Development And Impact Of Jainism In India And Abroad

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Arham Spiritual Center

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Development & Impact of Jainism in India & Abroad
known businessman named Sheth Motishaw had business with China. As such he frequently visited China and talked about jain religion to them. It is reported that he had installed an idol of Jain Tirthankar there. During the middle of the last century many jains either for studies or for business had been to Africa, Europe, England, America, and Japan.Then they settled over there. As such they constructed Jain Temples over there. As on today there are 60 jain centres and 27 Jain Temples in America. Four temples are there in England. Jain temples are under constructions in many other countries. Accordingly Jain religion is progressively getting momentum in foreign countries.
At present because of unique jain principles of Non Violence and Anankantvad and such other views the whole world is studying Jain principles. Here we shall look into the special study of Jain religion by noted German scholars.
Subjects under study in foreign countries.:
Once the European scholars started the study of Oriental studies, they kept no barriers of language or subject. We find that during last 150 years they did innormse and astonishing work in this field. They have worked on literature written in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali, Apabrmsh and many other local Indian languages. The main subjects of their researches were Culture, Social condition, Historical languagedevelopement, Critical editionof volumes ( granth ), authenticated history, philosophies, religions, Vedic religion, Hindu religion, Shaiv principles, Vaishnav tradition, Jain religion, Buddha religion, Sikh religion, Jew religion, Parsi religion, Christianity, Islamic religion and along with these subjects they worked on science, art, and artitecture also. In this way European scholars having studied all these in depth,they have also published it too.
European Scholars :
As mentioned earlier, William Johns ( 1749 - 1794 ) started the study and research work on Indian Studies. Thereafter the desire to study Indian vidya went on increasing in the whole of Europe, which is still continuing even today. More than 56 very well renowned scholars have done immense work. It is so much that, if we make a list of it then it will become a big volume by itself. Just to mention few names (1) Johns Hartel (1872-1955 ), (2) Max Mullier (1823-1900 ) (3) Wilhem Jigar (1856 -1943), Richard Pishal (1849 - 1908), Morris Winternitz (1863 - 1937), Ottovon Boithling (1815 - 1904), Hermann Yakobi (1850-1935), Schubring Waltier (1881-1969), Ludwing Alsdorf (1904-1978),Brunn, Boli,Waiver, Goldmister and Mr.Bansidhar Bhatt, Mr.Chandrabhan Tripathi,etc.
Indian Scholars who have done deep study on Indian vidya and in special reference to Jain religion.
Here we shall try to get some acquaintance with the life and work of Hermann Yakobi, Schubring and Alsdrof.Hermann Yakobi He was a German Scholar, who had worked on different aspects of Indian religions. He mainly worked on Jain religion. Hermann Yakobi was born on 0302-1850 in Koiel-Kolon in Germany.He studied upto high school level in his native place.Thereafter he studied mathematics in Berlin. There only under the guidance of Prof. Weber