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[ 62 ] I. "We shall tell the story of Mahavira who Founded Jainism.”
They do not give their authority for the wrong statement. The statement is wrong in a Primer for boys. In a bigger book for scholars the statement may be understood to mean merely that Jainism as known today is due to Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of the Jains. In any other sense, the statement that Lord Mahavira "founded" Jainism is a gross error.
Mrs. Stevenson and her "Heart of Jainism” are given as authorities on Jainism. What the Jains and I think of the book is given in my long Review of the heart of Jainism* written in 1917, at the desire of Prof. Widgery,Editor of the PhiLOSOPHICAL REVIEW, Baroda. It was published in the JAINA GAZETTE, Madras.
The article in ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITTANNICA is an old affair, and Jaina study has advanced much farther now.
Dr. Vincent Smith was a more modern English authority on Hisotry. The latest edition of his Oxford History of India certainly does not bear out the contention of the authors.
* Can be had from the Secretary, Shri Atmanand Jain Tract Society Ambala City. for /4/
