Compendium of Jainism

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

Page 25

JAINISM AND ITS ANTIQUITY
13
Here the references are obviously to the first, seventh and twentysecond Tirthankaras. Dr. Radhakrishnan accepts the validity of these references and observes : “Jaina tradition ascribes the origin of the system to Rşabhadeva, who lived many centuries back. There is evidence to show that so far back as the first century B. C. there were people who were worshipping Rşabhadeva, the first Tirtbankara. There is no doubt that Jainism prevailed even before Vardhamana or Pārsvanātha. The Yajurveda meations the names of three Tirthankaras-Rsabha, Ajita and Aristanemi. The Bhāgavatā Purāņa endorses the view that Rşabhadeva was the founder of Jainism."13
There is a reference Manusmộti also :
to the first Tirthankara in
the
अष्टमो मरुदेव्यां तु नाभेर्जातः अरुक्रमः । दर्शयन् कर्म वीराणां सुरासुरनमस्कृतः । नीतित्रयस्य कर्ता यो, युगादौ प्रथमो जिनः ।
मनुस्मृति
aștamo marudevyām tu nābherjitaḥ urukramaḥ | darśayan karmavirāņām surāsura-namaskstaḥ nītitrayasya kartā yo yugadau prathamo jinah ||
In the beginning of the age (yuga) was born the first Jaina to Marudevi from the eighth Nābhi Manu, who was the hero of action, saluted by the gods and demons and propagted the ethics and rules of punishment. Similar description is found in the Bhāgavata Purāņa. Not only do the verses conform to the tradition mentioned above but also give the details of advice which Rşabha gave to his sons and which is consistent with the principles of Jainism.
The aforesaid references to the Arbats and the three Tirthankaras can only mean that these personalities must be pre-Vedic and that the religion that they preached was earlier to the Vedic religion. “According to the belief of the Jainas