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and so could never give up any order. He never founded a system of his own.... That Jainism did exist here even before Mahavira, can be seen from the two quotations given above from Mrs. Sinclair Stevenson, and the Encyclopaedia Britanica.
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In reply to the above criticism we have to say that this may be Jain view that the Tirathankaras do not become the disciple of any second person and therefore it is altogether wrong to say that Mahavira at first joined the order of Parsavanath, etc. This may be Jain view, based on their sacred traditions and legends and the Jains are welcome to it. But for purposes of historical lessons one would not depend upon traditions alone. It is always safe to include in such lessons ascertained facts which have been accepted by writers of recogised merit.
We would also like to point out for the information of our critic, that even here, he has failed to understand correctly the views of Mrs.Sinclair Stevenson. Mrs. Stevenson, herself, is in agreement with other European scholars that Mahavira first joined the order of monks, established by Parsavanath and then left it after some time and started on his own account as a religious teacher when he was about forty years of age. On page 33 of her book: "The Heart of Jainism," she says:-"Research seems to
