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Introduction
· The Text of Ganadhara-vāda
(a) Sources
According to the Jainas, the religious principles of the present era came into existence right from the time of Bhagavān Risabhadeva Swāmi, the first Tîrthankara.
After him, the sacred works increased in number and qnality when the religion was exalted to a high rank but they subsided in times of disorder and anarchy, Generally speaking, the preachings of all the Tîrthankaras happened to be of the same kind and their biographies almost resembled each other in principal characteristics.
The Bhagavata Purāna supports the view that Risabha-deva was the founder of the present Jaina canon. There is a reference of Rişabha-deva, Ajîtanātha and Aristanemî in Yajur Veda.
Šramana Bhagavān Mahāvira, the elder contemporary of Buddha, was not only the last but Supreme Tirthankara in the line of all Jaina Tirthankaras. Like his predecessors, Sramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvara also had got his predchings composed in books. His Ganadharas or principal disciples arranged his
1. It is not only the Jain tradition that ascribes the origin of the religious system to Risabha-deva, but there is historical evidence also to show that so far back as the first century B. C. there were people who were worshippiug Risabha-deva the first Tartha'nkara.
