Glimpses Of World Religions

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir

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Jainism
Jain Dharma
The Hindu religion or the Brahmana religion was mainly of yagna or of sacrificial rites and rituals. Two parallel currents of thought were engaged in making people follow the righteous path. At that time, even Shraman Dharma believing chiefly in the sacrificial yagna was in vogue. Jain Dharma is very very ancient religion. Bhagwan Mahavir has not founded this religion, but according to Jain tradition, there are two parts of the cycle of time viz Utsarpinee and Avsarpinee. (It means the period of progress and regress are the two sections.) The present times are Avsarpinee or of downfall. In this religion in all 24 Tirthankaras have been there, by phases. The first amongst them is Adinath or Rishibhdev. Today's Jain scriptures are on the lines earmarked by Mahavir Swami. Actuallly, the Jain Dharma is beginningless or very ancient.
Even the name Jainism was given to this religion afterwards. In the very beginning, this Dharma was known as 'Shraman Dharma' or ‘Nirgrantha Dharma'. The word “Jain' is coined from the word “Jin’. The original Sanskrit elementery “Ji” means 'to
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