Historical Facts About Jainism

Author(s): Lala Lajpatrai
Publisher: Jain Associations of India Mumbai

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also cite the opinion of Dr. Jacobi on the date of Nirvana of Shri Mahavira. We do not then understand how you happen to miss Dr. Jacobi's recognised views on the date of the rise of Jainism.24 If you did not really miss them, may we know how, without any attempt at discussing or controverting the opinions of such a renowned Scholar, who is respected all round as a great authority on Jainism, you happen to express same antique and exploded views without even naming a single authority in support. What we think is that you have been over hasty in adopting opinions of historians who do not claim to have any special knowledge of Jains or Jainism, and you have expressed secondhand views. It nay be that all the works on Jainism may not have been available to you owing to certain limitations in which you happened to be, but even then the writings of Dr. Jacobi alone to whom you allege to have referred on the point of the date of Nirwana of Lord Mahavira would have cleared all shibboleths about Jainism. It is extremely to be regretted that of all, you missed works of Dr. Jacobi.
ORIGIN OF JAINISM.
Turning to the objectionable passages, in particular you state "The Chief originator of Jain religion has been Shri Vardhamana Mahavira" P. 129 & 130. To go You thus say in a rough and ready manner that the, Jain religion started from