Compendium of Jainism

Author(s): T K Tukol, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Prasaranga Karnatak University Dharwar

Page 19

JAINISM AND ITS ANTIQUITY
Mahāvira) and Buddha, the desireless and pure (aneja and nahataka), him (taking every one individually) do I call a Brāhmaṇa."
Besides, there are differences between the two religions in their metaphysical and philosophical concepts. The animistic ideas of the Jainas are more ancient. While Buddhism regar all things as transitory, Jainism regards Jiva and Ajiva as eternal substances. According to Buddhism, there is no continuity of individuality from life to life. The universe is transient and soulless. The soul is not immortal. During transmigration from one life to another, only a new life arises as part of the chain of events.
Shri Jyotiprasad Jain has mentioned a number of references which show that Jainism is older than Buddhism. 6 Prof. Hermann Jacobi has referred to the common misconception of Jainism being an offshoot of Buddhism and despelled all doubts :“.. The Jains being non-Brahmanical, have worked upon popular notions of a more primitive and cruder character, e. g. animistic ideas. But the metaphysical principles of Buddhism are of an entirely different character... there is no absolute and permanent Being, or in other words, that all things are transitory. Notwithstanding the radical difference in their philosophical notions, Jainism and Buddhism being outside the pale of Brahmanism, present resemblance in outward appearance, so that even Indian writers occasionally have confounded them. It is, therefore, not to be wondered that some European scholars who became acquainted with Jainism through inadequate samples of Jaina literature easily pursuaded themselves that it was an off-shoot of Buddhism. But it has since been proved that their theory is wrong... The cannonical books of Buddhists mention as a rival sects, under their old name Nigaņțna (Sanskrit : Nirgrantha, common Prakrit, Nigganath ) and their leader in Buddha's time, Nātaputta (Nāta or Vātaputta being an epithet of last prophet of Jainas). Vardhamāna Mahāvīra, and they name the latter's place of
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