________________ -6 and whose exact date lies beyond the calculations of time. The Vedas are considered most ancient and also . - authentic scriptures of India, but in the se scriptures there are references to Lord Rishabha and other Thirthankaras. In these Vedic scriptures there are hymns in praise of these Thirthankaras. There will be no two opinions about the Vedas being anterior to Lord Mahavira. Therefore, it becomes clear that Thirthankara Rishabha did live either prior to or in the Vedic period. Otherwise, there could not have any reference to him in the Vedas. The same Lord Rishabha has been accepted as the incarnation of Mahavishnu in the Srimad Bhagavat Purana. Similarly, there are also references to Lord Rishabha and his school of philosophy known today as Jainism in the Siva Burana, Brahmand Purane, Garuda Puram, Skanda Purana, Yoga Vasistham and other sacred Vedic scriptures. The modern historians have accepted the authenticity of the 23rd Thirthankara Sri Parsvanatha, who lived before Lord Mahavira, the penultimate Thirthankara of the Jaina religion. History has also reached certain conclusions about the 22nd Thirthankara Lord Neminath of the Yadur Vamsa. The parents of both Lord Mahavira and Gautam Budha were followers of Lord Parsvanatha according to Buddhist scriptures. Mohenjadaro and Harappa are considered as the most ancient historical cites in India and some relics of Jaina religion have been unearthed from there. Besides these centres of historical interest, there are also several other ancient centres of importance to Jainism - Taxasila , Ahichatra, Nankalitala near Mathura, Aghat - Mewar in Rajasthan, Hastitundi,
