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the universe, of atoms, matter, the six substances, etc., found in the canon attributed to Lord Mahavira, goes to prove this system to be the result of the labour of many centuries before his time as well as different from and independent of Upanishadic thought.11
Jainism maintains that truth and untruth have been existing and will continue to exist side by side. Professor Kapadia has rightly said: -
According to the Jainas their religion as propounded by their omniscient Tirthankaras is nothing but truth, and hence they are inclined to believe that there was never an age when Jainism did not exist at least in some part of the world and that there will never come an age when it will be completely wiped off from the surface of our globe.12
As to specific literary evidence to justify this claim, we have referred to Lord Arishtanemi being named in the rojurveda (IX. 25). The Adi Parva of the Mahabharata refers to kshap inaka, which meins a Jain monk. The Bhagavata Purana (V. 3-6) gives the life of Lord Rishabha. The word shramana occurs in the Rami yana (I, 14-22) and commentators interpret it as meaning a skysclad Jain Monk. In the Prabhasa Purana Lord Nemi is referred to as a Jina who obtained salvation on Mount Raivata.
The Buddhist Shatashastra (5th century of the Christian era) mention's Lord Rishabha as the founder of Jainism.
11 Agama Yuga Ka Anckanta Vada, p. 12.
12 H R KAPADIA : The Jaina Religion and Literature, Vol 1, p. 7.
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