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History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā suceess and stability of the magnificent Vijayanagara empire and many other kingdoms of south India 28 Jainism has enriched Indian philosophy, art, architecture, languages both Aryan and Dravidian, literature, social life and pattern of living, and to this contribution we shall turn in some detail later in this book.
Misconceptions about Jainism
After the establishment of British rule in India, European scholars devoted themselves to the task of exploring the philosophy and religions of India. About the beginning of the nineteenth century Jainism attracted notice of European scholars.29 But they could not form a correct opinion about this faith for long owing to the absence of original texts which at the time were scarcely available in Europe. 30 Consequently, Jainism was misunderstood and misrepresented. Some European scholars looked upon Jainism as an offshoot of Buddhism.31 Some others viewed it as a rebellious variety of Brähmanism 32 or as a revolt against this religion.33
Jainism is not an off-shoot of Buddhism
The older generation of Sanskrit scholars held two opinions on these subjects. Colebrooke, Prinsep, Stevenson, E. Thomas and some others thought that Jainism is older than Buddhism.34 But distinguished orientalists like H.H. Wilson, Lassen and Weber were of opinion that Jainism is an off-shoot of Buddhism.35 The latter view was held on the basis of some striking resemblances
28. MJ, p. 2. 29. HJM, p. 14. 30. CHI, I, p. 152. 31. ERE, VII, p. 465. 32. OJ, Introduction, xxix. 33. ROAI, pp. 111-12;E.B. Havell, History of Aryan Rule in India, p. 59; Maurice A. Canney,
An Encyclopaedia of Religions, 1976, p. 195; JOLR, Preface, i. 34. CHI, I, p. 152. 35. Ibid., p. 152; OISJ, p. 23 fn. 1.
