Compendium of Jainism

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

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COMPENDIUM OF JAINISM
themselves, Jaina religion is eternal and it has been revealed again and again, in every one of the endless succeeding periods of the world by innumerable Tirthankaras.. The interest of Jainism to the student of religion consists in the fact that it goes back to a very early period, and to the primitive currents of religions and metaphysical speculation, which gave rise to the oldest Indian philosophies-Sānkhya and Yoga-and to Buddhism. It shares in theoretical pessimism of these systems, as also in their practical ideal-liberation.”]4
Dates of the Vedas
There is considerable difference of opinion as regards the dates of composition of the Vedas. “The dates of the composition and collection of the hymns of the Rgveda are unknown... There is evidence to indicate with some certainty that the hymns were current fifteen centuries before Christ, somewhat in the arrangement in which we have them at the present time". 15 “The epoch of creation of the Vedas consists of a long duration viz. the period between the third and the first millennium B. C."16 It appears that B. G. Tilak carried it fifteen centuries earlier while the later historians consider that the Vedas were formed during the second and the first half of the first millenium B. C. The process of accumulation of the Vedic hymns was gradual and partly proceeded in the course of many centuries until the arrival of Aryans in India. 17 The widely accepted view of the age of the Rgveda is not later than 2500 B. C.18
Mohenjodaro and Harappa Finds
Many scholars have carried on researches about the nature and antiquity of the Indus Civilization, known to archaeologists as Harappa culture. Harappa is the modern name of the site of one of the two great cities on the left bank of the river Rāvi in the Punjab. Mohenjodaro is the name of the site of the second city which is on the right bank of the river Sindhu or Indus. The site is about 250 miles from the mouth of that river. Sir John Marshall's monumental works on Mohenjodaro