of Jain Tirthankars in Rigved in Upanishads and other Hindu Puranas. Tirthankar Lord Adinath is described in Bhagwat Puran as the new Saint who has founded Jain Religion of Ahimsa. This cannot be rejected as historical proof if other incidents described in the Vedas are accepted as such proofs.
Reference of Tirthankar Lord Neminath is found in Mahabharat and therefore, his existence at the time of Lord KRISHNA has to be accepted from historical point of view. Lord Neminath was cousin brother of Lord KRISHNA.
There is another proof about Lord Neminath and that is a finding on a copper plate in Saurashtra at the hands of an alien King who had visited Saurashtra to pay homage to Lord Neminath at Mount Girnar. The historical existence of Lord Parshwanath, 23rd Tirthankar is now accepted of having existed 250 years before Lord Mahavir, the last Jain Tirthankar.
The reference of carvings on walls of Hathigufa (caves) by Emperor Kharvel of Orissa about 150 years B.c. has been accepted as the proof of the existence of Lord Parshwanath. Even in such ancient times, according to the proof, the image of Lord Adinath the first Tirthankar, was being worshipped, which is proved from the same cave inscriptions by Emperor Kharvel.
These facts taken together with the facts of ancient temples of all the 24 Tirthankars and the references found in the Vedas and Hindu Puranas, leave alone the abundance of religious stories found in Jain religious books, have led unbiased scholarly minds to believe the existence of all the 24 Tirthankars of the Jains during the wide expanse of history covering millions of years; and the modern history admits of the existence of human beings 150 million years ago if not more. The life of a large body of skeletons of animals has been estimated of such immense age as mentioned above.
It is found from the old records of Greece that Alexander The Great during his conquest of North-West Frontier of India before